Calculation of the infrared frequency and the damping constant (full width at half maximum) for metal organic frameworks

The rho(NH2) infrared (IR) frequencies and the corresponding full width at half maximum (FWHM) values for (CH3)(2)(NH2FeMII)-M-III(HCOO)(6) (DMFeM, M = Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mg) are analyzed at various temperatures by using the experimental data from the literature. For the analysis of the IR frequencies of the rho(NH2) mode which is associated with the structural phase transitions in those metal structures, the temperature dependence of the mode frequency is assumed as an order parameter and the IR frequencies are calculated by using the molecular field theory. Also, the temperature dependence of the IR frequencies and of the damping constant as calculated from the models of pseudospin (dynamic disorder of dimethylammonium (DMA(+)) cations)-phonon coupling (PS) and of the energy fluctuation (EF), is fitted to the observed data for the wavenumber and FWHM of the rho(NH2) IR mode of the niccolites studied here. We find that the observed behavior of the IR frequencies and the FWHM of this mode can be described adequately by the models studied for the crystalline structures of interest. This method of calculating the frequencies (IR and Raman) and FWHM of modes which are responsible for the phase transitions can also be applied to some other metal organic frameworks

The effect of local corticosteroid injection on F-wave conduction velocity and sympathetic skin response in carpal tunnel syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of steroid injection for the treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), with F-wave parameters and sympathetic skin response (SSR). Seventeen hands of 10 women patients were treated with local steroid injection with 2-month follow-up. All patients underwent single injection into the carpal tunnel. Response to injection was measured nerve conduction studies (NCSs), median nerve F waves, and SSR before and after treatment. To determine the normal values, 42 hands of 21 healthy women were also studied. There was a significant improvement of sensory and motor nerve conduction values when compared to baseline values (P < 0.01). At the end of follow-up period, the median sensory distal latency and the sensory latency differences between the median and the ulnar nerve were improved 35 and 65%, respectively. The maximum, mean F-wave amplitudes and chronodispersion showed a slight improvement with respect to baseline values and controls, but statistical significance was not achieved after treatment. Although no statistically significant improvements were observed in SSR parameters, slightly decreased amplitudes and increased habituation of SSR were noted at the end of the treatment. The present study shows that the local steroid injection results in improvement in NCSs values, but the F-wave parameters were not effectual in short-term outcome of CTS treatment. These findings suggest that the sensory latency differences between the median and the ulnar wrist-to-digit 4 are better parameters in the median nerve recovery after treatment than the median sensory distal latency. Furthermore, the SSR does not seem to be a sensitive method in follow-up of CTS treatment

Combining theory and experiment for X-ray absorption spectroscopy and resonant X-ray scattering characterization of polymers

An improved understanding of fundamental chemistry, electronic structure, morphology, and dynamics in polymers and soft materials requires advanced characterization techniques that are amenable to in situ and operando studies. Soft X-ray methods are especially useful in their ability to non-destructively provide information on specific materials or chemical moieties. Analysis of these experiments, which can be very dependent on X-ray energy and polarization, can quickly become complex. Complementary modeling and predictive capabilities are required to properly probe these critical features. Here, we present relevant background on this emerging suite of techniques. We focus on how the combination of theory and experiment has been applied and can be further developed to drive our understanding of how these methods probe relevant chemistry, structure, and dynamics in soft materials

Inorganic phosphate has a crucial effect on Cry3Aa delta-endotoxin production

Aims: The study aimed at increasing Cry3Aa delta-endotoxin production by a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. strain Mm2). To this end, different nutritional conditions were tested for their effects on Cry3Aa yields

Butterfly optimization algorithm based maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic systems under partial shading condition

Because of dust, trees, high buildings in the surrounding area, partial shading conditions (PSC) occur in photovoltaic (PV) systems. This condition affects the power output of the PV system. Under PSC there is a global maximum power point (GMPP) besides there are a few local maximum power points (LMPP). This condition makes the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) procedure a challenging task. In order to solve this issue, soft computing techniques such as gray wolf optimization (GWO), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) are implemented. However, the performance of MPP trackers still needs to be improved. The main contribution of this paper is improving the tracking speed by implementing BOA to the MPPT of the PV system under PSC. Thus, in real-time applications a promising alternative presented to the literature to improve the performance of the PV systems under variable PSC because of its fast tracking speed. PV system consists of PV array, boost converter and load are modeled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink. BOA algorithm is implemented for three different insolation scenarios on the PV array. The results of the BOA algorithm verified by a comparative analysis with PSO-GSA and GWO algorithms. The results show that BOA can give high accuracy and better tracking speed than these algorithms in recent literature. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Cry3Aa11: A new Cry3Aa delta-endotoxin from a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis

A local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis Mm2 had insecticidal activity against the larvae of Melolontha melolontha, Agelastica alni, Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Amphimallon solstitiale and produced a 65 kDa protein. SDS-PAGE profile of B. thuringiensis Mm2 was compared with those of 29 different Cry3Aa producers which verified Cry3Aa biosynthesis by the isolate. The cry3Aa gene of Mm2 was cloned, sequenced and the deduced amino acid sequence was compared with the cry3Aa sequences of ten different quaternary ranks. Its identity to these sequences ranged between 97.4% and 99.2%. The gene was next cloned into E. coli-Bacillus shuttle vector pNW33N and expressed at a low level in B. subtilis 168

Use of waste marble powder in brick industry

The usability of waste marble dust as an additive material in industrial brick were investigated. Marble wastes were collected from marble deposits which are located at Southwest of Turkey and industrial brick mortar was obtained from a brick company in Istanbul. Waste marble dust and brick mortar were prepared for various processes of industrial brick investigation. Waste material in different proportions was mixed with industrial brick mortar starting amount of 0 wt.% up to 80 wt.%. in 41 x 8 x 8 mm rectangular prisms for testing of physico-mechanical properties of the samples having different marble dust composition. These prepared prisms were pressed and sintered at three different temperatures 900, 1000 and 1100 degrees C. Flexural strengths of the test samples were given at three different temperature values of 900, 1000 and 1100 degrees C. Archimedes water displacement test was conducted with different water absorption percentage values at 900, 1000 and 1100 degrees C temperatures. XRD analyses have been carried out for the additives which contain mainly calcite and small amount of dolomite minerals. It was found that the amount of marble dust additive had positive effect on the physical, chemical and mechanical strength of the produced industrial brick. With increasing demands of the construction industry, bricks quality and cost become more important day by day in Turkey. In addition, the usage of marble wastes for the production of industrial bricks has significant important role on the recycling waste marble powder in the brick production along with a great contributions to economy and ecology of the country

The relationship of median nerve F-wave parameters with severity and subtypes of carpal tunnel syndrome

PMID = 2394883