Selecting an agricultural technology package based on the flexible and interactive tradeoff method

Annals of Operations Research - The aim of this paper is to solve an agricultural technology packages selection problem by considering multiple dimensions which influence a maize producer’s...     

Piezoelectric property improvement of polyethylene ferroelectrets using postprocessing thermal‐pressure treatment

In this work, biaxially stretched polymer foams with well‐defined cellular structures were prepared from polyethylene via blown‐film extrusion and subjected to corona charging to produce a piezoelectric response. The charging parameters were first optimized in terms of charging voltage and needle distance, as well as the gas type and pressure to investigate their effect on the piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃). The results show that samples charged under nitrogen (N₂) at 100 kPa had better d₃₃ coefficient than those charged under ambient air or N₂ at 20 kPa. Moreover, 2 different thermal pressure treatments were imposed to obtain an optimized eye‐like cellular structure with different cell aspect ratios (AR). The results showed that when the cells were elongated in both the longitudinal and transverse directions (higher AR), higher d₃₃ coefficients were achieved. From all the samples produced, the best results were obtained for a longitudinal aspect ratio (AR‐L) of 7.1, a transversal aspect ratio (AR‐T) of 4.6, and a relative foam density of 0.52 leading to a d₃₃ coefficient of 935 pC/N. This coefficient was further increased using reverse charging and multilayered films, reaching a maximum of 2550 pC/N. This value is much higher than typical ones reported so far for any polyethylene and polypropylene ferroelectrets. These results could increase the use of polyethylene in piezoelectric applications as these materials are very attractive for the large‐scale production of electret‐based sensors and transducers due to their low cost and easy processing.     

Electrokinetic characterization of hybrid NOA 81-glass microchips: Application to protein microchip electrophoresis with indirect fluorescence detection

A low-cost and straightforward hybrid NOA (Norland optical adhesive) 81-glass microchip electrophoresis device was designed and developed for protein separation using indirect fluorescence detection. This new microchip was first characterized in terms of surface charge density via electroosmotic mobility measurement and stability over time. A systematic determination of the electroosmotic mobility (μ_eo) over a wide pH range (2–10) and at various ionic strengths (20–50 mM) was developed for the first time via the neutral marker approach in an original simple frontal methodology. The evolution of μ_eo was proved consistent with the silanol and thiol functions arising from the glass and the NOA materials, respectively. The repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements on different microchips (RSD < 14%) and within 15 days (less than 5% decrease) were successfully demonstrated. The microchip was then applied for the efficient electrophoretic separation of proteins in a zonal mode coupled with indirect fluorescence detection, which is, to our knowledge, the first proof of concept of capillary zone electrophoresis in this hybrid microsystem.     

Water Formation in Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Routes: Selective Synthesis of Tetragonal and Monoclinic Mesoporous Zirconia as a Case Study

Several non-hydrolytic sol–gel syntheses involving different precursors, oxygen donors, and conditions have been screened aiming to selectively produce mesoporous t-ZrO₂ or m-ZrO₂ with significant specific surface areas. The in situ water formation was systematically investigated by Karl Fisher titration of the syneresis liquids. XRD and nitrogen physisorption were employed to characterize the structure and texture of the ZrO₂ samples. Significant amounts of water were found in several cases, notably in the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with ketones (acetone, 2-pentanone, acetophenone), and of ZrCl₄ with alcohols (benzyl alcohol, ethanol) or acetone. Conversely, the reactions of Zr(OnPr)₄ with acetic anhydride or benzyl alcohol at moderate temperature (200 °C) and of ZrCl₄ with diisopropyl ether appear strictly non-hydrolytic. Although reaction time and reaction temperature were also important parameters, the presence of water played a crucial role on the structure of the final zirconia: t-ZrO₂ is favored in strictly non-hydrolytic routes, while m-ZrO₂ is favored in the presence of significant amounts of water. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis of the syneresis liquids allowed us to identify the main reactions responsible for the formation of water and of the oxide network. The morphology of the most interesting ZrO₂ samples was further investigated by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM).     

Isolation and structure determination of a novel furanic ester from the aerial part of Prasium majus

The aerial part of Prasium majus provided a new furanic ester, 2-2-[(5-formyl-6[(5-formylfuran-2-yl)methoxy] succinic acid dimethyl ester, (+/-)-hiziprafuran. Its structure was principally established by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.     

Chemical composition and in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Teucrium sauvagei Le Houerou

The chemical composition and the in vitro antifungal and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and the methanolic leaf extracts of Teucrium sauvagei Le Houerou, an endemic medicinal plant growing in Tunisia, have been studied. More than 35 constituents having an abundance >or=0.2% were identified in the oil. beta-Eudesmol, T-cadinol, alpha-thujene, gamma-cadinene, and sabinene were the prevalent constituents. Results of the antifungal activity tests indicated that the methanolic extract inhibited the in vitro growth of seven dermatophytes, whereas the essential oil showed average inhibition against only three dermatophytes. In vitro antioxidant properties of the essential oil and the methanolic extract were determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) assays and compared to those of the synthetic antioxidant Trolox. Due to their antifungal and antioxidant properties, the essential oil and the methanolic extract of T. sauvagei may be of use as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceutical industries.     

Structure-antibacterial activity relationship of secondary metabolites from Ajuga pseudoiva Rob. leaves

A selection of steroids, glycerides, clerodane diterpenoids, and a beta-hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester, all previously isolated from Ajuga pseudoiva leaves, were tested for their antibacterial activity toward three Gram- rods and one Gram+ coccus using the dilution method; MIC values were determined. The results suggested some importance for a free beta-hydroxy group in the fatty acid ester and also in the glycerides and clerodane derivatives; the absolute configurations of the latter, notably at C2, had little influence on activity.     

Mutagenic, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities of a new class of beta-glucoside hydroxyhydroquinone from Anagallis monelli growing in Tunisia

A new skeleton of an O-heteroside natural substance named zinolol, the first representative of a new class of aminated hydroxyhydroquinone, has been isolated from the whole plant Anagallis monelli. Its structure has been established by one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic procedures. Antioxidant, mutagenic, antimutagenic activities were realised and positive results were recorded.     

Echiofruzine, a novel naringenin diglycoside from Echiochilon fruticosum growing in Tunisia

The aerial parts of the Tunisian plant Echiochilon fruticosum yielded a novel flavonol diglycoside: naringenin-5-O-beta-D-glycopyranoside-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, named Echiofruzine (1), together with the known compounds vomifoliol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyraroside (2), 1-oxo-alpha-ionyl-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] eugenol (4), described for the first time in the indicated plant. The structures of the four isolated compounds were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.