Anodic electrodeposition of Ag1− x Cu x O microcrystals

We demonstrate the anodic electrodeposition of copper-doped AgO at high pH using a silver counter-electrode. Precipitates from a mixture of nitrates and NaOH provided source material for the deposition, and application of a moderate anodic voltage (0.9 V) to the substrate led to deposition of crystalline nanoparticles with incorporated copper. Further increase of the NaOH concentration reduced the amount of copper in the crystals, and higher voltages degraded the crystal quality. XRD confirms the underlying structure to be that of AgO, and Auger and energy dispersive x-ray analyses confirm copper concentrations of approximately 3 % in the crystals.     

Characterization of a cylindrical rod by inversion of acoustic scattering data

In this paper, a new approach is proposed for nondestructive characterization of immersed and embedded isotropic rod-shaped samples by inversion of acoustic scattering data. The normal mode expansion technique is used for modelling the scattered field and the compression incident and compression scattered waves are considered. Genetic algorithm is the inversion technique used for estimating the elastic wave velocities and density of the rods from their measured backscattered pressure spectrum. The inversion technique is capable of computing the parameter values that best fit a particular set of data. A perturbation study is conducted on the sensitivity of the resonance frequencies to changes in elastic properties and density of the rods. The numerical results indicate that proper selection of resonance frequencies leads to accurate measurement of elastic constants and density. The proposed approach showed very good convergence and the results obtained were found to agree very well with available data.     

Historical variations of Bera Lake (Malaysia) sediments geochemistry using radioisotopes and sediment quality indices

The Bera Lake basin is a lacustrine mire system and the largest natural lake in Peninsular Malaysia. Three cores were collected from the lake sediments in order to assess sediment quality and ecological risks for aquatic life and human health. An index analysis approach (C _f , C _d , E _r , and IR) and fallout ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs radioisotopes were applied to assess the impacts of environmental evolutionary changes. Sediment chronology was determined using the Constant Rate of Supply model with the resultant ages verified by ¹³⁷Cs horizons. Although the general contamination factors indicate low risk conditions in Bera Lake the risks associated with individual layers ranged from moderate to considerable. Five deforestation phases can be identified in the dated sediment cores with distinct variations in heavy metal influxes since 1972. These phases are in excellent agreement with the dates of land clearance and development projects undertaken over the past four decades. This study has highlighted the capability of contamination factors and chronological methods in environmental evolutionary studies where catchments have experienced extensive land use changes. The destiny of heavy metal influxes into a lake can also be revealed using this methodology.     

Thermal and morphological characteristics of solution blended epoxy/NBR compound

Systematic study about the effect of acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) concentration on the fracture toughness and thermal behavior of epoxy resin is conducted in this study. NBR is solved in an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and is added to epoxy resin. We used diethylene-teriamin as the curing agent for epoxy resin. Tensile test results, performed followed by molding procedure, show that the toughness is improved owing to the increase of rubber content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy besides thermogravimetric analysis (TG) are used to investigate the epoxy/rubber interface and chemical decomposition of the resultant mixture. The thermal behavior of cured epoxy resin was analyzed via TG instrument at different heating rates. Thermogravimetry curves showed that the thermal decomposition of epoxy system was occurred in only one stage regardless of the rubber content. The apparent activation energies of the rubber/epoxy systems containing 0, 5, and 10 phr of rubber were determined by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, and Friedman methods. The results prove that the thermal stability of epoxy resin was decreased with enhancing the rubber content. However, the trend of changing activation energy versus conversions is totally different followed by adding the elastomer to the system compared to neat epoxy resin. Moreover, the results obtained via our proposed facile solution blending method are compared to those of resins modified with nano-powdered elastomer.     

Reward maximization in general dynamic matching systems

Queueing Systems - We consider a matching system with random arrivals of items of different types. The items wait in queues—one per item type—until they are “matched.” Each...     

Hydrophobin purification based on the theory of CO2-nanobubbles

Purification is a critical step to obtain hydrophobin HFBII for use in positive applications. In this study, hydrophobin HFBII was produced by Trichoderma reesei via submerged fermentation. Using the CO₂-foam fractionation method yielded a fourfold increase in protein concentration. The foamate (α_L-HFBII) was dried using a nano spray-dryer under optimal temperature. The gushing activity of the dried foamate (α_S-HFBII) decreased. Addition of Tween 80 to the foamate before the drying process partially prevented the deactivation of hydrophobin HFBII. The purity of the powder was enhanced based on the theory of CO₂-nanobubbles in a CO₂-rich environment. The collected CO₂-nanobubbles were added to an apolar–polar system and the interface of these two phases was collected. After evaporation of the apolar phase, the purity of the hydrophobins assembled on the surface of the liquid was significantly improved.     

Fabrication of corner cube array retro-reflective structure with DLP-based 3D printing technology

In this article, the fabrication of a corner cube array retro-reflective structure is presented by using DLP-based 3D printing technology. In this additive manufacturing technology a pattern of a cube corner array is designed in a computer and sliced with specific software. The image of each slice is then projected from the bottom side of a reservoir, containing UV cure resin, utilizing a DLP video projector. The projected area is cured and attached to a base plate. This process is repeated until the entire part is made. The best orientation of the printing process and the effect of layer thicknesses on the surface finish of the cube has been investigated. The thermal reflow surface finishing and replication with soft molding has also been presented in this article.     

Sum of ranking differences in comparison of nickel-coated carbon nanofibers adsorbents in capacity and randomness of 1-butanethiol (1-butyl mercaptan) adsorption

Desulfurization of petroleum derivatives has been one of the main concerns of producers. Application of adsorption in desulfurization is one of the reliable strategies. Thus, development of new and better adsorbents is main goal of researchers. In this work, carbon nanofibers were coated with nickel by electroless plating method to be used in adsorption of 1-butanethiol (1-butyl mercaptan) for the first time. Nickel amount in these structures was varied and adsorption behavior studied. To characterize the prepared adsorbent, concentration variation of mercaptan was determined by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares chemometrics method as a new way. Also, potentiometry method was used to determine the mercaptan concentration during the adsorption process as a standard method. The data which were achieved by the two mentioned methods are processed by sum of ranking differences chemometrics method separately to compare the adsorption behavior of adsorbents. By using sum of ranking differences, it was concluded that with increment in amount of coated nickel, adsorption capacity would increase and random behavior in adsorption process would decrease. Also, this study showed that attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with multivariate curve resolution–alternating least squares can be applied to study the concentration variations of mercaptan as a reliable method.     

Organic-salt-mediated highly regioselective N3-alkylation of 2-thiophenytoin via Michael reaction under solvent-free conditions

A regioselective N3-alkylation of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin (2-thiophenytoin) using a very efficient mild base K₂CO₃ and α,β-unsaturated esters in the presence of organic salt TBAB (tetrabutylammonium bromide) at room temperature has been reported (3b–3h). The selectivity of this reaction is excellent and products have been produced in good yields under solvent-free conditions. The increase of the reaction temperature to 70°C mostly disappeared this selectivity and afforded only the N1,N3-dialkylated derivatives of 2-thiophenytoin in good yields (4b–4g). We were unable to selectively N3-alkylate 2-thiophenytoin with ethyl acrylate at both room temperature and 70°C under the same conditions (4a). Dimethyl and diethyl fumarates cannot work as Michael acceptors and were hydrolyzed to fumaric acid under reaction conditions.