Electrochemical Synthesis of Cu (II) Coordination Polymer Coatings Based on 2,2′-Thiodiacetic Acid and 1,2,4,5-Benzenetetracarboxylate

Electrochemical synthesis of coordination polymers of Cu(II), [Cu(TDA)]_n and [Cu₂(BTC)(H₂O)₆?6H₂O]_n in which H₂TDA is 2,2′-thiodiacetic acid and BTC stands for 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate was carried out by the electrochemical oxidation of Cu anode in the presence of H₂TDA (a flexible ligand), and 1,2,4,5-benzentetracarboxylic acid (H₄BTC) (a rigid ligand) in aqueous solutions. The structure of coordination polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The crystal structure of the compounds consists of one-dimensional cubical crystal polymeric units of [Cu(TDA)]_n and [Cu₂(BTC)(H₂O)₆?6H₂O]_n. Furthermore, the coordination number of Cu (II) ions in synthesized coordination polymers to be found five. The main advantages of electrosynthesis are the minor synthesis time, the milder conditions and the facile synthesis of coordination polymer coatings.     

Uncalibrated visual servoing using the fundamental matrix

This paper describes a new algorithm for visual control of an uncalibrated 3 DOF joint system, using two weakly calibrated fixed cameras. The algorithm estimates on-line the Image Jacobian, a matrix which linearly relates joint velocity and image feature velocity. In our experiments we prove that by using the fundamental matrix, robustness of the estimation in the presence of noise is significantly increased with respect to already existing algorithms in specialized literature.     

Straight vegetable oil use in Micro-Gas Turbines: System adaptation and testing

The aim of this research work is to investigate the use of straight vegetable sunflower oil (SFO), a liquid biofuel, in a Micro-Gas Turbine (MGT). Compared to conventional diesel engines, micro-gas turbines represent a very reliable, clean and performing small scale cogeneration technology. Commercial gas turbines have already been tested with unconventional fuels, such as biomass derived fuels; however, research work on using Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) as fuel in MGTs are really scarce.The chemical and physical characteristics of SVO are different from fossil diesel oil and rather far from the common technical specifications for gas turbine liquid fuels, not only in terms of kinematic viscosity and Lower Heating Value, but also as regards other issues as contaminant levels and composition, fuel cold properties, ignition properties, etc. Therefore, particular attention has to be given to the atomization and evaporation phases, as these are the most critical steps to achieve stable and efficient long term operation.An analysis based on numerical correlations available from literature was initially adopted for the analysis of the atomization process, supported by CFD modeling to qualitatively investigate the flow pattern. Control parameters were revised and set so to produce a sunflower oil spray having evaporation time comparable to diesel, and minor adaptations to the fuel line were designed and installed on the MGT.Tests with blends and straight vegetable oil were carried out to assess the difference between the standard and the modified machine, fed by diesel, in terms of exhaust emissions, power output and performances, that were similar to the standard diesel-fed MGT. Measured exhaust emissions were as expected well below those typical of diesel engines of the same size fed with VO. The experimental campaign confirmed that it is possible to operate a MGT fed with SVO through the adoption of minor modifications and by adjusting control parameters.     

Antihyperlipidemic effect of diosmin: A citrus flavonoid on lipid metabolism in experimental diabetic rats

The present study was hypothesized to evaluated the antihyperlipidemic effect of diosmin (DS) on lipid metabolism in experimental diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced male albino Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ) (45 mg/kg b.w.) 15 min after the ip administration of nicotinamide (NA) (110 mg/kg b.w.). DS were administered to diabetic rats intragastrically at 100 mg/kg b.w. for 45 days. The levels of plasma and tissue lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) (TGs), free fatty acids (FFAs) and phospholipids (PLs), low density, very low-density lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL), and high-density-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. The activities of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) were assayed. The levels of plasma and tissue lipids decreased with significant increase in HDL-C levels. The altered activities of lipid metabolic enzymes were restored to near normal. The present findings suggest that DS can potentially ameliorate lipid abnormalities in experimental diabetes.     

Protective effect of tetrahydrocurcumin and chlorogenic acid against streptozotocin–nicotinamide generated oxidative stress induced diabetes

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) against streptozotocin (STZ)–nicotinamide (NA)-induced type 2 diabetes in adult Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced in experimental rats weighing 180–220 g, by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (45 mg/kg BW), 15 min after the (i.p.) administration of NA (110 mg/kg BW). THC (80 mg/kg BW) and CGA (5 mg/kg BW) were orally administered to diabetic rats for a period of 45 days. Fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA_1C), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were significantly increased, whereas insulin, total haemoglobin (Hb), non-enzymic antioxidants (reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, vitamin E and ceruloplasmin) were decreased significantly in diabetic rats. Though the diabetic rats treated with THC and CGA individual exerts beneficial effects in all the biochemical parameters in (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The combined treatment with THC and CGA normalized all the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Normal pancreatic histological architecture in THC and CGA treated diabetic rats revealed that these phytochemical exert higher degree of protection when administered in combination than single treatment of individual compounds.     

Non-proportional loading in sequentially linear analysis for 3D stress states

Sequentially linear analysis (SLA), a non-incremental-iterative approach towards finite element simulation of quasi-brittle materials, is based on sequentially identifying a critical integration point in the model, to reduce its strength and stiffness, and the associated critical load multiplier (λ_crit), to scale the linear analysis results. In this article, two novel methods are presented to enable SLA simulations for non-proportional loading situations in a three-dimensional fixed smeared crack framework. In the first approach, the cubic function in the load multiplier is analytically solved for real roots using trigonometric solutions or the Cardano method. In the second approach, the load multiplier is expressed as a function of the inclination of a potential damage plane and is deduced using a constrained optimization approach. The first method is preferred over the second for the validation studies due to computational efficiency and accuracy reasons. A three-point bending beam test, with and without prestress, and an RC slab tested in shear, with and without axial loads, are used as benchmarks. The proposed solution method shows good agreement with the experiments in terms of force-displacement curves and damage evolution.     

Furfurylation of wood from fast-growing tropical species to enhance their resistance to subterranean termite

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - The purpose of this study was to use furfurylation to enhance the resistance of wood to subterranean termite attack. Wood samples were obtained from...     

Generation of a nude mouse tumor model for in vivo replication of human cytomegalovirus

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to report the patterns of injury observed in five patients who suffered brain damage consequent to neonatal hypoglycemia. METHODS: The imaging studies and clinical records of five patients with brain damage caused by neonatal hypoglycemia were reviewed retrospectively. Patterns of injury were compared with those described in the literature and those seen in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury. RESULTS: Diffuse cortical and subcortical white matter damage was seen, with the parietal and occipital lobes affected most severely. Globus pallidus injury was present in one patient who had the most severe cortical injury. CONCLUSION: We found a specific pattern of injury that correlates well with the sparse pathologic and imaging reports on neonatal hypoglycemia. We speculate that the patterns of damage are the result of regional hypoperfusion and excitatory toxicity with cell-type-specific injury.