Morphology and magnetic properties of FeCo nanocrystalline powder produced by modified mechanochemical procedure

Properties of FeCo nanocrystalline intermetallic powders prepared by salt-matrix hydrogen reduction of a milled Fe₂O₃-Co₃O₄ mixture were investigated. The product of 72 ks ball-milling at 350 rpm was CoFe₂O₄ nanopowder. Reduction of this powder for 3.6 ks by hydrogen at 750 °C resulted in the formation of Fe_0.67Co_0.33 stoichiometric compound. Scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry were used to characterize the nanopowder. Using a salt-matrix (NaCl as a dispersion medium) resulted in the decrease of the reduction temperature and improvement of the morphology and magnetic properties of the nanopowder. Dispersion of the ball-milled product in Hexan resulted in further improvements of the magnetic properties.     

Pure parametric excitation of a micro cantilever beam actuated by piezoelectric layers

This paper deals with the stability analysis of transverse motions of a cantilever microbeam sandwiched by two piezoelectric layers located on the lower and upper surfaces of the microbeam. Application of same DC and AC voltages to the upper and lower piezoelectric layers creates an axial force with steady and time-varying components. The eigenfunction expansion of the transverse motion equation leads to the creation of a Mathieu type parametric equation which is mostly seen in the stability analysis of the structures in the literature; using Floquet theory for single degree of freedom systems the stable and unstable regions of the problem are investigated. The effect of viscous damping and DC voltage on the stability region of the problem is also studied. The results show the stabilizing effect of the viscous damping and positive DC voltage on the behavior of the microbeam. The achieved results are finally compared with those reported in the literature.     

n-almost prime submodules

Let R be a commutative ring with identity. A proper submodule N of an R-module M will be called prime [resp. n-almost prime], if for r ∈ R and a ∈ M with ra ∈ N [resp. ra ∈ N \ (N: M) ^n?1 N], either a ∈ N or r ∈ (N: M). In this note we will study the relations between prime, primary and n-almost prime submodules. Among other results it is proved that:

1. If N is an n-almost prime submodule of an R-module M, then N is prime or N = (N: M)N, in case M is finitely generated semisimple, or M is torsion-free with dim R = 1.
2. Every n-almost prime submodule of a torsion-free Noetherian module is primary.
3. Every n-almost prime submodule of a finitely generated torsion-free module over a Dedekind domain is prime.
4. There exists a finitely generated faithful R-module M such that every proper submodule of M is n-almost prime, if and only if R is Von Neumann regular or R is a local ring with the maximal ideal m such that m ² = 0.
5. If I is an n-almost prime ideal of R and F is a flat R-module with IF ≠ F, then IF is an n-almost prime submodule of F.

     

An integrated approach to worker assignment,workforce flexibility acquisition,and task rotation

In a manufacturing environment, workforce flexibility can be achieved by cross-training and improved via job rotation. In firms with a flexible workforce, employees perform different tasks and functions in response to fluctuations in both product demands and labour resources. This paper presents a mathematical programming model that assigns workers to tasks, rotates workers between the tasks, and determines the training schedule. The objective is to minimize the total costs including training cost, flexibility cost, and productivity loss cost. A constructive-search heuristic is also developed to solve the proposed model. The algorithm provides good solutions in two phases: construction and improvement. At the construction phase, a solution is built using some problem-specific information. The quality of the solution is then enhanced by changing worker assignments at a particular time point during a planning horizon. Our computational results for a number of randomly generated test problems confirms the efficiently of the proposed method.     

Next-generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules for the photochemical ring-opening reactions of oxirane

The conical intersections corresponding to the C─O and C─C ring opening were optimized and the reaction paths traversing these intersections were obtained. Investigation of the C─O ring opening revealed that when traversing the lowest energy conical intersection, the reaction path returns to the closed ring geometry. The C─O path traversing the intersection featuring torsion of terminal CH₂ group however, led to a ring-opened geometry, an H-shift and the formation of acetaldehyde that can undergo further dissociation. The observation of different reaction paths was explained by the 3-D paths from quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) that defined the most preferred direction of electronic motion that precisely tracked the mechanisms of bond breaking and formation throughout the photo-reactions. The size, orientation, and location of these most preferred 3-D paths indicated the extent and direction of motion of atoms, bonds, and the degree of torsion or planarity of a bond indicating a predictive ability.     

