14 MeV neutron activation analysis of gold jewellery

Samples of nominal 18 carat and 21 carat gold jewelleries from the local market were non-destructively bulk analyzed using neutron activation analysis. Neutrons of 14 MeV energy were used with a fast pneumatic sample transfer system. The actual gold contents, as well as the composition of the base metals in these samples were determined. The fast neutron activation was found to be an efficient, quick and accurate method of characterizing the precious metal objects routinely in bulk, with a large sample throughput. The results demonstrate the commercial availability of the technique for non-destructive bulk analysis of precious metal objects.     

Efficiency calibration of HPGe detector in far and close geometries

The absolute total and full-energy peak (FEP) efficiencies of a high purity germanium (HPGe) photon detector are measured in the energy range from 40 keV to 1500 keV. The functional parameters are fitted to the calibration points from 14 long-lived standard sources (¹²⁹I,²⁴¹Am,¹⁰⁹Cd,⁵⁷Co,¹³⁹Ce,¹³⁷Cs,⁵⁴Mn,⁶⁵Zn,⁶⁰Co,²²Na,¹³³Ba,¹⁵²Eu,¹⁵⁴Eu and^166mHo) within an accuracy better than the quoted uncertainty of the calibration sources. The efficiencies in far and close geometries are compared.     

Effect of Polycondensation Reaction Conditions on the Properties of Thermotropic Liquid‐Crystalline Copolyester

In this study a range of wholly aromatic copolyesters based on kink m‐acetoxybenzoic acid (m‐ABA) monomer (33 mol%) and equimolar‐linear p‐acetoxybenzoic acid (p‐ABA), hydroquinone diacetate (HQDA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) monomers (67 mol%) have been synthesized by melt polycondensation reaction process at 280°C and 260°C for different time intervals. Characterization of copolyesters were performed by solution viscosity measurement, wide–angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot‐stage polarized light microscopy, proton‐nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (¹H‐NMR). According to the results obtained, copolyesters showed thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior in an appropriate temperature range. The copolyesters were prepared in high yields. It was observed that the intrinsic viscosities of the copolyesters are increased regularly with increasing polymerization time and temperature. All the copolyesters were soluble in a trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane (30:70 v/v) except the copolyesters which were synthesized at 280°C in 5 h. According to the WAXD results; the degree of crystallinity of copolyesters were found to be between 5–15%. DSC and hot stage polarized light microscopy results showed that all the copolyesters are melt processable and a significant molecular interaction exist in a very broad temperature range (160°C and 165°C) in the nematic mesophase. The T_g values are increased with an increasing polycondensation reaction time and temperature and they were observed between 93–126°C. Fibers prepared by a hand‐spinning technique from the polymer melt exhibit well‐developed fibrillar structure parallel to the fiber axis.     

Surface characterization and radical decay studies of oxygen plasma‐treated PMMA films

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films were modified by RF oxygen plasma with various powers applied for different periods, and the effects of these parameters on the surface properties such as hydrophilicity, surface free energy (SFE), chemistry, and topography were investigated by water contact angle, goniometer, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy, and the types of the created free radicals and their decay were detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). SFE and contact angle results varied depending on the plasma parameters. Oxygen plasma treatment (100 W–30 min) enhanced the hydrophilicity of PMMA surface as shown by decreasing the water contact angle from 70° to 26°. XPS analysis showed the change in the amounts of the present functionalities as well as formation of new groups as free carbonyl and carbonate groups. The roughness of the surface increased considerably from ~2 nm to ~75 nm after 100 W–30 min oxygen plasma treatment. ESR analysis indicated the introduction of peroxy radicals by oxygen plasma treatment, and the intensity of the radicals increased with increasing the applied power. Significant decrease in radical concentration was observed especially for the samples treated with higher powers when the samples were kept under the atmospheric conditions. As a conclusion, RF plasma, causes changes in the chemical and physical properties of the materials depending on the applied parameters, and can be used for the creation of specific groups or radicals to link or immobilize active molecules onto the surface of a material. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.) Pulps for the Removal of Copper(II) Ions: Kinetic,Equilibrium, and Desorption Studies

