Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method on zeolite

Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been investigated with zeolite supporting material. Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were obtained at 850 °C in nitrogen environment. Such deposition system makes it possible to grow CNTs without reducing agent at atmospheric pressure in a simple setup. Iron and cobalt acetate were used as catalyst and ethanol as carbon source for the synthesis of CNTs. Results show that nature of zeolite and cobalt concentration play important roles for SWCNTs production. Interestingly, we notice that in catalyst particles of sharp shape, nucleation of a nanotubes cap occurs dominantly in the forward direction.     

New procedure for improving precision and accuracy of instrumental color measurements of beef

The surface layers of steaks from bovine M. semimembranosus were prepared to have deoxy- (DMb), oxy- (OMb) and metmyoglobin (MMb) states using either chemicals (CHEM) or oxygen partial pressure packaging (OPP). Ninety-six different meat surface areas were measured in reflectance mode (400-1100 nm) for each preparation method. Reflectance spectra were converted to absorbance (A) and then transformed by Kubelka-Munk transformation (K/S) and/or extended multiplicative scatter correction (EMSC). Transformed spectra of prepared pure states were used to make calibration models of MMb, DMb and OMb using either selected wavelengths (SW) or partial least square (PLS) regression. Finally, the predicted myoglobin states were normalized to ensure that no state was <0 or >1 and the sum of all states equal to 1. Multivariate calibrations (i.e. PLS) outperformed the univariate calibrations (i.e. SW). The OPP method of preparing pure states was clearly best for OMb while the CHEM method was best for preparing MMb on fresh meat surfaces. Both preparation methods needed improvement concerning DMb. The CHEM(K/S) SW and the OPP EMSC(A) PLS methods predicted MMb, DMb and OMb with root-mean-square errors of cross validation (RMSECV) equal to 0.08, 0.16 and 0.18 (range 0-1) and 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04 (range 0-1), respectively. This new reflectance protocol has potential for routine meat color measurements.     

Intestinal obstruction caused by caecal volvulus

The case of a 6-month-pregnant woman who had an uneventful postoperative recovery and normal vaginal delivery following a right hemi-colectomy for volvulus of the caecum with gangrene is reported.     

Fine structure investigation of Sansevieria roxburghi fiber by small-angle x-ray methods

Small-angle x-ray methods were used to evaluate macromolecular parameters such as specific inner surface of the dispersed phase; transversal lengths such as length of inhomogeneity and length of coherence; and the air fraction of the scattering particles in Sansevieria roxburghi; these parameters were found to be 12.76 × 10^?6 Å^?1, 549.9 Å, 15.21 Å, and 0.17%, respectively. A small-angle Kratky camera was used for the experimental measurements, and the theories of Kratky and Kratky and Porod were utilized to evaluate these parameters. The sample under investigation is treated as a densely packed colloidal system belonging to general micelle systems.     

Exercise therapy for depression in middle-aged and older adults: Predictors of early dropout and treatment failure.

Psychosocial factors predicting treatment dropout or failure to benefit from treatment were identified in a randomized trial of exercise therapy and pharmacotherapy for major depression. One hundred fifty-six men and women over age 50 diagnosed with major depressive disorder were assigned to a 16-week program of aerobic exercise, medication (sertraline), or a combination of exercise and medication. Thirty-two patients (21%) failed to complete the program and were considered treatment "dropouts." At the end of 16 weeks, 83 patients (53%) were in remission; the remaining patients not in remission were considered treatment "failures." Baseline levels of self-reported anxiety and life satisfaction were the best predictors of both patient dropout and treatment success or failure across all treatment conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A scanning electron microscope based new method for determining degree of substitution of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Na-CMC or sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose is a water soluble anionic polymer obtained by introducing carboxymethyl groups along the cellulose chain. Na-CMC is usually synthesized by the alkali catalyzed reaction of cellulose with monochloroacetic acid. The functional properties of Na-CMC depend on the degree of substitution of the cellulose structure (i.e. how many of the hydroxyl groups are substituted per monomer unit), and also on the chain length of the cellulose backbone. The degree of substitution of Na-CMC is usually determined according to ASTM D1439 which evolves the conversion of the Na-CMC to free acid then again forming Na-CMC by adding excess alkali and finally titrating the excess alkali with standard hydrochloric acid (0.3 N). The used volume of the standard alkali determines the degree of substitution. These existing chemical methods for determining the degree of substitution are not very convenient and very time-consuming involving the use of hazardous chemicals. In this research, we have evaluated that the scanning electron microscope equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis can be used to directly determine the degree of substitution.     