A study on electrodeposited of ZnO/ZnS heterostructures

ZnO/ZnS heterostructures were synthesized by a two steps electrochemical deposition method. Firstly, ZnS layer was deposited from an aqueous solution containing Na₂S₂O₃ and ZnSO₄ onto indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) coating glass substrate at two deposition potentials. Then, ZnO nanostructures were deposited from an aqueous solution of Zn(NO₃) onto ZnS surface. The as-obtained samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and UV-visible analysis. The results indicate that the electrodeposition of ZnS layer at ?0.9 V give the best proprieties of ZnO/ZnS heterostructures. Homogeneous and uniform surface of ZnO/ZnS heterostructure was confirmed by AFM images. The XRD patterns indicates a high crystallinity of ZnO/ZnS. A high transmittance of 65% was also noted from UV-Visible spectra and band gap energy as large as 3.6?eV was found.     

A simple method for extracting both active oily and water soluble extract (WSE) from Nigella sativa (L.) seeds using a single solvent system

The current study provides a way of extraction for both active NSO and WSE from Nigella sativa seeds using 98% methanol. About 1?kg of ground seeds was macerated by 1:2.5 w/v (g/mL) for 72?hours. After rotary evaporation and 7 days of continuous drying and chilling at 50 and 4?°C, NSO and WSE were obtained at the same instant. Solubility tests of 24 solvents and 11 thin layer chromatographic analyses while 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay of NSO (73.66) , WSE (33.32) and NSO?+?WSE (78.22) against ascorbic acid (IC50?=?4.28?mg/mL) was performed. WSE was found to be highly soluble in water and 5% NaOH exhibiting the same Rf value of 0.95 for EtOH:DMSO (9:1) against the honey. WSE has revealed more than twofold higher anti-oxidant activity than others. Formulation of WSE with Tualang honey may provide better targeted hydrophilic drug delivery systems.     

Efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes catalyzed by Ni(II)-functionalized Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>-Montmorillonite in a one-pot fashion under solvent-free conditions

A family of 3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes were synthesized from 4-hydroxycoumarin and malononitrile via a one-pot reaction under solvent-free conditions at 100 °C catalyzed by Ni@Imine-Li⁺-MMT. This methodology tolerates most of the substrates and has the merits of lower loading of the catalyst, absence of solvents, excellent yields and reusability of the catalyst. A reasonable mechanism is also proposed. This catalytic system can be reused for at least five times with a negligible loss of activity. The prepared catalyst was characterized by using FTIR, TGA, SEM, TEM, uv-DRS, EDX and XRD.     

CuI/Fe3O4 NPs@Biimidazole IL‐KCC‐1 as a leach proof nanocatalyst for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines in aqueous medium

In the present work, an innovative leach proof nanocatalyst based on dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) modified with ionic liquid loaded Fe₃O₄ NPs and CuI salts was designed and applied for the rapid synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines from the reaction of phenyl acetylene, 2‐aminopyridine, and aldehydes in aqueous medium. The structure of the synthesized nanocatalyst was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), vapor–liquid–solid (VLS), and adsorption/desorption analysis (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller [BET] equation) instrumental techniques. CuI/Fe₃O₄NPs@IL‐KCC‐1 with high surface area (225 m² g^?1) and porous structure not only exhibited excellent catalytic activity in aqueous media but also, with its good stability, simply recovered by an external magnet and recycled for eight cycles without significant loss in its intrinsic activity. Higher catalytic activity of CuI/Fe₃O₄NPs@IL‐KCC‐1 is due to exceptional dendritic fibrous structure of KCC‐1 and the ionic liquid groups that perform as strong anchors to the loaded magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and avoid leaching them from the pore of the nanocatalyst. Green reaction media, shorter reaction times, higher yields (71–97%), easy workup, and no need to use the chromatographic column are the advantages of the reported synthetic method.