Synthesis and characterisation of nanocrystalline ZrN PVD coatings on AISI 430 stainless steel

The nanocrystalline films of zirconium nitride have been synthesized using ion-plasma vacuum-arc deposition technique in combination with high-frequency discharge (RF) on AISI 430 stainless steel at 150oC. Structure examinations X-ray fluorescent analysis (XRF), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with microanalysis (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoidentation method – were performed to study phase and chemical composition, surface morphology, microstructure and nanohardness of coatings. The developed technology provided low-temperature coatings synthesis, minimized discharge breakdown decreasing formation of macroparticles (MPs) and allowed to deposit ZrN coatings with hardness variation 26.6…31.5 GPa. It was revealed that ZrN single-phase coatings of cubic modification with finecrystalline grains of 20 nm in size were formed

Simultaneous Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate in Milk Samples by Ion Chromatography Method and Estimation of Dietary Intake

The presence of nitrate and nitrite in foods may be considered hazardous after ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract due to their reaction with naturally occurred secondary amines to form potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines. Due to this fact, a new method was developed in this study for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in milk samples using by ion chromatography. Proposed mobile phase composed of sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium carbonate (1.0 and 3.2 mmol/L) with a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min. The average recoveries for nitrate and nitrite were higher than 86 and 88, respectively. The limit of detection for nitrate and nitrite were 0.24 and 0.09 mg/L, respectively. The results of 102 real milk samples showed nitrate was found in all of the samples (100) with a mean of 34 ± 11 mg/L, while nitrite was found in none of the samples. The mean intake of nitrate in all age groups was lower than World Health Organization guideline. The present assessment concludes that the maximum contaminant level was equal to 82.8 mg/L nitrate. This method was fast, sensitive and accurate and is capable of being an alternative method in food control laboratories for investigation of nitrite and nitrate content. This is the first study of the determination and survey of nitrite and nitrate and exposure assessment of the Iranian population to nitrite and nitrate level in milk, which was widely used in infants and adolescents as one of the basic food components. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Helium and carbon isotopes in thermal waters of the Jalisco block, Mexico

The Jalisco block is a geologically and tectonically complex part of western Mexico. It is considered a distinct crustal unit bounded toward the mainland by rifting and toward the Pacific ocean by the SW section of the Mid-America trench, a contact between the subducting Rivera plate and the continent. On the basis of chemical, helium, and carbon isotopic analyses of 37 groups of thermal springs widely distributed over the Jalisco block, several major tectonic environments can be distinguished. The highest R= 3He/4He ratios with R/Ra (Ra being the atmospheric 3He/4He ratio) approaching MORB values were observed along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and within the Colima volcanic complex. For springs in the inner part of the block and close to the Pacific coast, including submarine springs at Punta de Mita, typical values were much lower, with R/Ra down to 0.4. A negative correlation between 3He/4He and δ13C of CO2 is suggested to be the result of coupling between radiogenic He and CO2 formed by oxidation of organic-rich sediments. C/3He ratios vary from ~109 for TMVB, typical for volatiles released from the mantle, to > 1011 thus suggesting a substantial addition of carbon from the crust

High emission rate of sulfuric acid from Bezymianny volcano, Kamchatka

High concentrations of primary sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in fumarolic gases and high emission rate of sulfuric acid aerosol in the plume were measured at Bezymianny volcano, an active dome-growing andesitic volcano in central Kamchatka. Using direct sampling, filter pack sampling, and differential optical absorption spectroscopy measurements, we estimated an average emission of H2SO4 at 243 ± 75 t/d in addition to an average SO2 emission of 212 ± 65 t/d. The fumarolic gases of Bezymianny correspond to arc gases released by several magma bodies at different stages of degassing and contain 25-92% of entrained air. H2SO4 accounts for 6-87 mol% of the total sulfur content, 42.8 mol% on average, and SO2 is the rest. The high H2SO4 in Bezymianny fumaroles can be explained by catalytic oxidation of SO2 inside the volcanic dome. Because sulfate aerosol is impossible to measure remotely, the total sulfur content in a plume containing significant H2SO4 may be seriously underestimated

