Polymer blends—I. Mechanical and morphological behaviour of polyethylene/polyvinyl chloride blends

As part of a fundamental study of the behaviour of mixed plastics during reprocessing and in service, blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been investigated. It was found that Young's modulus increased steadily from pure LDPE to pure PVC whereas both tensile strength at break and elongation at break passed through a minimum at about 5% PVC. Optical and scanning electron microscope studies have related this mechanical behaviour to morphological changes in the two phase system under stress.     

Antimicrobial triterpenes from Debregeasia salicifolia

New triterpene, 3beta-(trans-cinnamoyloxy)-19alpha-hydroxy-urs-12-ene (1) has been isolated from the methanolic fraction of Debregeasia salicifolia, along with uvaol (2), 3beta,19alpha-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene (3), ursolic acid (4), pomolic acid (5), pomolic acid methyl ester (6) and tormentic acid (7) reported for the first time from this species. The compounds (1), (3) and (6) showed significant antimicrobial activity. The structure elucidation was made with the help of extensive 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques.     

Gas-phase on-line generation and infrared spectroscopic investigations of polyphosphazenes, (NPX2)3 where X=F, Cl and Br

Gas-phase infrared spectra of polyphosphazenes (phosphonitrilic halides trimer), (NPX2)3 where X=F, Cl and Br have been recorded. The molecules were generated for the first time by an on-line process using solid (NPCl2)3 as a precursor passed over heated sodium fluoride and potassium bromide at about 550 and 700 degrees C for (NPF2)3 and (NPBr2)3 production, respectively. The products were characterized by the infrared spectra of their vapors. The low-resolution gas-phase Fourier transform infrared spectra reported for the first time show strong bands centered at 1295, 1215 and 1200 cm-1, assigned to nu7(E'), in plane PN stretching mode of (NPX2)3, where X=F, Cl and Br, respectively.     

Effect of Erosive Agents on Surface Characteristics of Nano-Fluorapatite Ceramic: An In-Vitro Study

Erosive beverages cause dissolution of natural teeth and intra-oral restorations, resulting in surface characteristic changes, particularly roughness and degradation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and topography of a dental ceramic following immersion in locally available erosive solutions. A total of 160 disc specimens of a nano-fluorapatite type ceramic (12 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) were fabricated and equally distributed into two groups (n = 80) and then evenly distributed among the following five testing groups (n = 16): lemon juice, citrate buffer solution, 4% acetic acid, soft cola drink, and distilled water which served as a control. The surface roughness (Ra) and topography were evaluated using a profilometer and scanning electron microscope at baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons (p ≤ 0.05). Surface changes were observed upon exposure to all acidic beverages except distilled water. Amongst all immersion media, 4% acetic acid produced the most severe surface roughness across all time periods (i.e., baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h). A statistically significant difference in the surface roughness values between all immersion media and across all four time intervals was observed. Erosive agents had a negative effect on the surface roughness and topography of the tested ceramic. The surface roughness increased with increased storage time intervals.     

A Novel One Pot Synthesis of o‐Nitrophenylacetic Acid and Unexpected p‐Nitrobenzoic Acid by HNO3‐Mediated CH2 Extrusion Reaction of Phenylacetic Acid

The HNO₃‐mediated CH₂ extrusion reactions of phenylacetic acid lead to one pot synthesis of unexpected commercially important product 4‐nitrobenzoic acid through the formation of 4‐nitrophenylacetic acid and 2‐nitrophenylacetic acid.     

Convex hull of powers of a complex number,trinomial equations and the Farey sequence

The color of a complex number is defined as the number of vertices of the convex hull of powers of that number. This induces a coloring of the unit disk. The structure of the set of points where the color changes is investigated here. It is observed that there is a connection between this fractal set and some family of trinomial equations. Three algorithms for coloring the unit disk are described, the last one (related to the Farey sequence) arising out of a conjecture. This conjecture is formulated and proved in this presentation.     

