Stress Corrosion Cracking of Cast 6063 and Deep Drawn 1017 Aluminum Utensils In Lycopersicum esculentum

In the black world cup-shaped utensils cast or deep drawn are usually used for cooking purpose. The utensils are made from deep drawn aluminum alloy of the 1xxx series and for cast 6xxx series. The cylindrical shape utensil is subjected to domestic heating cycles and after a while, tiny hole-like features termed pits will appear. This development will eventually shorten the service life of aluminum cooking utensils. This article examines the chemical response of deep drawn and cast utensils made from 1017 and 6063 aluminum alloys, respectively, in solution of Lycopersicum esculentum at a temperature other than ambient temperature. The results show that cast cylindrical utensils pit much more readily than deep drawn utensils. This occurrence is traceable to the presence of microcracks as a result of hydrogen embrittlement phase, precipitation of brittle second phase particles and the fine texture in cast utensils. The aluminum alloy can fail by cracking along grain boundaries when exposed to specific environments.     

Updates on the development of nanostructured transition metal nitrides for electrochemical energy storage and water splitting

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Supporting command and control training functions in the emergency management domain using cognitive systems engineering

The design and implementation of MERMAIDS, a computer-based training system in the domain of emergency command and control, is described. The research investigates the use of cognitive systems engineering and information management tools for modelling and representing training knowledge of emergency system operators. We propose a decision-centric human-computer interface as a new method of supporting computer-based modelling in the domain of emergency systems. Several interacting themes in information management relevant to emergency response planning are discussed.     

LaNi4.1-xCo0.6Mn0.3Alx储氢合金结构及电化学储氢性能研究

为改善LaNi4.1 Co0.6 Mn0.3储氢合金的性能,研究了系列LaNi4.1-xCo0.6Mn0.3Alx(x=0,0.15,0.3,0.45)合金的结构和电化学储氢性能.结果表明:制备的合金为典型CaCu5型AB5储氢合金,随着A1替代量增加,LaNi5相的晶胞参数a、c、c/a值和晶胞体积逐渐增大,相应合金的放电容量有所降低,但合金电极的循环稳定性和不可逆自放电和高温容量得到明显改善.60个循环后的容量保持率(S60)分别为58.79％ (x=0)、79.72％(x=0.3)、79.35％(x=0.45);合金电极不可逆容量损失率(贮存96 h)由14.41％(x=0)降到2.38％ (x=0.45).在323 K的放电容量由266.04mA·h/g(x=0)增加到302.4mA·h/g(x=0.15)、302.12mA·h/g(x=0.3)和299.88 mA·h/g(x=0.45).但Al替代Ni后,合金电极的交换电流密度I0和氢原子在合金内部的氢扩散系数DH降低,导致其高倍率放电性能变差.     

Rational Optimization of Dihydropyrimidinone-Quinoline Hybrids as Plasmodium falciparum Glutathione Reductase Inhibitors

A series of dihydropyrimidinone-based antimalarial compounds were designed and synthesised based on the previously identified amide-based quinoline hybrids which showed good resistance reversal ability against the resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum. The aromatic ring on the dihydropyrimidinone of the original hits was exchanged for a methyl group to bring the molecular weights below 500 Da and also determine the effect of the aromatic ring count on the resistance reversal ability of the hybrids. Apart from the previously used amide bond, the hybrid linker was also extended to the triazole linker. Although the triazole linker is synthetically easier to access, the use of an amide linker seems to have an activity advantage. The synthesised compounds in addition to the previously identified hits were subjected to molecular docking particularly targeting the orthosteric site of Plasmodium falciparum glutathione reductase (PfGR) protein. The ligand with the best binding interaction was rationally optimised to increase its suitability as a competitive inhibitor against the cofactor of the PfGR. Two of the optimised ligands showed better binding affinities than the cofactor while one of the two ligands displayed hydrophobically packed correlated hydrogen-bond which is very important in maintaining the ligand stability within the protein. In silico ADME predictions of the synthesised compounds indicate that these compounds possess good pharmacokinetic properties.     

