Effect of Electrical Pulse Forms on the CO2 Reforming of Methane Using Atmospheric Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Methane conversion using an electric discharge has been studied for many years. Recently, many research groups have developed high-frequency pulsed plasma reaction for methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons and synthesis gas. CO₂ reforming of methane to synthesis gas has also attracted considerable interest as a method of utilization of the greenhouse gases, CO₂ and CH₄, which occupy most of man-made greenhouse gases. In this study, the influence of pulse form of applied voltage on methane and carbon dioxide conversions and product selectivity has been investigated using a cylindrical type DBD reactor. For this purpose, two kinds of power supply were compared, that is, AC power supply which has a high-frequency sinusoidal wave form, and AC pulse power supply which has modified AC pulse wave form. The conversions of methane and carbon dioxide were enhanced using pulsed plasma. The lower pulse width was more profitable economically.     

Mushroom Polysaccharide-Assisted Anticarcinogenic Mycotherapy: Reviewing Its Clinical Trials

Of the biologically active components, polysaccharides play a crucial role of high medical and pharmaceutical significance. Mushrooms have existed for a long time, dating back to the time of the Ancient Egypt and continue to be well explored globally and experimented with in research as well as in national and international cuisines. Mushroom polysaccharides have slowly become valuable sources of nutraceuticals which have been able to treat various diseases and disorders in humans. The application of mushroom polysaccharides for anticancer mycotherapy is what is being reviewed herein. The widespread health benefits of mushroom polysaccharides have been highlighted and the significant inputs of mushroom-based polysaccharides in anticancer clinical trials have been presented. The challenges and limitation of mushroom polysaccharides into this application and the gaps in the current application areas that could be the future direction have been discussed.     

Annealing-free Poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester-based organic solar cells

We report on the fabrication of efficient annealing-free organic solar cells using co-solvent solution considered as a promising method for low-cost and time-saving manufacturing. Higher device efficiency could be obtained compared to the pure solvent casted device, resulting from the improved crystallinity, optical absorption and transport properties. The power conversion efficiency of 2.8% was obtained, demonstrating the feasibility of achieving low-cost and high-efficiency organic solar cells without any additional treatment and processing additives.     

Nonhost-associated proliferation of intrahyphal hyphae of citrus scab fungus Elsinoe fawcettii: refining the perception of cell-within-a-cell organization

Ultrastructural aspects of intrahyphal hyphae formation were investigated in Elsinoe fawcettii by transmission electron microscopy. Desiccated and hydrated cultures of E. fawcettii hyphae in liquid and solid media were prepared to determine the effects of water/nutrient availability and media fluidity on the formation of intrahyphal hyphae of the fungus. In all the culture conditions, intrahyphal hyphae were observed in enclosing hyphae. Electron-transparent hyphal cell walls clearly delimited intrahyphal hyphae from the cytoplasm of enclosing hyphae. Intrahyphal hyphae occupied most of the lumen of the enclosing hyphae, and showed intact hyphal cytoplasm with distinct organelles and inclusions. Intrahyphal hyphae were found to grow out of the degenerated hyphae that were almost devoid of cellular contents (simple intrahyphal hyphae). Some intrahyphal hyphae appeared to push aside a septum and passed into the adjacent hyphal cell. Besides a single intrahyphal hypha, instances were noted where enclosing hyphae contained several individual intrahyphal hyphae (multiple intrahyphal hyphae). Other enclosing hyphae contained intrahyphal hyphae, which also had intrahyphal hyphae (compound intrahyphal hyphae). The cell wall of intrahyphal hyphae showed the continuity with the cell wall of the enclosing hyphae. Concentric bodies typical of ascomycetes occurring in dry habitats were not found in all the types of hyphae. These results suggest that intrahyphal hyphae formation of E. fawcettii does not require plant defense responses. The fungus is thought to form intrahyphal hyphae during the saprophytic phase in ex planta ecological niches as well as the parasitic phase in host parts.     

