Enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of plasma-reduced silver nanoparticles

A non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet has been used for the green synthesis of highly dispersed colloidal silver nanoparticles. The reducing species such as hydrogen radicals and hydrated electrons are identified, and the change in the solution pH is studied during AgNP formation. The structural properties and size of the plasma-reduced silver nanoparticles are characterized via X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The size of the colloidal AgNPs is tuned by adjusting the initial concentration of AgNO3. The effect of terephthalic acid, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, on the reduction of Ag+ ion is studied. The typical catalytic activity data indicate the better performance of the plasma-reduced colloidal Ag nanoparticles than that obtained from the chemical reduction method. The antibacterial activity of the plasma-reduced Ag nanoparticles also shows a better performance than that of the chemically reduced AgNPs, highlighting the potential of the plasma reduction approach for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, which are stable even after 30 days without a stabilizing agent. Additionally, the effects of hydroxyl scavengers (isopropyl alcohol) and Fenton's reagent (Fe2+ salt) on CV degradation are studied

GENDER AND SYLLABUS BASED STUDY APPROACHES AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES

The objective of the study was to examine the impact of gender-wise and syllabus-wise study approaches in academic performances of high school students. Study involved ninety high school students (45 girls, and 45 boys) randomly selected from two high schools in Galle, and Gampaha, Sri Lanka. Study process of respondents was measured by employing the ‘revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire’ of Biggs et.al (2001). Descriptive and inferential analyses of data were conducted by using the SPSS software. The Study Approaches (including study motives, and study strategies) employed by respondents during the study process were examined. Relationships were tested among study process variables pertaining to the gender, and syllabus of respondents and their academic performances. High School girls have indicated deeper study methodologies in comparison to the boys. Science stream students recorded deeper study methodologies, and Arts stream students recorded surface study methodologies. Girls recorded superior examination results over boys. A positive relationship was found between the surface study approach and Academic performances of girls. Study highlights the necessity of defining, and applying integrated study process approaches, and evaluation techniques for the vitality of education

A Comparative Evaluation of the Release of Metal Ions from Round and Rectangular Superelastic Niti Wires of Three Different Manufacturers: An In Vitro study

Nickel titanium wires are the routinely using archwires in orthodontics. The two wires which are used in the initial and final stages are round and rectangular wires respectively. Biocompatibility of any dental material is now a fundamental requirement of successfill clinical behavior in oral cavity. NiTi is a universal wire, Nickel in NiTi is capable of eliciting toxic and allergic responses and can produce more allergic reactions than any other metal elements. So, nickel titanium orthodontic arch wire with a good properties including corrosion resistance is essential to its biocompatibility. The metal ions leaching from orthodontic wires cannot be fully evaded; but it is possible to use materials with lower amounts of ions leaching in the mouth. It was proven that the amount of ions, leached from orthodontic wires in saliva was less than the toxic concentrations, which is below the critical value necessary to induce allergy and less than the daily dietary intake levels. The purpose of this study is to determine the amount of Ni and Ti ion release from NiTi wires of three different manufactures and to check whether the leached metal ions is lower than the daily dietary intake. METHODS: The study was performed by immersion of the samples in artificial saliva at various time intervals and Ni and Ti release was quantified with the use of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In this study superelastic NiTi Archwires of three different manufactures which is in two shapes Round and Rectangular of commonly using dimensions 0.016 and 19x25 respectively of 7 inches long are used in this study. The testing solution used in the study is artificial saliva buffer solutions. PROCEDURE: Each wires separately dipped into 126 polypropylene beakers containing 50 n11 of buffer solution. Then incubate and quantify the ions leached at T1=1 hour, T2=24 hour, T3=1 week, T4=3 week using the software Thermoscientific QtegraTM Intelligent Scientific Data Solution Software (ISDS) which is attached to the ICP MS instrument. This shared software approach provides control and data processing for a range of elemental and isotopic analysis technologies The output is numerical, and provided in counts per second i.e., how much Nickel and Titanium (mass—ion ratio) is released per second. RESULTS: From the findings of present study, revealed that Round wire shows least metal ion leaching than rectangular wire. This may differ according to the manufacturers choice. Least immersion time shows greatest release of metal ions and Group Ia is better than all other groups. CONCLUSION: When comparing three manufactures, Group I shows least Ni and Ti ion leaching among other two groups. When comparing round and rectangular wires; round wires shows less ion release than rectangular wires. The least Ni and Ti ion release is shown by Group Ia at all time periods. The highest Ni and Ti ion release is shown by Group IIIb at a11tirne periods .At each immersion time, T1 shows 1east Ni and Ti ion release than other time periods, which gradually increases with immersion period. The average amount of ions leached per day from round and rectangular of three manufactures was well below the tolerable daily dietary intake level

