Fabrication of Transparent Composites from Pinaceae Wood Packaging Residues

In the 21st century, mankind has witnessed the rapidly development of all industries with a lot of new products in a variety of types and designs. However, this development has been also causing many problems with the society and the ecological environment such as a wasteful excess of products, exhaustive exploitation of natural resources, indiscriminate deforestation, and waste pollution affecting the living environment, ecosystem, and human health. Many organizations and governments are calling for environmental protection, limit waste emissions, and find good solutions to use the recycled materials as raw materials in production plants. This study would like to provide a solution which not only utilizes waste packaging Pinaceae wood for recycling as raw material but also supplies to the market with a green product responding to the durability requirements in fact. Pinaceae wood packaging residues were chemically processed through two stages. The amount of lignin extract from Pinaceae was determined by the method of Tappi 222 om-02 which was significantly influenced by the extraction parameters such as temperature, time and concentration of the treatment solution. Morphological modification of wood materials was analyzed by SEM micrographs. In particular, the mechanical properties of the Epoxy/TPW2 composite green material have been significantly improved with increasing up to 206–540 % compared to the original Pinaceae wood. The optical properties of the wood have completely changed from opaque pine wood with the optical transmittance of 8 % into transparent composite material with the optical transmittance up to 85 % using UV-vis spectroscopy analysis

The Role of Social Network Sites in English Language Teaching_Harnessing the Potential of Facebook and YouTube as Learning Tools

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the role of Social Network Sites (SNSs) in the context of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and learning. It examines the definitions and potential applications of SNSs, with a specific focus on Facebook and YouTube. The paper discusses the educational and instructional implementations of these SNSs, as well as the challenges and drawbacks faced by both teachers and students when utilizing them. Furthermore, it explores the pedagogical implications of incorporating the cutting-edge features offered by SNSs, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional and technologically driven learning environment

MODIFICATION OF GRAPHENE OXIDE BY CURCUMIN AND APPLICATION IN POLYURETHANE COATING

Curcumin modified graphene oxide (GO-CR) was prepared using adsorption method and polyurethane (PU) coating containing 0.3 wt% GO-CR was prepared on carbon steel. Synthesized GO-CR was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and zeta potential measurement. Corrosion protection property of polyurethane coating containing GO-CR was evaluated and compared with blank polyurethane coating and coating containing GO by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that GO-CR has layer structure like GO with lower crystallinity. In GO-CR structure curcumin was attached on GO surface. The presence of curcumin on GO-CR surface provided corrosion inhibition action for PU coating and also improved the dispersion of GO in PU coating

Impact of various essential oils and plant extracts on the characterization of the composite seaweed hydrocolloid and gac pulp (Momordica cochinchinensis) edible film

Edible films and coatings have currently received increasing interest because of their potential in food applications. This study examined the effect of incorporated essential oils and natural plant extracts on the characteristics of the composite seaweed hydrocolloid and gac pulp films. Films were prepared by a casting technique, followed by measurement of physical, optical, barrier, mechanical, and structural properties. The results showed that adding plant oils and extracts significantly affected the physical, optical, mechanical, and structural properties of the composite films. Incorporation of the essential oils resulted in a reduction in moisture content and opacity while increasing values for Hue angle and elongation at break of the composite films. Besides, incorporation of the plant extracts showed increases in thickness, opacity, Delta E, Chroma, and elongation at the break, while there is a decrease in the Hue angle values of the composite films. In conclusion, incorporating plant essential oils and extracts into composite seaweed hydrocolloid and gac pulp films can enhance film properties, which can potentially be applied in food products

Modelling Li+ Ion Battery Electrode Properties

We formulated two detailed models for an electrolytic cell with particulate electrodes based on a lithium atom concentration dependent Butler-Volmer condition at the interface between electrode particles and the electrolyte. The first was based on a dilute-ion assumption for the electrolyte, while the second assumed that Li ions are present in excess. For the first, we used the method of multiple scales to homogenize this model over the microstructure, formed by the small lithium particles in the electrodes. For the second, we gave rigorous bounds for the effective electrochemical conductivity for a linearized case. We expect similar results and bounds for the "full nonlinear problem" because variational results are generally not adversely affected by a sinh term. Finally we used the asymptotic methods, based on parameters estimated from the literature, to attain a greatly simplified one-dimensional version of the original homogenized model. This simplified model accounts for the fact that diffusion of lithium atoms within individual electrode particles is relatively much faster than that of lithium ions across the whole cell so that lithium ion diffusion is what limits the performance of the battery. However, since most of the potential drop occurs across the Debye layers surrounding each electrode particle, lithium ion diffusion only significantly affects cell performance if there is more or less complete depletion of lithium ions in some region of the electrolyte which causes a break in the current flowing across the cell. This causes catastrophic failure. Providing such failure does not occur the potential drop across the cell is determined by the concentration of lithium atoms in the electrode particles. Within each electrode lithium atom concentration is, to leading order, a function of time only and not of position within the electrode. The depletion of electrode lithium atom concentration is directly proportional to the current being drawn off the cell. This leads one to expect that the potential of the cell gradually drops as current is drawn of it. We would like to emphasize that all the homogenization methods employed in this work give a systematic approach for investigating the effect that changes in the microstructure have on the behaviour of the battery. However, due to lack of time, we have not used this method to investigate particular particle geometries

