Development of antimicrobial cotton fabric using bionanocomposites

In order to provide antimicrobial activity to cotton, cotton fabrics were treated by montmorillonite (KSF), montmorillonite–dihydroxy ethylene urea (KSF–MDEU), KSF–chitosan (CS) and KSF–CS–MDEU solutions containing 12.5, 25 and 50 ppm silver ion. The effect of modification on the antibacterial activity of cotton fabrics was also evaluated after 10 cycles of washings. MDEU exhibited better antimicrobial activities after washing process. By using 25 ppm silver, KSF and CS modification solution, good performance in terms of antibacterial activity was obtained. The addition of CS and MDEU increased the whiteness index values of cotton fabrics treated with KSF containing different silver concentrations. The characterization of modified cotton samples was done by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

A New Model for The Formation of Mini Black Holes

A new model different from the Hawking model is suggested to describe the formation of mini (primordial) black holes. It is based on an idea that the fluids, which fill in the universe at the beginning just after the big bang, are separated into mini clusters, moving with supersonic velocities and colliding with each other under the forces of gravitational attractions. We show that between the time era from 10^–43 to 10^–8 sec. about 36 various generations of mini black holes with masses ranging in the interval 10^–5—10^–30 gm are possible.     

Thermal degradation of two different polymers bearing amide pendant groups prepared by ATRP method

Piperidinocarbonylmethyl methacrylate (PyCMMA) and 1-(piperidinocarbonyl) ethylmethacrylate (PyCEMA) monomers were synthesized. Polymerizations of PyCMMA and PyCEMA were carried out by atom transfer radical polymerization. The structure of monomers and polymers was characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopies. Characterization of poly(PyCMMA) and poly(PyCEMA) were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry and gel permeation chromatography. The experimental results showed that the reaction exhibited characteristics of controlled polymerization. The thermal degradation behaviors of poly(PyCEMA) and poly(PyCMMA) were studied using thermogravimetry and a single line vacuum system consisting of a degradation tube with a condenser for product collection. The poly(PyCEMA) and poly(PyCMMA) were heated from ambient temperature to 325 and 500 °C, respectively. The products of degradation were collected as a cold ring fraction (CRF). The CRFs of degradation were investigated by means of IR, ¹HNMR, and GC-MS. For the degradation of both polymers, the major products of CRFs are piperidinocarbonyl methanol and 1,2-dipiperidino,1-oxo ethane. The GC-MS, IR, and NMR data showed that depolymerization below 325 °C to the corresponding monomer was not prominantin the thermal degradation of poly(PyCMMA). The mode of thermal degradation including formation of the major products was identified.     

Multi-item single source ordering problem with transportation cost: A Lagrangian decomposition approach

As a part of supply chain management literature and practice, it has been recognized that there can be significant gains in integrating inventory and transportation decisions. The problem we tackle here is a common one both in retail and production sectors where several items have to be ordered from a single supplier. We assume that there is a finite planning horizon to make the ordering decisions for the items, and in this finite horizon the retailer or the producer knows the demand of each item in each period. In addition to the inventory holding cost, an item-base fixed cost associated with each item included in the order, and a piecewise linear transportation cost are incurred. We suggest a Lagrangean decomposition based solution procedure for the problem and carry out numerical experiments to analyze the value of integrating inventory and transportation decisions under different scenarios.     

Biosorption of Au (III) and Cu (II) from aqueous solution by a non-living Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach

Biosorption of Au(III) and Cu(II) from dilute aqueous solutions was investigated by biomass of the non-living Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. The removal and recovery of gold and copper were studied by applying batch technique. The experimental parameters such as the pH of the solution, contact time, the amount of Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. (dried lichen), the concentration of metals on retention and eluents kind and amount have been investigated. Au(III) and Cu(II) were adsorbed on the dried lichen at pH 3 and pH 8, respectively. Quantitative retention (> or = 90%) was obtained within 60 minutes for metals. Maximum capacity of 1.0 g of dried lichen for biosorption of Au(III) and Cu(II) were found as 7.4 mg of Au(III) and 19.2 mg of Cu(II). It was seen that the adsorption equilibrium data conformed well to the Langmuir model and Freundlich equation for Au(III) and only Freundlich equation for Cu(II). The method proposed in this study was applied to spiked mineral water analysis and metals adsorbed on the lichens were quantitatively (> or = 90%) recovered from mineral water samples by using 0.5 mol L(-1) HCl.     

Equilibrium and kinetics for the sorption of promethazine hydrochloride onto K10 montmorillonite

This study presents the adsorption of cationic drug, promethazine hydrochloride from aqueous solution onto K10 montmorillonite. The effects of pH and temperature on adsorption process were investigated. Maximum adsorption pH was obtained to be about 7.5. Thermodynamic parameters found in this study depict the exothermic nature of adsorption. The process was favorable and spontaneous. From kinetic studies, it was found that adsorption process obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) models were applied to describe the equilibrium isotherms and the isotherm constants were determined. The fit of the Langmuir and DR models appeared to be good. Physisorption mainly controls the whole adsorption process but chemisorption also shows a particular contribution.     

