The characterization and polymorphism of α-Glycine in the presence of butyric acid

The present study aims to investigate the effect of butyric acid used as an additive and its concentration ranging between 50?ppm and 250?ppm during the polymorphic phase transformation of β-glycine to α-glycine. Analysis includes a continuous measurement of the ultrasonic velocity and periodically the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Morphological characterization shows that the α-glycine crystals obtained in pure media are smooth, prismatic shapes, and that butyric acid plays a major role in crystal shape change. SEM imaging and morphology analysis indicates that the presence of butyric acid to media results in shorter, rounded and aggregated crystals. Further analyses of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential measurements, and elemental analysis reveals that butyric acid adsorbs on the crystals’ surface and changes both the surface charge and the elemental composition of the crystals obtained. In addition, thermal decomposition behaviors of the crystals are investigated and the obtained data is modeled using the thermal decomposition kinetic models of FWO, KAS, and Tang. Based on the data of the FWO kinetic model, the average activation energy of the crystals obtained in butyric acid media is calculated as 118.8?±?17.0?kJ/mol, which is higher than that of crystals obtained in pure media.     

An analysis of energy use and input costs for cotton production in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine direct input energy and indirect energy in per hectare in cotton production and compare with input costs. The study also sought to analyse the effect of farm size. Data were collected from sixty five farmers using a face to face questionnaire. The sample farms were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. The results revealed that cotton production consumed a total of 49.73 GJha⁻¹ of which diesel energy consumption was 31.1% followed by fertilizer and machinery energy. Output–input energy ratio and energy productivity were 0.74 and 0.06 kg of cotton MJ⁻¹, respectively. Cost analysis showed that net return per kilogram of seed cotton was insufficient to cover costs of production in the research area. The most important cost items were labour, machinery costs, land rent and pesticide costs. Large farms were more successful in energy productivity, use efficiency and economic performance. It was concluded that energy management at farm level could be improved to give more efficient and economic use of energy.     

Is unilateral breast enlargement always a sign of cancer?

Breast swelling is caused by many etiological factors, but should alert central vein occlusion in hemodialysis patients when the permanent vascular access is in the same arm. The swelling of the breast is caused by venous hypertension in the venous plexus draining the breast. Endovascular treatment relieves venous hypertension and related clinical signs. Additional diagnostic workup or invasive interventions such as a biopsy should be avoided in such patients, as diagnosis is straightforward with the presence of a functioning arteriovenous fistula in the same arm.     

Anodic behaviour of fulvestrant and its voltammetric determination in pharmaceuticals and human serum on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The electrochemical oxidation of fulvestrant was made on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The highest current intensities were obtained by applying +1.10 V during 150 s for boron-doped diamond electrode. For boron-doped diamond electrode, linear responses were obtained for the concentrations between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 8 × 10⁻⁵ M in standard samples and between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 4 × 10⁻⁵ M in serum samples. The repeatability of the method was 0.55 RSD% for differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The analytical values of the method are demonstrated by quantitative determination of fulvestrant in pharmaceutical formulations and human serum, without the need for separation or complex sample preparation, since there was no interference from the excipients and endogenous substances. Selectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the developed methods were demonstrated by recovery studies.     

Carbon corrosion characteristics of CN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanostructures in acidic media and implications for ORR performance

Accelerated electrochemical corrosion of nitrogen-containing carbon (CN _x ) oxygen reduction catalysts was performed by a chronoamperometric hold at 1.2 V versus NHE in acidic electrolyte using a rotating disk electrode system. Cyclic voltammograms were used to measure the electrochemically active quinone/hydroquinone redox reaction couple indicating the degree of carbon corrosion. Half-cell testing of CN _x oxygen reduction catalyst materials showed superior carbon corrosion resistance compared to Vulcan carbon, the most ubiquitous cathode catalyst support. When oxygen reduction activity was measured before and after carbon corrosion, carbon corrosion resilience trended with the oxygen reduction activity. CN _x catalysts subjected to carbon corrosion testing did not show a change in the onset of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity potentials with only a slight reduction in current density, but showed improved ORR selectivity to the complete reduction of dioxygen to water.     

Energy and cost analysis for greenhouse and open-field grape production

The objective of this study was to examine the energy use patterns and cost of production in greenhouse and open-field grape production. Data used in the study were obtained from the experiment conducted at the Akdeniz university research field. In the study, energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by the related energy conversion factors. The results indicated that total input energy use in greenhouse and open-field production was found to be 24513.0 and 23640.9 MJ/ha, respectively. However, the output energy of greenhouse grapes (73396.0 MJ/ha) was lower than open-field grapes (120596 MJ/ha). The output–input ratio for greenhouse and open-field grape production was found to be 2.99 and 5.10, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that production costs for greenhouse grapes were higher than open-field grapes but greenhouse grapes were more profitable than open-field due to premium prices for greenhouse grapes.     

Novel Synthesis Techniques for Preparation of Co/CeO2 as Ethanol Steam Reforming Catalysts

Novel synthesis methods such as solvothermal decomposition, colloidal crystal templating, and reverse microemulsion have been used to prepare CeO₂-supported Co catalysts. These catalysts have shown much better catalytic performance than the catalysts prepared using conventional incipient wetness impregnation for Ethanol Steam Reforming. The improvement can be attributed to a better cobalt dispersion and a better Co–CeO₂ interaction for the catalysts prepared using these novel methods.     

Interactions Among Elaborative Interrogation, Knowledge, and Interest in the Process of Constructing Knowledge From Text.

The authors examined the impact of elaborative interrogation on knowledge construction during expository text reading, specifically, the interactions among elaborative interrogation, knowledge, and interest. Three measures of learning were taken: recall, inference, and coherence. Elaborative interrogation affected all aspects of learning measured, with a significant interaction between elaborative interrogation and interest with regard to inference. The experimental effect on the measure of inference was larger for the students who had less interest than for the students who had more interest. There was also an interaction effect between knowledge and elaborative interrogation for coherence. The experimental effect on coherence was higher for students who had less knowledge than students who had more knowledge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conversion disorder and its subtypes: a need for a reclassification

Four subtypes of conversion disorder were described in DSM-IV. There are few publications concerning studies aimed at separating the subtypes of the conversion disorder. Usually, pseudoseizures are in focus and attempts are made to differentiate these seizures from other disorders. The aim of the present study has been to investigate differences between the four subtypes of the conversion disorder and to discuss the possibilities for a reclassification. Ninety-five patients were seen by two researchers and diagnosed as conversion disorders. The subtypes were determined according to DSM-IV criteria. All completed the Patients Information Form, developed by the researchers, and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). Twenty-four (25.2%) of the patients had motor symptoms or deficits (Type 1), 5 (5.2%) sensory symptoms or deficits (Type 2), 23 (24.2%) seizures or convulsions (Type 3) and 43 (47.3%) had mixed presentations (Type 4). There were statistically significant differences between the subtypes as concerns occupation, family history of psychiatric disorders, hospitalizations and place of settlement. Furthermore, the DES scores were statistically different between the groups of patients with different subtypes of conversion disorder.