Polysialylated-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) in the human trigeminal ganglion and brainstem at prenatal and adult ages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The polysialylated neuronal cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is considered a marker of developing and migrating neurons and of synaptogenesis in the immature vertebrate nervous system. However, it persists in the mature normal brain in some regions which retain a capability for morphofunctional reorganization throughout life. With the aim of providing information relevant to the potential for dynamic changes of specific neuronal populations in man, this study analyses the immunohistochemical occurrence of PSA-NCAM in the human trigeminal ganglion (TG) and brainstem neuronal populations at prenatal and adult age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Western blot analysis in human and rat hippocampus supports the specificity of the anti-PSA-NCAM antibody and the immunodetectability of the molecule in postmortem tissue. Immunohistochemical staining for PSA-NCAM occurs in TG and several brainstem regions during prenatal life and in adulthood. As a general rule, it appears as a surface staining suggestive of membrane labelling on neuronal perikarya and proximal processes, and as filamentous and dot-like elements in the neuropil. In the TG, PSA-NCAM is localized to neuronal perikarya, nerve fibres, pericellular networks, and satellite and Schwann cells; further, cytoplasmic perikaryal staining and positive pericellular fibre networks are detectable with higher frequency in adult than in newborn tissue. In the adult tissue, positive neurons are mostly small- and medium-sized, and amount to about 6% of the total ganglionic population. In the brainstem, PSA-NCAM is mainly distributed at the level of the medulla oblongata and pons and appears scarce in the mesencephalon. Immunoreactivity also occurs in discretely localized glial structures. At all ages examined, PSA-NCAM occurs in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, solitary nuclear complex, vestibular and cochlear nuclei, reticular formation nuclei, and most of the precerebellar nuclei. In specimens of different age, the distribution pattern remains fairly steady, whereas the density of immunoreactive structures and the staining intensity may change and are usually higher in newborn than in adult specimens.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results obtained show that, in man, the expression of PSA-NCAM in selective populations of central and peripheral neurons occurs not only during prenatal life, but also in adulthood. They support the concept of an involvement of this molecule in the structural and functional neural plasticity throughout life. In particular, the localization of PSA-NCAM in TG primary sensory neurons likely to be involved in the transmission of protopathic stimuli suggests the possible participation of this molecule in the processing of the relevant sensory neurotransmission.</p

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

The Efficiency of Red/Near-Infrared Emissions of Iridium Complexes

In this project, iridium-centered compounds with different electron-donating ancillary ligands were synthesized and the effects of these ligands were analyzed by measuring the quantum yields (how radiative and nonradiative rates varied) and lifetimes of the iridium complexes. Investigating ligands that lead to increased quantum yield in the red/near-infrared region of the visible spectrum can be used to produce light emitting devices, such as OLED screens, of increased efficiency. During synthesis and analysis, common lab techniques such as refluxing, liquid-liquid extractions, thin-layer chromatography and NMR were used to produce and characterize the compounds.Honors CollegeChemistry, Department o

Etude rhéocinétique et mécanique des réseaux époxydes modifiés par des élastomères. Mise en forme par le procédé de moulage par transfert de résine (RTM)

L\u27objectif de ce travail est la modification d\u27un système époxyde/amine par l\u27incorporation des élastomères liquide et/ou préformé. Une fonctionnalisation de l\u27écorce par des groupes carboxyliques conduit à la modification de l\u27état de dispersion des particules. L\u27apparition d\u27une viscosité seuil aux faibles gradients de cisaillement est notée dans les systèmes à base de particules fonctionnalisées. Une modélisation rhéologique des courbes maîtresses des modules a été réalisée en appliquant le modèle de Palierne. La morphologie, le comportement rhéologique et diélectrique des systèmes modifiés ont été également étudiés et nous avons montré qu\u27ils sont étroitement liés à la nature des élastomères. Des matériaux composites ont été réalisés par le procédé de moulage par transfert de résine. Un optimum de ténacité a été obtenu pour les matériaux composites renforcés par les deux types d\u27élastomère montrant ainsi un effet de synergie Le mécanisme de renforcement des matériaux modifiés par les élastomères est dû principalement à la déformation plastique de la matrice par écoulement en cisaillement du réseau époxyde, favorisé par la cavitation de particules