Symbiotic plasmonic nanomaterials: Synthesis and properties

Metal particles of the dimensions of the order of 1 to 100\u27s of nanometers show unique properties that are not clearly evident in their bulk state. These nanoparticles are highly reactive and sensitive to the changes in the vicinity of the particle surface and hence find applications in the field of sensing of chemical and biological agents, catalysis, energy harvesting, data storage and many more. By synthesizing bimetallic nanoparticles, a single nanoparticle can show multifunctional characteristics. The focus of this thesis is to detail the synthesis and understand the properties of bimetallic nanomaterial systems that show interesting optical, chemical, and magnetic behaviors, some of which fall into the category of a symbiotic behavior. Symbiosis is the mutual sharing of resources between two individual organisms. The potential design considerations in the synthesis of such symbiotic nanomaterials include their position in the electrochemical series, thermodynamic immiscibility, and vastly contrasting properties, such as plasmonic (Ag) and ferromagnetic (Co). In addition to these aspects, nanostructure size, shape, and composition can also play an important role in the ensuing optical, magnetic and chemical behaviors. For this work, two different synthesis routes were utilized to make nanostructures of various shapes, size, composition and spacing. The second part of the thesis focused on to understand the relationship between the role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the optical and chemical properties of these bimetallic nanostructures. From measurements of the plasmonic resonance energy and bandwidth, we developed a quantitative picture of the dependence of oxidation stability, plasmon quality factor and the radiative quantum efficiency on size and energy. These results showed that the bimetal nanoparticles could have comparable or better quality factor and quantum efficiency than pure Ag. We also discovered a new class of thin film amorphous transparent semiconducting material. The semiconductor was made from a ternary oxide comprising of the metals Fe, Tb, and Dy. The combination of high visible light transparency, high conductivity and extraordinarily high mobility makes this material a potential candidate for use in thin film transistor and transparent conductor applications, and is a possible replacement for In-based materials

The performance of advanced level schools for academically talented female students in Tanzania: An evaluative analysis

Magister Philosophiae - MPhilThis study is an evaluative analysis of the performance of Advanced Level (A-level) female students in schools for the academically talented in Tanzania. The pass rates of female students at Advanced Level in such schools are consistently lower than those of males, particularly in mathematics and science. The available literature on special schools in Tanzania is very limited. There are a number of related resources available concerning, for example, performance indicators for primary and secondary schools. This study would add to the sparse literature concerning factors which influence the performance of both female and male Tanzanian students who are academically talented. The study gives attention to feminist perspectives within an educational evaluation framework. This is because evaluation is a process of determining to what extent particular educational objectives are actually being realised. It is based on student performance, curricula and instructional materials, school personnel, educational programmes and projects, education institutions and organisations. The main argument of the thesis largely draws on a liberal, socialist feminism and empowerment approach to education and seeks to explain and change historical systems of sexual differences according to which females and males are socially constituted and positioned in relations of hierarchy and antagonism (Haraway, 1989). Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and by observation. Both quantitative and qualitative thematic content was used to analyse data. The respondents in this study involved four special schools (two for female and two for male students) with ten participants from each school. The data obtained from male students was used for comparative purposes. The sample also involved four heads of schools, two teachers from each school, two zonal inspectors (Eastern and Central zone) and the director of secondary schools. The study reveals that male students' performance in special schools is better than their female counterparts. The reason for this is inadequate provision of teaching and learning materials such as textbooks and an uneven distribution of teachers in schools for female which leads to a high teaching workload. In addition, there is a shortage of female graduate teachers who can act as female role models. Other factors include social cultural aspects and differential gender expectations for males and females in a society. All of these issues disadvantage females in relation to male students. This study r~commends that the government through the responsible Ministry should: increase the resources to these schools so as to create conducive learning environment for students and teachers; ensure even distribution of graduate teachers; encouraging more females to enroll in science and mathematics subjects; in order to be role models for younger students and recruit more· female graduates teachers specialised in science and mathematics. Future research should involve all special schools as well as other ordinary schools both private and public with a large sample

Symbiosis in Plasmonic Nanoparticles

The focus of this chapter is on how the symbiotic relationship existing in nature can easily be translated to the nanoscale systems, particularly in plasmonic nanoparticles. Here, we discuss the synthesis and properties of bimetallic nanoparticles, consisting of plasmonic silver (Ag) with ferromagnetic cobalt (Co). The symbiotic properties in the Co-Ag bimetallic plasmonic nanoparticles are discussed in the chapter where Ag and Co are the beneficiary elements due to the presence of each other. These bimetallic plasmonic nanomaterials demonstrate multi-functionalities which are not just limited to well-known bio-sensing or magneto-optical effects but also expand to highly unexpected and exotic properties such as extreme oxidation resistance, ferroplasmons, improved quality factor, and tunable radiative quantum efficiency

Ethnobotany of the Lega in the Tropical Rain Forest of Eastern Zaire: Part One, Zone de Mwenga

Ethnobotanical research was conducted on the traditional use of wild plants among the Lega slash-and-burn agriculturalists of eastern Zaire. Data on 287 plants were collected and matched with scientific names, vernaculars, botanical observations, uses, and name etymology. This report is the first step in a survey that will involve several research sites in Legaland in an attempt to understand man-plant interrelations in the floral environment of tropical rain forests through the ethnobotanical method

Advances in Nanomaterials Sciences and Nanotechnology for Sustainable Development: A Review

