Optimization of Transducer Location for Novel Non-Intrusive Methodologies of Diagnosis in Diesel Engines

The health monitoring has been studied to ensure integrity of design of engine structure by detection, quantification, and prediction of damages. Early detection of faults may allow the downtime of maintenance to be rescheduled, thus preventing sudden shutdown of machines. In cylinder pressure developed, vibrations and noise emissions data provide a rich source of information about condition of engines. Monitoring of vibrations and noise emissions are novel non-intrusive methodologies for which positioning of various transducers are important issue. The presented work shows applicability of these diagnosis methodologies adopted in case of diesel engines. The effects of changing various fuel injection parameters was analyzed. Scope of using non-intrusive technique has been analyzed by changing locations of microphone. Novelty of this worklies in exploring signal processing methods for various locations around the engine test set up. Various frequency ranges of contributing noise and vibration sources were identified. Time-Frequency analysis showed the onset of various cyclic. Based on the identification of various frequency bands, it is possible to device suitable filters in order to extract more information.     

Alkaloid extracts of Ficus species and palm oil-derived tocotrienols synergistically inhibit proliferation of human cancer cells

Tocotrienols have been reported to possess anticancer effects other than anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study explored the potential synergism of antiproliferative effects induced by individual alkaloid extracts of Ficus fistulosa, Ficus hispida and Ficus schwarzii combined with δ- and γ-tocotrienols against human brain glioblastoma (U87MG), lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells. Cell viability and morphological results demonstrated that extracts containing a mixture of alkaloids from the leaves and bark of F. schwarzii inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 cells, whereas the alkaloid extracts of F. fistulosa inhibited the proliferation of both U87MG and HT-29 cells and showed synergism in combined treatments with either δ- or γ-tocotrienol resulting in 2.2–34.7 fold of reduction in IC₅₀ values of tocotrienols. The observed apoptotic cell characteristics in conjunction with the synergistic antiproliferative effects of Ficus species-derived alkaloids and tocotrienols assuredly warrant future investigations towards the development of a value-added chemotherapeutic regimen against cancers.     

Activated carbon derived from tree bark biomass with promising material properties for supercapacitors

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Activated carbon from tree bark (ACB) has been synthesized by a facile and environmentally friendly activation and carbonization process at different...     

Preparation of polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer/nitrile rubber ternary thermoplastics vulcanizates with good mechanical properties and oil resistance by core‐shell dynamic vulcanization

As the most successful commercialized thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) TPVs exhibit poor oil resistance. In this work, we prepared PP/EPDM/butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (NBR) ternary TPVs with good oil resistance using core‐shell dynamic vulcanization. According to the theoretical analysis of the spreading coefficient and the transmission electron microscopy results, the rubber phases exhibited a special core‐shell structure, in which the cross‐linkedNBR‐core was encapsulated by the EPDM‐shell. The core‐shell structure effectively improved the interfacial compatibility between PP and NBR phase as the EPDM‐shell could avoid the direct contact of them, thus improving the mechanical properties of the TPVs. For example, the PP/EPDM/NBR (40/30/30) ternary TPV showed enhanced tensile strength of 12.57 MPa, compared with 10.71 MPa of PP/EPDM (40/60) TPV and 11.11 MPa of PP/NBR (40/60) TPV, respectively. Moreover, the oil resistance of the TPVs was also improved. Compared with PP/EPDM TPV, the change rates in mass, volume, tensile strength and elongation at break of PP/EPDM/NBR TPV after oil immersion decreased by 42.18%, 48.69%, 52.68% and 28.77%, respectively.     

