Bi12TiO20 synthesized directly from bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate and its activity

Pure phase of sillenite structure, Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, was directly synthesized using stoichiometric bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate by co-precipitation. The influence of pH on the structure of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ was studied in the pH range of 3–10. The sillenite structure was characterized using XRD and FTIR. The photo-degradation reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was used to study photocatalytic activity of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ as a function of the preparation pH. The rate of decomposition was followed by UV-vis and TOC. The beginning concentration of 4-NP, 44 ppm, decreased to less than 1 ppm within 30 min for all prepared catalysts. It was found that the decomposition rate constant of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ is six times higher than those of either TiO₂ or Bi₂O₃ under the same conditions.     

Using tangible user interfaces in computer-based training systems for low-functioning autistic children

In this paper, the design of a computer-based training (CBT) system for low-functioning autistic children is addressed. The emphasis is on ease-of-use and learning efficiency of CBT systems with different interaction styles, namely the WIMP (Window Icon Menu Pointing Device) and TUI (Tangible User Interface) interaction styles. Two WIMP-based CBT systems with different pointing devices were involved in the study. The first system applied a standard computer mouse as a pointing device, while the second one employed a touch screen instead. For the TUI-based CBT system, a tabletop setting was adopted. Based on the known characteristics of TUI and children with autism, as well as related cognitive and learning theories, the benefits of TUI for low-functioning autistic children have been investigated. Elementary skill teaching was chosen as a case study for performance evaluation of these CBT systems. Empirical results show that the touch-based and TUI-based systems offered much better ease-of-use performance than that of the mouse-based system. Regarding learning efficacy, experimental results show that the TUI-based system achieved higher skill improvement, as compared with the WIMP-based system and a non-computer training method. Some guidelines and suggestions for the design of a TUI-based system for children with autism are summarized.     

An experimental study of fatigue crack initiation and growth from coldworked holes

The behavior of specimens with holes that were coldworked by radial expansion was studied. The initiation and growth of fatigue cracks was observed for a remote cyclic loading that generated stresses at the hole edge slightly above the yield stress. Coldworking affected the growth rate, not the initiation. Strains near the hole were measured with the moiré technique and used to predict the initiation of cracks in the noncoldworked specimens with reasonable accuracy. Stress intensity factors computed with a linear elastic superposition procedure compared favorably with those measured by crack growth and displacement techniques for cracks longer than 1 mm.     

PH sensitive structural uniformity of rice husk ash‐derived MCM‐41 silica

In this study, highly uniform MCM‐41 mesoporous silica was synthesised from rice husk ash‐derived sodium silicate using cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) as a template. The chemical composition of the gel mixture was based on a SiO₂:CTAC:H₂O molar ratio of 1:0.5:75. When the pH value was initially controlled at ranges of 5.0–10.5 for 5 h and then immediately adjusted to 11.25 for the next 1 h, the structural uniformity of MCM‐41 was abruptly increased by 3.3–7.5 times of the single pH value at 11.25, respectively. Moreover, thermal and hydrothermal stabilities at 900 and 250°C were clearly observed. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Molecular insight into the specific binding of ADP-ribose to the nsP3 macro domains of chikungunya and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses: molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations

The outbreaks of chikungunya (CHIKV) and venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEEV) viral infections in humans have emerged or re-emerged in various countries of "Africa and southeast Asia", and "central and south America", respectively. At present, no drug or vaccine is available for the treatment and therapy of both viral infections, but the non-structural protein, nsP3, is a potential target for the design of potent inhibitors that fit at the adenosine-binding site of its macro domain. Here, so as to understand the fundamental basis of the particular interactions between the ADP-ribose bound to the nsP3 amino acid residues at the binding site, molecular dynamics simulations were applied. The results show that these two nsP3 domains share a similar binding pattern for accommodating the ADP-ribose. The ADP-ribose phosphate unit showed the highest degree of stabilization through hydrogen bond interactions with the nsP3 V33 residue and the consequent amino acid residues 110-114. The adenine base of ADP-ribose was specifically recognized by the conserved nsP3 residue D10. Additionally, the ribose and the diphosphate units were found to play more important roles in the CHIKV nsP3-ADP-ribose complex, while the ter-ribose was more important in the VEEV complex. The slightly higher binding affinity of ADP-ribose toward the nsP3 macro domain of VEEV, as predicted by the simulation results, is in good agreement with previous experimental data. These simulation results provide useful information to further assist in drug design and development for these two important viruses.     

Correlation of sol–gel processing parameters with microstructure and properties of a ceramic product

A very high purity MgAl₂O₄ spinel precursor can be prepared via a low temperature process called “Oxide One Pot Synthesis (OOPS)”. Sol–gel processing of such precursors offers the opportunity to prepare spinels with controlled microstructures, which is key to optimizing their properties for application as humidity sensors. Sol–gel processing of a double alkoxide precursor was carried out in buffer solutions in the pH range 8–12, to investigate the effect on the physical properties of the calcined ceramic products. The structure and morphology of the latter were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM and BET surface area measurements. Sol–gel processing results in a calcined product with a narrow pore size distribution, which contains a spinel phase of high crystallinity. At higher pH values, increasing amounts of an -Al₂O₃ phase are formed. At all pH values, the calcined product exhibits high water adsorption, up to 0.312 g H₂O/g sample.     

Highly dispersed Mo-MCM-41 produced from silatrane and molybdenum glycolate precursors and its peroxidation activity

High surface area and high dispersion Mo/MCM-41 catalysts were successfully prepared using high-purity silatrane and molybdenum glycolate precursors. The precursors were synthesized using the Oxide One Pot Synthesis (OOPS) process. Mo was loaded onto MCM-41 by impregnation before and after heat treatment. After heat treatment, the catalysts were characterized using DRUV, XRD, FTIR, Laser Raman and BET. The %Mo dispersion was as high as 10 mol% or 0.265 g MoO₃/g SiO₂ while the structure of MCM-41 was still retained. Bulk MoO₃ was observed in the case of Mo-loaded onto the calcined support of MCM-41(c). The Mo-loaded uncalcined silicate MCM-41 support showed better catalytic activity during the peroxidative reaction.     

Maximum power point tracking using adaptive fuzzy logic control for grid-connected photovoltaic system

This paper proposes a method of maximum power point tracking using adaptive fuzzy logic control for grid-connected photovoltaic systems. The system is composed of a boost converter and a single-phase inverter connected to a utility grid. The maximum power point tracking control is based on adaptive fuzzy logic to control a switch of a boost converter. Adaptive fuzzy logic controllers provide attractive features such as fast response, good performance. In addition, adaptive fuzzy logic controllers can also change the fuzzy parameter for improving the control system. The single phase inverter uses predictive current control which provides current with sinusoidal waveform. Therefore, the system is able to deliver energy with low harmonics and high power factor. Both conventional fuzzy logic controller and adaptive fuzzy logic controller are simulated and implemented to evaluate performance. Simulation and experimental results are provided for both controllers under the same atmospheric condition. From the simulation and experimental results, the adaptive fuzzy logic controller can deliver more power than the conventional fuzzy logic controller.