In this study, hydrophobic silica aerogels were synthesized from rice husk ash-derived sodium silicate through sol-gel processing, solvent exchange, surface modification and ambient pressure drying. By volume, 10% of trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in 90% of n-hexane was used as a hydrophobic solution in the surface modification process. The physical and chemical properties of silica aerogels were characterized by density and porosity measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory (BET) and dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC). The hydrogels prepared were in the form of 2.5 ± 0.5 mm beads and then converted into alcogels through solvent exchange with ethanol for repetition of 3, 6 and 9 days. It is found that the optimal quality of silica aerogels with the BET surface area as high as 668.82 m2/g was obtained from the alcogels of the solvent exchange period of 9 days. Depending on the size of the gel’s block, a longer solvent exchange period will ensure adequate removal of pore water. Post heat treatment on silica aerogels obtained from the 9 days of solvent exchange at 200, 300 and 400 °C for 2 h results in slight decreased of aerogel’s density from 0.048 g/cm3 to 0.039 g/cm3 and the hydrophobicity of the aerogels is decreased above 380 °C as confirmed by DSC analysis.
The satellite-based regression model provides the data model that identifies water quality for inland and coastal waters. However, the satellite regression usually depends on the selection of observation, satellite data, and model type. A resampling simulation technique, such as sequential simulation using geographically weighted regression (GWR simulation), can be applied in generating multiple realizations for water quality estimation to reduce the sampling effect and consider spatial heterogeneity. Traditional models often result in considerable underestimation in extreme observations. The GWR simulation provides the best goodness of fit and spatial varying relationship between observed water quality and remote sensing considering parameter outlier and noise removal for parameter stability. This simulation model can increase the sampling diversity from various observations and reduce the neighboring effects of observations using outlier and noise removal. The model that handles spatial uncertainty and heterogeneity is a novel tool for inferring the characteristics of water quality from a series of sample subsets.
Multilayered multi‐material interfaces are encountered in an array of fields. Here, enhanced mechanical performance of such multi‐material interfaces is demonstrated, focusing on strength and stiffness, by employing bondlayers with spatially‐tuned elastic properties realized via 3D printing. Compliance of the bondlayer is varied along the bondlength with increased compliance at the ends to relieve stress concentrations. Experimental testing to failure of a tri‐layered assembly in a single‐lap joint configuration, including optical strain mapping, reveals that the stress and strain redistribution of the compliance‐tailored bondlayer increases strength by 100% and toughness by 60%, compared to a constant modulus bondlayer, while maintaining the stiffness of the joint with the homogeneous stiff bondlayer. Analyses show that the stress concentrations for both peel and shear stress in the bondlayer have a global minimum when the compliant bond at the lap end comprises ≈10% of the bondlength, and further that increased multilayer performance also holds for long (relative to critical shear transfer length) bondlengths. Damage and failure resistance of multi‐material interfaces can be improved substantially via the compliance‐tailoring demonstrated here, with immediate relevance in additive manufacturing joining applications, and shows promise for generalized joining applications including adhesive bonding. 相似文献
The widespread use of the Internet and the convenient mechanism it provides, such as easy access, easy downloads, and easy copy and paste functions have made many types of unethical behaviors easier, particularly those involving students in academic settings. Among the issues in ethics within the academic environment that can be triggered by the Internet are fraudulence, plagiarism, falsification, delinquency, unauthorized help, and facility misuse. Given these issues, the study seeks to investigate the extent to which students at a public university in Malaysia engage in such unethical behavior and their relationship with the big five personality model. This study was conducted using a survey method of 252 students in three different academic faculties. The results of factor analyses confirm and refine the reliability of the scales for both big five personality variables and unethical Internet behaviors as conceptualized through Internet triggered academic dishonesty (ITADS). The findings indicate that personality traits such as (1) agreeableness, (2) conscientiousness and (3) emotional stability are significantly and negatively correlated with unethical Internet behavior in university students. Significant differences in facility misuse are also observed between the three academic faculties investigated. This research should provide significant contributions to educators in designing the computer ethics curriculum and in allowing for educational institutions as well as other organizations in developing relevant policies and guidelines on matters pertaining to academic conduct, utilization of computers and Internet, and recruitment exercises. 相似文献