LSTM-Based Air Quality Prediction

  In this project we are using Neural networks and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to address the air pollution detection. As each living organism needs fresh and good quality air for every moment, very few of the living things can survive without such air. Increasing industry and populace have end up fundamental contributor for the air pollutants. Over the time, many countries are finding numerous approaches of fighting towards air pollution. The air we breathe every moment causes several health hazards.  So we'd like an honest system that predicts such pollutions and is useful in better environment. It leads us to address the advance techniques for predicting the pollution using   Air Quality Index. So, here we are predicting air pollution using LSTM and Neural Network techniques for the coming hour mainly on pollutants like ammonia (NH3), lead (Pb), ozone(O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ecosystem   aspects inclusive of temperature, strain, rainfall, wind pace according to minute and wind direction

Age Effects and Sex Differences in Human Brain White Matter of Young to Middle-Aged Adults: A DTI, NODDI, and q-Space Study

Microstructural changes in human brain white matter of young to middle-aged adults were studied using advanced diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI). Multiple shell diffusion-weighted data were acquired using the Hybrid Diffusion Imaging (HYDI). The HYDI method is extremely versatile and data were analyzed using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), and q-space imaging approaches. Twenty-four females and 23 males between 18 and 55years of age were included in this study. The impact of age and sex on diffusion metrics were tested using least squares linear regressions in 48 white matter regions of interest (ROIs) across the whole brain and adjusted for multiple comparisons across ROIs. In this study, white matter projections to either the hippocampus or the cerebral cortices were the brain regions most sensitive to aging. Specifically, in this young to middle-aged cohort, aging effects were associated with more dispersion of white matter fibers while the tissue restriction and intra-axonal volume fraction remained relatively stable. The fiber dispersion index of NODDI exhibited the most pronounced sensitivity to aging. In addition, changes of the DTI indices in this aging cohort were correlated mostly with the fiber dispersion index rather than the intracellular volume fraction of NODDI or the q-space measurements. While men and women did not differ in the aging rate, men tend to have higher intra-axonal volume fraction than women. This study demonstrates that advanced dMRI using a HYDI acquisition and compartmental modeling of NODDI can elucidate microstructural alterations that are sensitive to age and sex. Finally, this study provides insight into the relationships between DTI diffusion metrics and advanced diffusion metrics of NODDI model and q-space imaging

Standardisation of gamma irradiation dose for Sterile Insect Technique to manage South American tomato moth [Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta (Meyrick)]

Laboratory studies were conducted to standardise optimum dose of gamma irradiation to induce sterility in males of South American tomato moth [Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta (Meyrick)], a major pest on tomato. Among the different irradiation doses tested, 150 Gy was found to be effective to induce male sterility in P. absoluta, where sterile males exhibited mating competitiveness, significantly reduced fecundity and hatchability in F1 and F2 generations. Five days old pupae were found ideal for exposing to gamma irradiation to induce male sterility in P. absoluta that could be used for area wide management using SIT

A possible journey to an Australian knowledge management framework

World wide there is a transition towards knowledge-based economies In order to foster them, many economies have built frameworks in conjunction with world forums that promote international cooperation. Our research focuses on Australia, an economy that has been named by the OECD as knowledge-based. Specifically, the paper appraises the transition towards knowledge economies in general. We then examine the Australian context through the implemented eEurope framework with the intent of providing suggestions to Australia in its transition towards building its knowledge managementframework.<br /