Evaluation of the effect of plant growth retardants on vegetative growth, yield components, seed quality and crop maturity of kabuli chickpea

Non-Peer Reviewe

Systematics of the Neotropical Genus \u3cem\u3eLeptodactylus\u3c/em\u3e Fitzinger, 1826 (Anura: Leptodactylidae): Phylogeny, the Relevance of Non-molecular Evidence, and Species Accounts

A phylogeny of the species-rich clade of the Neotropical frog genus Leptodactylus sensu stricto is presented on the basis of a total evidence analysis of molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and non-molecular (adult and larval morphological and behavioral characters) sampled from \u3e 80% of the 75 currently recognized species. Our results support the monophyly of Leptodactylus sensu stricto, with Hydrolaetare placed as its sister group. The reciprocal monophyly of Hydrolaetare and Leptodactylus sensu stricto does not require that we consider Hydrolaetare as either a subgenus or synonym of Leptodactylus sensu lato. We recognize Leptodactylus sensu stricto, Hydrolaetare, Adenomera, and Lithodytes as valid monophyletic genera. Our results generally support the traditionally recognized Leptodactylus species groups, with exceptions involving only a few species that are easily accommodated without proposing new groups or significantly altering contents. The four groups form a pectinate tree, with the Leptodactylus fuscus group diverging first, followed by the L. pentadactylus group, which is sister to the L. latrans and L. melanonotus groups. To evaluate the impact of non-molecular evidence on our results, we compared our total evidence results with results obtained from analyses using only molecular data. Although non-molecular evidence comprised only 3.5% of the total evidence matrix, it had a strong impact on our total evidence results. Only one species group was monophyletic in the molecular-only analysis, and support differed in 86% of the 54 Leptodactylus clades that are shared by the results of the two analyses. Even though no non-molecular evidence was included for Hydrolaetare, exclusion of that data partition resulted in that genus being nested within Leptodactylus, demonstrating that the inclusion of a small amount of non-molecular evidence for a subset of species can alter not only the placement of those species, but also species that were not scored for those data. The evolution of several natural history and reproductive traits is considered in the light of our phylogenic framework. Invasion of rocky outcrops, larval oophagy, and use of underground reproductive chambers are restricted to species of the Leptodactylus fuscus and L. pentadactylus groups. In contrast, larval schooling, larval attendance, and more complex parental care are restricted to the L. latrans and L. melanonotus groups. Construction of foam nests is plesiomorphic in Leptodactylus but their placement varies extensively (e.g., underground chambers, surface of waterbodies, natural or excavated basins). Information on species synonymy, etymology, adult and larval morphology, advertisement call, and geographic distribution is summarized in species accounts for the 30 species of the Leptodactylus fuscus group, 17 species of the L. pentadactylus group, eight species of the L. latrans group, and 17 species of the L. melanonotus group, as well as the three species that are currently unassigned to any species group

Изменение гранулометрического состава продукта, догранулируемого окатыванием по технологии «fattening»

In the paper we present the method of calculating the particle size distribution of the initial granules overgranulated by the “fattening” technology. We have developed a number of different ways for solving the problem for the continuous and periodic (transition) process. Knowing the particle size distribution is very important for calculating and planning the production of granulated products, such as fertilizers and many others. Fattening is a process of overgranulating the initial pellet by the powder (with or without binding) by rolling in different devices, including plate granulators. The calculation results obtained with the use of the models are represented as a series of graphic dependencies. A comparison of the proposed calculation methods with those previously known is also given. A block diagram of the implementation of the algorithm is also presented in the paper.В статье разработана методика расчета гранулометрического состава в процессе догранулирования исходного ретура окатыванием по технологии «fattening» порошками (со связующим или без) в различных устройствах, включая тарельчатые грануляторы. Знание распределения частиц по размерам очень важно для расчета процесса и планирования производства гранулированных продуктов, таких как удобрения, сера, щелочи и многие другие. Приведены различные варианты решения задачи для непрерывного и периодического (переходного) процесса. Составлена блок-схема решения задачи, а также приведено сравнение результатов с предложенными методиками расчета и экспериментом. Результаты расчета, полученные по моделям, представлены в виде серий графи-ческих зависимостей