Determination of Pesticide Residues in Fruit and Vegetables by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Multivariate Response Surface Methodology

Multivariate response surface methodology optimization using Placket–Burman and Box–Behnken designs were respectively used for the screening and optimization of significant factors for liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Consequently, the optimized instrument successfully improved the sample preparation protocol and the method was validated. However, modified QuEChERS dispersive solid phase extraction coupled with ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction were used for the determination of multi-pesticide residues in fruit and vegetable samples. The analysed samples were jackfruit, strawberries, cucumber, pears, and carrots. The resulting linearity range (5–400?µg/kg) and regression coefficient (>0.99) results were satisfactory. The 94.2 and 95.8% accuracy (89–138%) and precision (0–25%) results were satisfactory and within the recommended ranges (≤20%) and (70–120%), respectively. The limits of detection (0.01–0.54?µg/kg) and quantitation (0.03–1.79?µg/kg) were excellent. The matrix effects (≤?87%) for all analysed samples were not significant. The estimated measurement uncertainties (≤27%) were within the acceptable range (≤50%). Justifiably, the response surface methodology optimized instrument and sample treatment techniques were reliable and convenient for multi-pesticide residue determination in various fruits and vegetables.     

Geological influence on the activity concentration of terrestrial radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the Jos Plateau,Nigeria

The Jos Plateau has been reported to have elevated levels of natural background radiation. A few earlier studies have measured the levels of natural radioactivity for specific locations in the area. Our interest is to investigate how geology of the study area influences the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides. Thus, the activity concentrations of terrestrial radionuclides in soil samples collected across the geological formations of the Jos Plateau were determined by gamma spectrometry technique. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were found to exceed their corresponding world reference values of 35, 40 and 400?Bq?kg^?1, respectively. Data were compared using statistical methods, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests. The results revealed in some instances significant influences of geological types on the activity concentrations in the area. The spatial distribution maps of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were geostatistically interpolated by ordinary Kriging method using ArcGIS software.     

Multi-pesticide Residues Determination in Samples of Fruits and Vegetables Using Chemometrics Approach to QuEChERS-dSPE Coupled with Ionic Liquid-Based DLLME and LC–MS/MS

Pesticides play vital roles in agricultural practices, but the nature and mishandling of the chemicals have led to their accumulation in moist soil, vegetables and fruits. Thus, development of efficient methods for pesticides determination is one of the most important ways to address such challenges. Multivariate response surface methodology optimisation using Placket–Burman and Box–Behnken designs were respectively used for screening and optimisation of significant factors of quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) with dispersive solid-phase extraction (SPE). Consequently, the optimised QuEChERS-dSPE technique coupled with modified ionic liquid-based (IL-based) dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was used for sample preparation before LC–MS/MS. The developed method was validated (SANTE 11831-2017) for multi-pesticide residues determination in samples of bananas, cabbages, tomatoes, oranges and onions. The precision results were satisfactory in terms of relative standard deviation (≤?20%) as recommended. The results of accuracy for relative recoveries (82–137%) were satisfactory because 92.5% of results were within the recommended range (70–120%). The matrix effects in all the samples were very weak (less effective) (≤???80%). The linearity of the evaluated results was 5–400 µg kg^?1 and regression coefficients (R²) were?>?0.99. The resulting limits of detection and quantitation were 0.02–0.32 and 0.07–1.06 µg kg^?1, respectively, and therefore satisfactory. Certifiably, the estimated measurement uncertainties range (1–16%) was acceptable (≤?50%). Thus, the developed method could be reliable and suitable for routine determination of multiple pesticide residues in various vegetable and fruit samples.     

用过剩压法生长金刚石过程石墨再结晶现象的研究

 描述了在过剩压驱动下金刚石晶种外延生过程中，大量伴生的石墨再结晶现象。再结晶石墨抑制了金刚石的自发成核；它们分布于合成腔触媒金属的低温区，结晶数量多，晶粒片状分层，尺寸大，但出现乱层晶体结构；同时产生一定数量的无定形碳。分析认为，这与长时间的低过剩压驱动，触媒金属内有足够的碳源供给，并具备在高温高压下石墨充分结晶但又达不到完全石墨化条件有关。还讨论了在低过剩压驱动下，促进金刚石晶体外延生长的碳源可能是活化的碳原子，而不是具有乱层结构特征的再结晶石墨。