The fields of materials sciences have great opportunities to address the challenges of sustainable development of modern societies. The sub-disciplines of materials sciences of interest in this review are nanomaterials sciences and nanotechnology. Nanomaterials possess one external dimension measuring 1-100 nm. They have larger surface area for the same mass than their bulk materials. They are more reactive with effects on their electrical, optical and magnetic properties. Thus, nanomaterials are promising for sustainable development in the areas of energy, water, chemicals, electronics, medical and pharmaceutical industries, CO2 mitigation and agriculture. To this end, this review explores the advances in nanomaterials sciences, nanotechnology and the potential applications of nanomaterials for sustainable development. In this review, 73 peer reviewed articles and abstracts were retrieved. The review considered nanomaterials of carbon, inorganic materials, semiconductors, polymeric and lipid based materials. It has been found that nanomaterials sciences and nanotechnology is promising for potential applications in the areas of environmental remediation, energy, food, agriculture, industry, molecular biology, medicine and in pharmaceutical industries for sustainable development. Keywords: nanomaterials sciences, nanotechnology, sustainable developmen

Interparental differences in attitudes to cultural changes in Kuwait

Interparental conflict is an example of interpersonal disagreements that arise between those who adhere to the traditions of the indigenous Arab culture and those who accept the more liberal attitudes conveyed by the imported Western culture. Interparental attitude conflict over family relationships, methods of marriage and emancipation of women is positively associated with Kuwaiti nationality, urban residence and greater interparental age difference. It is the degree of conflict in attitudes rather than liberal attitudes as such that is associated with an excess of reported psychiatric symptoms

Strategi Pemasaran Sekolah SDIT FAJAR MEDAN melalui Keterlibatan Masyarakat di SDIT Fajar Medan Kec. Medan Area

Strategi adalah suatu cara umum yang mengatur dengan pelaksanaan pikiran, pengaturan, dan pelaksanaan suatu tindakan setelah beberapa waktu. Berdasarkan pandangan masyarakat terhadap SDIT Fajar Medan di zaman ini dengan persaingan yang semakin ketat dengan sekolah umum atau sekolah swasta lainnya di kota Medan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah 1) untuk menemukan startegi peningkatan pendidikan yang kompetitif melalui pemasaran sekolah di SDIT Fajar Medan, 2) peran sekolah sebagai pembentuk citra yang baik dengan meningkatkan prestasi siswa. di SDIT Fajar Medan, dan 3) upaya yang dilakukan di SDIT Fajar Medan dalam mengatasi masalah dan meningkatkan citra sekolah. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif yaitu dengan observasi, dokumentasi, dan wawancara. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah mengumpulkan data, kemudian disajikan untuk dijadikan kesimpulan di hasil akhir

Enhanced and tunable optical quantum efficiencies from plasmon bandwidth engineering in bimetallic CoAg nanoparticles

Plasmonic nanoparticles are amongst the most effective ways to resonantly couple optical energy into and out of nanometer sized volumes. However, controlling and/or tuning the transfer of this incident energy to the surrounding near and far field is one of the most interesting challenges in this area. Due to the dielectric properties of metallic silver (Ag), its nanoparticles have amongst the highest radiative quantum efficiencies (η), i.e., the ability to radiatively transfer the incident energy to the surrounding. Here we report the discovery that bimetallic nanoparticles of Ag made with immiscible and plasmonically weak Co metal can show comparable and/or even higher η values. The enhancement is a result of the narrowing of the plasmon bandwidth from these bimetal systems. The phenomenological explanation of this effect based on the dipolar approximation points to the reduction in radiative losses within the Ag nanoparticles when in contact with cobalt. This is also supported by a model of coupling between poor and good conductors based on the surface to volume ratio. This study presents a new type of bandwidth engineering, one based on using bimetalnanostructures, to tune and/or enhance the quality factor and quantum efficiency for near and far-field plasmonic applications

Kebijakan Pendidikan dalam Meningkatkan Profesionalitas Guru

Professionalism of teachers and lecturers is the ability of teachers and lecturers to apply and be consistent with their competencies when carrying out tasks, such as the teacher's ability to be able to develop potential and arouse students' interest, have self-confidence, be able to provide motivation and inspiration to students, visionary, innovative towards learning, able to control yourself, commitment, and responsibility. The education policy made by the government to continue to develop the teaching profession as a profession that is strong and respected along with other professions can be seen from the enactment of Law No. 14 of 2005 concerning Teachers and Lecturers which seeks to develop the teaching profession through legal protection. This journal discusses the urgency of the teaching profession in which the teacher has a strategic role and position in the implementation of the teacher as the front guard and a pioneer of educational success. In addition, this journal will also describe issues and phenomena from public policy by including the process of analyzing and implementing public policy. The conclusion of this journal is leaning towards the existence of teachers in education, the authors view that teachers are not only a profession but rather as companions, educators, teachers, directors and determinants of educational outcomes. Therefore the government must be able to accommodate efforts to improve and develop teachers as well as in the process of monitoring teachers after training or various other improvement efforts

Inter-generational conflict and psychiatric symptoms

Secondary school pupils and their parents were investigated using the scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–28) and by a questionnaire designed to study attitudes involved in inter-generational conflict in psychiatric patients. Parent-pupil and interparental conflict in answers to the attitude questionnaires were taken as measures of inter-generational and intra-generational conflicts respectively. The former significantly exceeded the latter. Parent-student conflict was higher when the students involved were females, Kuwaiti, or had less educated fathers. The tendency of the number of reported GHQ symptoms to be higher in members of families with higher inter-generational conflict did not reach statistical significance. There is an apparent discrepancy between this finding and the prominence of inter-generational conflict in clinical material