Growth morphology of perfect and twinned face-centered-cubic crystals by Monte Carlo simulation

The effect of the relative growth rate between {1 1 1} and {1 0 0} faces on the growth morphology of perfect and twinned face-centered-cubic crystals was investigated with a Monte Carlo simulation considering both first-nearest-neighbor (FNN) and second-nearest-neighbor (SNN) interactions. When the bond energy ratio of SNN to FNN interactions is close to zero, the {1 1 1} twin planes make a reentrant edge, which enhances the growth rate on this plane, leading to a tabular growth shape. When the ratio is 0.25, the ridge side face of a tabular shape has the {1 0 0}/{1 0 0}/{1 1 1} structure instead of the {1 1 1}/{1 1 1} reentrant edge. In spite of disappearance of the reentrant edge, the side face has a higher growth rate than the top face because the {1 0 0} face still grows faster than the {1 1 1} face.     

Kinetic parameter estimation for 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinum trifluoroacetate ionic liquid in the reaction of glycidyl methacrylate with carbon dioxide

The ionic liquid (IL) of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl guanidinum trifluoroacetate, which was synthesized by reacting 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) and trifluoroacetic acid, was used as a catalyst of the reaction between carbon dioxide and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)., The initial absorption rate of carbon dioxide into GMA solutions containing IL was measured in a semi-batch stirred tank with a plane gas-liquid interface at 101.3 kPa to obtain the reaction kinetics. The reaction rate constants of the reaction between carbon dioxide and GMA were evaluated from analysis of the mass transfer mechanism accompanied by the elementary reactions based on the film theory. Solvents such as toluene,N-methyl-2-pirrolidinone and dimethyl sulfoxide affected the reaction rate constants.     

Charge and discharge of methane on phenol-based carbon monolith

Methane adsorptions on various synthesized and commercial activated carbons were assessed in a volumetric apparatus for the design of an efficient adsorbed natural gas storage system. Based on the methane adsorption equilibrium results from different carbon based materials, a monolith was also produced from RP-20. Dynamic studies were also performed for the prepared monolith and the pelletized commercial Norit-B4 activated carbon. The temperature variation in RP-20 monolith was analyzed and compared with those of Norit-B4 and a blank test, which consisted of a run without a sample. The temperature variation in RP-20 monolith was quite high compared to that observed with Norit-B4 and the blank test because of a higher isosteric heat of adsorption and a high packing density.     

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Some PEG Substitued Titanyl Phthalocyanine Derivatives

Summary: Polyethylene glycol substituted titanyl phthalocyanine was prepared in two steps starting from phthalonitrile and characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The titanyl phthocyanine derivatives (TiOPcs) showed high solubility in common organic solvents, such as, CH₃Cl and DMF. These compounds decreased in absorbance intensity with increase of molecular weight of polyethylene glycol at maxima wavelength of visible range. The fluorescence spectra showed a fluorescence emission near 690 nm with a quantum yield of 0.05–0.32 (λ_ex = 625 nm).     

Analysis of adsorption properties of N719 dye molecules on nanoporous TiO2 surface for dye-sensitized solar cell

Ordered nanoporous TiO₂ materials (MK-TiO₂, MS-TiO₂, and MU-TiO₂) were synthesized for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by using different silica templates such as KIT-6, SBA-15, and MSU-H. To prepare a photoelectrode in DSSC, cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)-ruthenium(II)bis-tetrabutylammonium dye (N719) was adsorbed onto the synthesized nanoporous TiO₂ materials. The samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, AFM, and N₂ adsorption analyses. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC was evaluated from the overall conversion efficiency, fill factor, open-circuit voltage, and short-circuit current from the I-V curves measured. It was found that the photoelectric performance is highly dependent on the adsorption properties of N719 dye molecules on the nanoporous TiO₂ replicas (MK-TiO₂, MS-TiO₂, and MU-TiO₂) synthesized from different silica templates.     

One-dimensional hydrogen-bonded infinite chains composed of nickel(II) and copper(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complexes with cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate ligand

The reaction of [M(L)]Cl₂ · 2H₂O (M = Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺, L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) with 1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxylic acid (H₂-cpdc) generates one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded infinite chains [Ni(L)(H-cpdc)₂] (1) and [Cu(L)(H-cpdc)₂] (2) (H-cpdc = cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate). These complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structures of (1) and (2) show a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the metal ion, with four secondary amines and two oxygen atoms of the H-cpdc ligand at the trans position. Complexes (1) and (2) display the one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded infinite chains. The cyclic voltammogram of the complexes display two one-electron waves corresponding to M^II/M^III and M^II/M^I processes. The electronic spectra and electrochemical behavior of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the axial H-cpdc ligand.