Pomegranate pulp has been used as novel adsorbent for removing Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution. The optimum conditions for removal of Cu(II) ions were found to be pH 5.32, biosorbent dose 0.1 g, contact time 120 minutes, initial concentration 50 mg/L, and temperature 30°C. The kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model. The biosorption process agreed with the Langmuir isotherm model. Maximum monolayer biosorption capacity was 7.30 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters suggest that the biosorption process is spontaneous and exothermic. Desorption studies were carried out with different desorbing agents.      

Microstructural properties and local atomic structures of cobalt oxide nanoparticles synthesised by mechanical ball-milling process

In this study, facile preparation of pure and nano-sized cobalt oxides particles was achieved using low-cost mechanical ball-milling synthesis route. Microstructural and morphological properties of synthesised products were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. XRD results indicated that the fabricated samples composed of cubic pure phase CoO and Co₃O₄ nanocrystalline particles with an average crystallite size of 37.2 and 31.8 nm, respectively. TEM images showed that the resulting samples consisted of agglomerates of particles with average diameter of about 37.6 nm for CoO and 31.9 nm for Co₃O₄. Phase purity of the prepared samples was further investigated due to their promising technological applications. Local atomic structure properties of the prepared nanoparticles were probed using synchrotron radiation-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) including X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). EXAFS data analysis further confirmed the formation of single-phase CoO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles. In addition, structural properties of cobalt oxide nanoparticles were investigated by performing density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/TZVP level and Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. Theoretical calculations for both prepared samples were found to be consistent with the experimental results derived from EXAFS analysis. Obtained results herein reveals that highly crystalline and pure phase CoO and Co₃O₄ nanoparticles can be synthesised using simple, inexpensive and eco-friendly ball-milling method for renewable energy applications involving fuel cells and water splitting devices.     

Silver nanoparticle containing silk fibroin bionanotextiles

Development of new generation bionanotextiles is an important growing field, and they have found applications as wound dressings, bandages, tissue scaffolds, etc. In this study, silver nanoparticle (AgNP) containing silk-based bionanotextiles were fabricated by electrospinning, and processing parameters were optimized and discussed in detail. AgNPs were in situ synthesized within fibroin nanofibers by UV reduction of silver ions to metallic silver. The influence of post-treatments via methanol treatment and glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor exhibited changes in the secondary structure of silk. Methanol treatment increased the tensile properties of fibers due to supported crystalline silk structure, while GA vapor promoted amorphous secondary structure. AgNP containing silk fibroin bionanotextiles had strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

The Turkish accelerator complex IR FEL project

Turkish accelerator complex (TAC) project was approved by State Planning Organization (DPT) of Turkey in 2006. The complex will contain a linac-ring type electron–positron collider as a particle factory and different accelerator based light sources. As a first step to the national center, the construction of an IR FEL facility is planned until 2011. It is also planned that the technical design report for TAC will be completed in 2010. The TAC IR FEL facility will consist of an electron linac in the range of 15–40 MeV energy to obtain FEL in 2–185 microns range. In this study, the preliminary parameters of TAC IR FEL facility were presented. The possible using of the obtained FEL in material science, nonlinear optics, semiconductors, biotechnology, medicine and photochemical processes were discussed.     

Two new eudesmane derivatives from Verbesina virginica

<正>Two new eudesmane derivatives were isolated from the leaves and flowers of Verbesina virginica,along with the known 6-O-β-E -p-coumaroyl-4α-hydroxyeudesmane(1).Their structures were determined as 6-O-β-Z-p-coumaroyl-4α-hydroxyeudesmane(2) and 6-O-α-E-p-coumaroyl-1β-4α-dihydroxyeudesmane(3) by spectroscopic methods.