Ball Indentation Technique: A currently developed tool to study the effect of various heat treatments on the mechanical properties of En24 steel

Ball Indentation (BI) Technique has been used to evaluate the variation in mechanical properties due to heat treatment on as-received En steels. Increments in tempering temperature have softened the samples and thus decreased the strength but increased strain hardening exponent. Fully martensitic structure has formed in solutionised and oil quenched sample, which improved the strength. The obtained results of as-received En steel are validated by conventional test results. Optical microscopy and hardness values of heat treated En steels corroborated the BI obtained results. All evidences proved that BI technique is useful and an effective small specimen technique to evaluate small changes in mechanical properties without any prior analysis.     

High-Performance Multifunctional Fuel Additives Derived from Renewable Fatty Acids and Phosphazene

The increasing need for high-quality diesel fuel can be fulfilled by using environmental friendly, high-performance additives. We have synthesized novel fatty acid-derived multifunctional additives coupled with phosphazene moiety having the backbone of alternative nitrogen and phosphorous atoms which provided stability, while the additives possessed affinity for the metal surface to form a surface-complex film leading to the hindered metal contact and providing friction-reducing and antiwear properties. In addition, the applicability of the synthesized additives was investigated by testing the anti-oxidant and anticorrosion properties in polyethylene glycol (PEG200) which was taken as the reference base fluid. A rotating bomb oxidation test was used to evaluate the anti-oxidant characteristics, and a four-ball test for the tribological properties. Among the synthesized additives, phosphazene ester of erucic acid exhibited the best antiwear and antifriction properties; however, phosphazene ester of oleic acid was found to be the best anti-oxidant additive.     

Comparative study of antifungal effect of green and chemically synthesised silver nanoparticles in combination with carbendazim,mancozeb, and thiram

This study reports synthesis and characterisation of silver nanoparticles and their effect on antifungal efficacy of common agricultural fungicides. Silver nanoparticles were synthesised using biological and chemical reduction methods employing Elettaria cardamomum leaf extract and sodium citrate, respectively. Nanoparticles were then characterised using UV–Visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). While XRD assigned particles size of 31.86 nm for green and 41.91 nm for chemical silver nanoparticles with the help of the Debye–Scherrer formula, DLS specified monodisperse nature of both suspensions. Nanoparticles were tested individually and in combination with fungicides (carbendazim, mancozeb, and thiram) against fungal phytopathogens. Silver nanoparticles exhibited good antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was observed in the range of 8–64 µg/ml. Also, they positively influenced the efficacy of fungicides. The mean MIC value (mean ± SD) for combination of all three fungicides with green AgNPs was 1.37 ± 0.6 µg/ml and for chemical AgNPs was 1.73 ± 1.0 µg/ml. Hence, it could be concluded that green AgNPs performed better than chemical AgNPs. Synergy was observed between green AgNPs and fungicides against Fusarium oxysporum. In conclusion, this study reports synthesis of monodisperse silver nanoparticles which serve as efficient antifungal agents and also enhance the fungicidal action of reported agricultural fungicides in combination studies.Inspec keywords: X‐ray diffraction, reduction (chemical), visible spectra, ultraviolet spectra, microorganisms, particle size, nanomedicine, nanofabrication, nanoparticles, agrochemicals, antibacterial activity, transmission electron microscopy, silver, light scattering, scanning electron microscopyOther keywords: antifungal effect, green silver nanoparticles, chemically synthesised silver nanoparticles, carbendazim, mancozeb, thiram, antifungal efficacy, common agricultural fungicides, biological reduction methods, chemical reduction methods, transmission electron microscopy, XRD assigned particles size, chemical silver nanoparticles, green AgNPs, chemical AgNPs, monodisperse silver nanoparticles, antifungal activity, agricultural fungicides, Elettaria cardamomum leaf extract, sodium citrate, UV‐visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, size 31.86 nm, size 41.91 nm     

System 1 and System 2 cognition in the decision to adopt and use a new technology

Most models of technology adoption and use assume a rational decision maker engaged in thoughtful deliberate consideration of the new technology. However, recent research in psychology concludes that such deliberate, rational, conscious decision-making (termed System 2 cognition) has less influence on behavior than originally thought; nonconscious automatic cognition (termed System 1 cognition), which is often influenced by personality characteristics and pattern matching based on past experience, also plays a key role in most decisions. As users adopt and use new technologies time and time again, a set of general expectations about new technology adoption begins to emerge. A user’s personality combined with this pattern of positive and negative experiences creates System 1 heuristics that are triggered when a user faces a similar decision in the future. The focus of this paper is to examine the extent to which the predispositions produced by System 1 automatic cognition – both enabling and inhibiting – versus the deliberate technology assessment produced by System 2 cognition influence technology adoption and use. We found that enabling predispositions influences the formation of intentions to use a new technology, and both enabling and inhibiting predispositions influence an individual’s ultimate follow through in acting on his or her intentions and actually using new technologies. Our research suggests that concepts previously seen as “determinants” of technology adoption and use (e.g., performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions) are not really determinants but rather are important partial mediators in a larger nomological network that includes both automatic System 1 cognition and deliberate System 2 cognition.