Composite biomaterials are in high demand in the medical field of today. The combination of bioactive wollastonite (WA) glass ceramic with the biocompatibility of alloy titanium (Ti6Al4V) could be a good candidate for implant applications. The rheological properties of Ti6Al4V/WA feedstock show a pseudoplastic behaviour with low activation energy. The feedstock was successfully injected as a green part with no defects. The green part was solvent debound for 6?h in heptane and thermal debound in an argon environment for 1?h. The brown part was successfully sintered at 1300?°C for 3?h with 5?°C/min heating and cooling rates. The average sintered density was 4.12?g/cm3; which is 97.5% from the theoretical density. The highest Young's modulus obtained was 18.10?GPa; which is in the range of human bone strength. EDX analysis shows that by increasing sintering temperature, the level of oxygen decreased. Cell viability test shown an absorbance increased with days increasing indicated that the cellular were proliferated on the composite Ti6Al4V/WA composite which also proved that the composite was non-toxic. This indicates that the Ti6Al4V/WA composite is suitable for bone implant applications. 相似文献
Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays an important role in the regulation of uric acid and prevents it from being overproduced as in hyperuricemia disease. The combined effects of antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitor would become a promising approach for hyperuricemia treatment. In this research, the antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf were evaluated. The leaf water extract (PA‐W) showed highest total phenols, and petroleum ether extract (PA‐PE) showed highest total flavonoids contents. The antioxidant activity of DPPH, metal chelating and hydrogen peroxide was highest in PA‐W extract. The treatment of PA‐W extract at 1000 mg kg?1 body weight in potassium oxonate‐induced hyperuricemic rats showed significant (P <0.001) decrease in serum uric acid level by 85% and XO activity by 64%, respectively, as compared to the hyperuricemic rats. In conclusion, the P. amaryllifolius possess the dual effect of antioxidant and XO inhibition as potential therapeutic agents in the hyperuricemia treatment. 相似文献
The system chitosan : ethylene carbonate : LiCF3SO3 was prepared by the solution cast technique. To verify that the conductivity of the material is due to the salt, the electrical conductivity at room temperature of the chitosan acetate film and that of the chitosan acetate films containing different amounts of ethylene carbonate added to it were measured. The order of magnitude of the electrical conductivity was 10–10 S cm–1. Films containing fixed content of chitosan and plasticizer but different amounts of salt were then prepared in the same manner and the highest electrical conductivity obtained was 1.3 × 10–5 S cm–1 at room temperature. These results indicate that the conductivity is due to the salt. Conductivity-temperature studies show that the ln T versus 103/T graphs obey Arrhenius rule implying that the conductivity occurs by way of some thermally assisted mechanism. Polarization current measurement shows that the lithium ion transference number is 0.09. A LiMn2O4/chitosan-LiCF3SO3/C cell was fabricated which cycled between 1.5 to 2.5 V with fading capacity. This could be the result of LiF formation due to interaction between the salt and the fluorine in the binding agent. 相似文献
In December 1996, TIME magazine published an article titled "Finding God on the Web," which projected how the Internet would shape information seeking on faith and religion. A decade later, the Web has become a popular tool for gathering religious information as well as information and imagery related to religious travel. Yet there is little research on religious destination imagery online. Imagery—positive or negative, pictographic or narrative—influences the selection of tourism destinations. This study explored online Muslim images in Malaysia via interviews and content analyses of pictures and text on tourism destination websites' homepages. The results reveal minimal portrayal of Muslim images by Malaysian tourism destination organizations. This study adds to the small body of research, especially in Muslim countries, on online religious imagery and suggests avenues for tourism operators in Malaysia and elsewhere to improve their online image with both Muslim and non-Muslim travelers. 相似文献