Impact of Thermal Fluctuations on Logarithmic Corrected Massive Gravity Charged Black Hole

We investigate the influence of the first-order correction of entropy caused by thermal quantum fluctuations on the thermodynamics of a logarithmic corrected charged black hole in massive gravity. For this black hole, we explore the thermodynamic quantities, such as entropy, Helmholtz free energy, internal energy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and specific heat. We discuss the influence of the topology of the event horizon, dimensions and nonlinearity parameter on the local and global stability of the black hole. As a result, it is found that the holographic dual parameter vanishes. This means that the thermal corrections have no significant role to disturb the holographic duality of the logarithmic charged black hole in massive gravity, although the thermal corrections have a substantial impact on the thermodynamic quantities in the high-energy limit and the stability conditions of black holes.     

Transfer of radioactivity from soil to vegetation in Rechna Doab,Pakistan

In Rechna Doab, samples of the most common vegetation, perennial grass Desmostachya bipinnata (dab), were collected along with soil samples from 29 sites. Natural radioactivity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th/²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K was measured by using high purity germanium-based gamma ray spectrometer. Activity concentration levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th/²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K in soil were found to be 46.8±6.2 (36.0–57.6), 61.4±5.9 (48.2–73.2) and 644.8±73.9 (537.7–868.4) Bq kg^?1 (dry mass), respectively, and those in vegetation were 2.74±1.70 (1.00–6.39), 2.24±0.59 (1.56–2.61) and 172.72±113.37 (53.14–469.24) Bq kg^?1 (dry mass), respectively. The measured values of the activity concentration in vegetation are comparable with some other international data. Calculated soil to vegetation transfer factors of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K were 0.06±0.03 (0.02–0.14), 0.04±0.01 (0.03–0.04) and 0.26±0.16 (0.09–0.69). The mean outdoor absorbed dose rate in air for the area under study was determined as 8.22 nGy h^?1 and the mean indoor absorbed dose rate in air was 11.52 nGy h^?1. The total annual effective dose to the general public from the vegetation was found to be (0.02–0.16) mSv, which is below the recommended limit value of 1 mSv y^?1 for the general public. The dab vegetation under study was found to be radiologically safe for the population and environment.     

Chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles,CS‐AgNPs,using thymus syriacus,wild mint,and rosemary essential oil extracts as reducing and capping agents

The present study describes the green method for the preparation of chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles (CS‐AgNPs) in the presence of 3 different extracted essential oils. The essential oils play dual roles as reductant and capping agents. The reducing power and DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) assay for the 3 essential oils—Thymus syriacus (T), wild mint (M), and rosemary (R)—have been reported. The preparation of CS‐AgNPs was performed by 2 steps. The 3 previously extracted essential oils have been used as reducing and capping agent in the first step, while in the second step, silver nanoparticles were integrated in chitosan. The integration of AgNPs in the structure of chitosan was confirmed by ultraviolet‐visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy techniques, and energy dispersive X‐ray. Surface plasmon resonance confirmed the formation of CS‐AgNPs with maximum absorbance at λ_max between 405 ‐ 410 and 410 ‐ 430 nm for colloidal and films of CS‐AgNPs, respectively. The intensity of bands at 3408 cm^?1 in the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements was decreased substantially and shifted slightly to lower frequency (?υ = 43 cm^?1). Scanning electron microscopy shows a spherical morphology of AgNPs with size of 62 nm for both colloidal and film samples, and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis shows peaks confirming AgNPs formation.     

Effective synthesis of carbon nanotubes via catalytic decomposition of methane: Influence of calcination temperature on metal–support interaction of Co–Mo/MgO catalyst

The present work investigated the influence of calcination temperature for bimetallic Co–Mo/MgO catalyst on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) of methane. The experimental results showed that variation in the catalyst calcination temperature affected carbon yield, diameter distribution and quality of the CNTs. Increasing the catalyst calcination temperature enabled Co–Mo/MgO catalysts in growing CNTs at higher yield, narrower diameter distribution and better degree of graphitization, credited to the strong metal–support interaction (MSI) formed between CoO species and MgO support. We also discovered that the catalysts of weak MSI were beneficial to the nucleation and growth of CNTs, meanwhile the catalysts with strong MSI provoked the growth of CNTs with narrow diameter distribution. The catalyst calcined at 700 °C, possessing moderate MSI, was found to be the most suitable catalyst for the growth of high quality CNTs with the diameter of 7.70±0.77 nm and the carbon yield of as high as 647.4%.