The characterization of prepared organomontmorillonite (DEDMAM) and sorption of phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides from aqueous solution

The montmorillonite has been subjected to modification through ion-exchange reaction by N,N'-didodecyl-N,N'-tetramethylethanediammoniumdiiodide (DEDMAI). The modified sample was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The basal spacing of modified montmorillonite was determined as 28.72 A. The IR spectra of organomontmorillonite showed changes in C-H vibrations. The characterization of N,N'-didodecyl-N,N'-tetramethylethanediammonium montmorillonite (DEDMAM) and the adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4-dichlorophenoxybutyric acid (2,4-DB), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) on organomontmorillonite was studied as a function of the solution concentration. The adsorption energy (E) and adsorption capacity (qm) for phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides adsorbing on organomontmorillonite (DEDMAM) were estimated using the Dubinin-Radushkevic (D-R) equation. These isotherms were modeled according to Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevic adsorption isotherms. The sorption of the herbicides on DEDMAM increased in order of MCPA<2,4-D<2,4-DB<2,4,5-T.     

Multicolor directional surface plasmon-coupled chemiluminescence

In reports over the past several years, we have demonstrated the efficient collection of optically excited fluorophore emission by its coupling to surface plasmons on thin metallic films, where the coupled luminescence was highly directional and polarized. This phenomenon is referred to as surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE). In this current study, we have extended this technique to include chemiluminescing species and subsequentially now report the observation of surface plasmon-coupled chemiluminescence (SPCC), where the luminescence from chemically induced electronic excited states couples to surface plasmons in thin continuous metal films. The SPCC is highly directional and predominantly p-polarized, strongly suggesting that the emission is from surface plasmons instead of the luminophores themselves. This indicates that surface plasmons can be directly excited from chemically induced electronic excited states and excludes the possibility that the plasmons are created by incident excitation light. This phenomenon has been observed for a variety of chemiluminescent species in the visible spectrum, ranging from blue to red, and also on a variety of metals, namely, aluminum, silver, and gold. Our findings suggest new chemiluminescence sensing strategies on the basis of localized, directional, and polarized chemiluminescence detection, especially given the wealth of assays that currently employ chemiluminescence-based detection.     

NNLO QCD predictions of electron charge asymmetry for inclusive pp→W+X production in forward region at 13 and 14 TeV

This paper presents perturbative QCD predictions of the electron charge asymmetry for inclusive W~±X→e~±v+X production in proton-proton(pp) collisions.Perturbative QCD calculations are performed at nextto-next-to-leading order(NNLO) accuracy using different parton distribution function(PDF) models at 8,13,and 14 TeV center-of-mass energies of CERN LHC pp collisions.NNLO calculations are performed for electrons with transverse momenta above 20 GeV in the forward electron pseudorapidity region 2.0 ≤η_e≤4.25.NNLO predictions are first compared at 8 TeV with the measurements of the LHCb experiment at the LHC for the W~+/W~-cross section ratio and charge asymmetry distributions.The 8 TeV predictions using NNPDF3.1,CT14,and MMHT2014 PDF sets are reported to be in good agreement with the LHCb data for the entire η_e region,justifying the extension of the calculations to 13 and 14 TeV energies.The charge asymmetry predictions at NNLO accuracy are reported in the forward η_e bins at 13 and 14 TeV and compared among NNPDF3.1,CT14,and MMHT2014 PDF sets.Overall,the predicted W~± differential cross-section and charge asymmetry distributions based on different PDF sets are found to be consistent with each other for the entire η_e region.The charge asymmetry distributions are shown to be more sensitive to discriminate among different PDF models in terms of the 14 TeV predictions.     

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of proton metabolite level changes in sensorimotor cortex after upper limb replantation-revascularization

We aimed to investigate the changes in proton metabolite levels at the motor and somatosensory cortex by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) after upper extremity replantation or revascularization. Nine patients who referred to our clinic suffering from major total (two) and subtotal (seven) amputation of the upper extremity were enrolled in this study. Mean time value between the injury and operation was 5.1 h. Mean follow-up period or mean time between the injury and MRS analysis was 26.2 months (ranging from 7 to 41 months). Voxels (TR: 2000; TE: 136 ms) were placed onto locations in the bilateral precentral and postcentral cortex area of the cerebral hemispheres that represent the upper extremity. Contralateral sides of the brain hemisphere that represent the injured extremity were accounted as control groups. Metabolite ratios [NAA (N-acetyl aspartate)/Cr (creatine) and Cho (choline)/Cr] of the motor and somatosensory cortex were calculated. The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr metabolite ratios between the two groups were found to be insignificant, and these results may indicate that there is no remarkable somatosensorial cortex disruption or demyelination in these patients. Fifty-six percent of patients were found as functional according to Chen's scale.