Extraction equilibrium conditions of beryllium and aluminium from a beryl ore for optimal industrial beryllium compound production

This study examines the extraction of beryllium and aluminium from a Nigerian beryl ore using Cyanex®272 in kerosene from an aqueous sulphate pregnant solution. Parameters such as extractant concentration and equilibrium pH that dictates the extraction yield were studied. Under the following conditions: temperature 27?±?2°C, phase ratio 1?1, about 45.50 and 46.76% of beryllium and aluminium were extracted by 0.15?mol?L^?1 Cyanex®272 concentration within 30?min. However, the extraction yield of beryllium and aluminium was increased to 91.68% and 97.89% at equilibrium pH of 3 and 4, respectively, for beryllium and aluminium at 27?±?2°C. A 0.05?mol?L^?1 H₂SO₄ solution was found to be adequate for the stripping of about 99.00% Be and 95.40% Al from the loaded organic phase. The pure solutions containing metal ions were accordingly beneficiated to obtain beryllium and aluminium compounds of industrial values.     

Trace metal accumulation in Clarias gariepinus (Teugels) exposed to sublethal levels of tannery effluent

The concentration and distribution of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn among the tissues of a freshwater fish, Clarias gariepinus exposed to combined (composite) tannery effluent was investigated at two sublethal concentrations (2 and 6%) in static bioassay for 8 weeks. The distribution of the four metals in fish was of the order of Pb > Cr > Cu > Zn and the accumulation was found to be dose- and time-dependent. The metal levels in the liver were significantly higher (P > 0.05) than other tissues. This was followed by the gill and the gut. Relatively low accumulation of these metals was found in muscle tissue.     

An open trial of lisinopril (''ZESTRIL'') in mild to moderate hypertension in Nigeria

The concept of transcultural nursing is relatively new to the nursing literature. It had been less than 30 years since Madeleine Leininger first began to develop a theory of transcultural nursing as part of a doctoral study in anthropology. Much has changed in that time, and nursing staff development and inservice educators need to provide educational offerings within a multicultural context in a timely manner. Cultural diversity is the standard in the mid-1990s, and those nursing staff development programs that are sensitive to this fact produce employees with advantages over those from settings that do not prepare staff for practice in a constantly changing world. This annotated bibliography about transcultural nursing details key references for staff development and inservice programs. It is not intended as an exhaustive review but rather focuses on the most relevant, timely, and useful of the ever increasing number of publications concerning this important subject. Six major books and four of the most pertinent recent journal articles are included. Conclusions and implications for nursing staff educators are offered.     

Comparative analysis and performance of load bearing characteristics of biogas and gasoline-fuelled electric generator

ABSTRACT

This research demonstrates a simplified purification of biogas from hybrid waste and conversion of a single cylinder spark ignition engine to use biogas. The scrubbed gas obtained showed 95% methane enriched biogas. The carburettor of the gasoline engine was modified with a tri-fuel carburettor to suit the input specimen fuel fed to the modified 2.5 kVA, 230 V, and 50 Hz reciprocating engine to generate power. Results showed that 1 kg of compressed biogas ran for 46 min with a load capacity of 1800 W on the 2.5 kVA modified generator, while a litre of gasoline ran for 72 min under the same loading capacity. A comparative assessment of the load bearing characteristics was conducted. Load condition exceeding 1000 W resulted in a voltage output drop of 14.25% on biogas while a small change in voltage of 0.06% occurred for loading conditions between 100 and 1000 W. There was 8.5% decrease in engine speed while operating on biogas with little or no change on gasoline. Maximum torque of 5 and 3.5 Nm at 1800 W electric loading was experienced for gasoline and biogas. Finally, the BSFC for gasoline and biogas at 15% loading condition was maximum at 2000 and 2400 kg/kWh, respectively.