Synergism of Saccharum Officinarum, Nicotiana Tobaccum and Ananas Comusus Extract Additives on the morphological structure and Quality of Electroplated Zinc on Mild Steel

Synergism of the combined Saccharum Officinarum (sugar cane), Nicotiana Tobaccum (tobacco) and Ananas Comusus (pine apple) extract additives on the surface morphology and quality of electroplated zinc on mild steel in acid chloride solution was investigated at ambient temperature (~28oC). The experiments were performed at different plating time (15 and 18 min), additive concentrations (2, 2.5, 3 ml/50ml of acid chloride solution), pH5, temperature (27-30oC), current (0.08A) and voltage (13 V DC) conditions. Zinc electroplating on mild steel was performed using a DC – supply. Examination of the steel plated surface was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for surface elemental composition analysis. Different surface characteristics were obtained depending upon the concentration of the additive and the plating time. The corrosion resistance of the plated surface was determined by weight loss method. Surface morphology of the plated surface indicated a good electroplating that was better than either of the extracts alone. The electroplating process was sensitive to changes in additive concentration and plating time as any variation in the plating parameter produced a new and different surface crystal morphology

Effect of Saccharum officinarum Juice Extract Additive on the Electrodeposition of Zinc on Mild Steel in Acid Chloride Solution

Experimental investigations have been performed to examine the electrodeposition of zinc on mild steel in acid chloride solution using as additive different concentrations of saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) juice extracts. The experiments were performed under different plating time, different additive concentrations and fixed pH conditions. Zinc electrodeposition on mild steel was performed using a DC – supply at defined operating parameters. The surface of the plated steel was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for surface elemental composition analysis. Different surface characteristics were obtained depending upon the concentration of the additive and the plating time. The corrosion resistance of the plated surface was also determined by gravimetric method. The quality of electrodeposition of zinc was good as indicated by the plated surface microstructural morpholog

Effect of Manihot Esculenta C. Leaf Extract Additive on the Zinc Electroplating on Mild Steel in Acid Chloride Solution

The plating quality effect of manihot esculenta c. (cassava) leaf extract as addition agent on the electroplating of zinc on mild steel in acid chloride solution was investigated in the laboratory. The experiments were performed using different extract additive concentrations, different plating time and fixed pH conditions. A DC – supply at defined operating parameters was used to perform the electroplating of zinc on mild steel. The surface of the plated steel was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). This was used to examine the surface of the plated steel for surface morphology and for surface elemental composition analysis. Distinct variable surface characteristics were obtained depending upon the concentration of the additive and the plating time. The corrosion resistance of the plated surface was determined by gravimetric, potential measurement and corrosion current methods. The coating efficiencies were also determined. Variations in the plating parameters produced entirely new and different surface morphology. The quality of the electro-deposition of zinc was good as showed by the microstructural features of the plated surfaces. The electrodeposition process was sensitive to changes in additive concentration and plating tim

Antidepressant efficacy of agomelatine:meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies

Objective To systematically review published and unpublished efficacy studies of agomelatine in people with depression. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Literature search (Pubmed, Embase, Medline), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, European Medicines Agency (EMA) regulatory file for agomelatine, manufacturers of agomelatine (Servier). Eligibility criteria Double blind randomised placebo and comparator controlled trials of agomelatine in depression with standard depression rating scales. Data synthesis Studies were pooled by using a random effects model with DerSimonian and Laird weights for comparisons with placebo and comparator antidepressant. The primary efficacy measure (change in rating scale score) was summarised with standardised mean difference (SMD; a measure of effect size) and secondary outcome measures with relative risks. All results were presented with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity was explored by visual inspection of funnel plots and by the I(2) statistic. Moderators of effect were explored by meta-regression. Results We identified 20 trials with 7460 participants meeting inclusion criteria (11 in the published literature, four from the European Medicines Agency file, and five from the manufacturer). Almost all studies used the 17 item Hamilton depression rating scale (score 0-50). Agomelatine was significantly more effective than placebo with an effect size (SMD) of 0.24 (95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.35) and relative risk of response 1.25 (1.11 to 1.4). Compared with other antidepressants, agomelatine showed equal efficacy (SMD 0.00, −0.09 to 0.10). Significant heterogeneity was uncovered in most analyses, though risk of bias was low. Published studies were more likely than unpublished studies to have results that suggested advantages for agomelatine. Conclusions Agomelatine is an effective antidepressant with similar efficacy to standard antidepressants. Published trials generally had more favourable results than unpublished studies

Properties of rapidly solidified binary copper alloys

A number of binary Cu-X alloys (X = Fe, Cr, Si and Al) with alloying elements up to approximate to 12 at % for Fe and Cr, and = 20 at% for Al and Si were cast into thin ribbons (30-50 mu m thickness) by chill block melt spinning. The structural state of the as-cast ribbons was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microstructures of the quenched alloys were compared with the ingot equivalent, It was possible to achieve solid solution and fine dispersion of secondary phase beyond XRD detection up to approximate to 8 at% solute for Fe and Cr, which is beyond the expected concentration limits from equilibrium phase diagrams. The effects of alloying on resistivity and microhardness are also presented

Synthesis of Amorphous Carbon Nitride using Reactive Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition with Grazing Bombardment

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-C:N) thin films were synthesised on steel substrates using reactive ion beam sputtering deposition (RIBSD). A single ion beam is arranged to sputter the graphite target at 75° incidence and concurrently bombard the growing film at grazing incidence angles of the ion beam. Nanoindentation, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, FT-Raman and XPS were employed to characterise the mechanical and structural properties of the films. It was found that grazing incident bombardment has a significant effect on film structure through an increase in nitrogen content and formation of nitrogen doped structure. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Long-acting paliperidone palmitate:interim results of an observational study of its effect on hospitalization

Paliperidone palmitate (PP) is a recently introduced long-acting atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotic. Published data on PP are currently limited to controlled trials and case reports. In this observational study, we followed up 200 consecutive patients prescribed PP in normal practice. After 1 year, 65% of patients were still receiving PP. The number of admissions to hospital in the year following PP initiation was 0.49/patient compared with 0.69/patient/year, 3 years before initiation (P=0.0001). The mean number of bed days fell from 38.78 to 23.09/patient/year over the corresponding period (P=0.0001). The median number of bed days 3 years before PP initiation was 21.50/year and in the year following PP initiation, it was 0. Outcomes were numerically but not statistically better in those continuing PP than in those who ceased PP within a year of initiation. PP was effective and well-tolerated and, given its positive effect on hospital bed days, broadly cost-effective