Synthesis of palm oil-based fatty methylhydrazide

Fatty methylydrazides (FMHs) have been successfully synthesized from palm oil. Glycerol was produced as a by-product. The synthesis was carried out by reflux palm oil with methylhydrazine in hexane. FMHs have been characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The results showed that a 6:1 molar ratio of palm oil to methylhydrazine, a round 78 % maximum conversion of palm oil into FMHs and a 10 h reaction time are the optimum reaction conditions

Mixed surface micelles of polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) and polystyrene-b-poly (methyl methacrylate)

We report on mixed surface micellization behavior of two diblock copolymers: PS-b-P2VP (M-w = 56 000, w(PS) = 50%) and PS-b-PMMA (M-w = 50 000, w(PS) = 50%). Both diblock copolymers were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization and have narrow molecular weight distributions. PS-b-P2VP and PS-b-PMMA were spread at the air-water interface in dilute chloroform solution (0.5 mg/mL) by two different methods: (1) spreading of a premixed solution and (2) separate spreading of each block copolymer solutions sequentially. The pi-A isotherms were measured at different subphase pH, and the morphology of the surface micelles was investigated by atomic force microscopy after transferring to a Langmuir-Blodgett film onto a silicon wafer. The ionization of the P2VP block induced different morphology at low pH from which the aggregated structure of block copolymers in micelles could be delineated. When PS-b-P2VP and PS-b-PMMA are spread as a premixed solution, two block copolymers form surface micelles sharing a PS core and mixed corona of P2VP and PMMA chains while independent PS-b-P2VP micelles and PS-b-PMMA micelles coexist when the block copolymers were spread separately. These results indicate that the surface micellization takes place rapidly after spreading, and there is no observable exchange of the block copolymers between the micelles in a reasonable time span.X112324sciescopu

Provenance and tectonic setting of Miocene siliciclastic sediments, Sibuti formation, northwestern Borneo

Provenance and tectonic setting of sandstone and mudstone units of the Miocene Sibuti Formation from northwest Borneo have been studied based on the mineralogy, major and trace element geochemistry data. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) data revealed that the sandstones and mudstones were abundant in quartz, pyrite, clay, and heavy minerals such as zircon, rutile, and some detrital cassiterite. Geochemically, the sandstones and mudstones are classified into quartz arenite, litharenite, sublitharenite, arkose, and wacke. Quartz arenites are enriched with SiO2, Zr, and Th and depleted in Al2O3, CaO, and other elements compared to other sandstone types, indicating high maturity and intensive weathering. Chemical index of alteration (CIA: 77–90), plagioclase index of alteration (PIA: 86–100), and A-CN-K diagram suggest intense weathering in the source area. Elemental ratios such as La/Sc, Th/Sc, Cr/Th, La/Co, and Th/Co are similar to sediments derived from the felsic rocks. Also, the provenance discrimination diagrams suggest recycled continental nature of these clastic sediments which are mostly derived from metasedimentary source (Rajang Formation). Discriminant-function diagram for the tectonic discrimination of siliciclastic sediments revealed that the sediments of Sibuti Formation were derived from a collision zone, which is consistent with the geology of the study area

Distribution of Herbivorous Fish Is Frozen by Low Temperature

The number of herbivores in populations of ectothermic vertebrates decreases with increasing latitude. At higher latitudes, fish consuming plant matter are exclusively omnivorous. We assess whether omnivorous fish readily shift to herbivory or whether animal prey is typically preferred. We address temperature as the key factor causing their absence at higher latitudes and discuss the potential poleward dispersion caused by climate changes. A controlled experiment illustrates that rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) readily utilize plant matter at water temperatures above 20°C and avoid its consumption below 20°C. Field data support these results, showing that plant matter dominates rudd diets during the summer and is absent during the spring. Utilizing cellulose requires the enzyme cellulase, which is produced by microorganisms growing at temperatures of 15–42°C. Water temperatures at higher latitudes do not reach 15°C year-round; at our latitude of 50°N~150 days/year. Hence, the species richness of omnivorous fish decreases dramatically above 55° latitude. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that strict herbivorous specialists have developed only in the tropics. Temperatures below 15°C, even for a short time period, inactivate cellulase and cause diet limitations for omnivorous fish. However, we may expect increases in herbivory at higher latitudes caused by climate change.peerReviewe

The determinants of Chinese outward foreign direct investment

This study investigates the determinants of Chinese outward direct investment (ODI) and the extent to which three special explanations (capital market imperfections, special ownership advantages and institutional factors) need to be nested within the general theory of the multinational firm. We test our hypotheses using official Chinese ODI data collected between 1984 and 2001. We find Chinese ODI to be associated with high levels of political risk in, and cultural proximity to, host countries throughout, and with host market size and geographic proximity (1984–1991) and host natural resources endowments (1992–2001). We find strong support for the argument that aspects of the special theory help to explain the behaviour of Chinese multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies (2007) 38, 499–518. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400277