Recent Progress of Electrocatalysts and Photocatalysts Bearing First Row Transition Metal for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)

The design and modification of metal–organic complexes for hydrogen (H2) gas production by water splitting have been intensively investigated over the recent decades. In most reported mechanistic pathways, metal hydride species are considered as crucial intermediates for H2 formation where the metal present at the active site plays an imperative role in the transfer of electron and proton. In the last few decades, much consideration has been done on the development of non-precious metal–organic catalysts that use solar energy to split water into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) as alternative fossil fuels. This review discussed the design, fabrication, and evaluation of the catalysts for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Mechanistic approach is addressed here in order to understand the fundamental design principle and structural properties relationship of electrocatalysts and photocatalysts. Finally, we discuss some challenges and opportunities of research in the near future in this promising area

CAVASS: A Computer-Assisted Visualization and Analysis Software System

The Medical Image Processing Group at the University of Pennsylvania has been developing (and distributing with source code) medical image analysis and visualization software systems for a long period of time. Our most recent system, 3DVIEWNIX, was first released in 1993. Since that time, a number of significant advancements have taken place with regard to computer platforms and operating systems, networking capability, the rise of parallel processing standards, and the development of open-source toolkits. The development of CAVASS by our group is the next generation of 3DVIEWNIX. CAVASS will be freely available and open source, and it is integrated with toolkits such as Insight Toolkit and Visualization Toolkit. CAVASS runs on Windows, Unix, Linux, and Mac but shares a single code base. Rather than requiring expensive multiprocessor systems, it seamlessly provides for parallel processing via inexpensive clusters of work stations for more time-consuming algorithms. Most importantly, CAVASS is directed at the visualization, processing, and analysis of 3-dimensional and higher-dimensional medical imagery, so support for digital imaging and communication in medicine data and the efficient implementation of algorithms is given paramount importance

STUDY OF ACROMIAL MORPHOLOGY IN INDIAN POPULATION. Estudio de la morfología acromial en la población India

Objetivos: El propósito del estudio era evaluar la morfología de acromion adulto en la población India y correlacionar su asociación con varias patologías del hombro. Materiales y métodos: La evaluación morfológica fue realizada en 200 omóplatos secos adultos obtenidos del museo de osteología del Departamento de Anatomía, Maulana Azad Medical College, Nueva Delhi. Se calculó la altura del arco acromial, ángulo anterior y posterior del arco y su índice, usando el método objetivo de Getz et al  (1996) para demarcar forma acromial. La presencia o la ausencia de entesofitos fue observada en la superficie inferior de la cara anterior del acromion. Resultados: 28% de los omóplatos fueron el acromion de tipo I, 67% fueron el tipo II y el 5% fueron el tipoIII. La presencia de entesofitos en la superficie inferior de la cara anterior del acromion también fue estudiada; los enthesofitos fueron observados en 3.5% en el tipo acromial I, 15.67% en el tipo II y el 40% en el proceso acromial de tipoIII. Conclusiones: La asociación entre el síndrome subacromial de compresión y el tipo acromial está bien establecida. Les asistirá a los clínicos para decidir la modalidad del tratamiento: conservador o quirúrgico. Se debe tener en cuenta la asociación de entesofitos subacromiales con la morfología acromial y los desgarros del manguito rotador al interpretar opacidades en las radiografías.  Objectives: The purpose of the study was to asses the morphology of adult acromion  processes in Indian population and correlate its association with various shoulder pathologies. Materials and methods: Morphologic evaluation was conducted on 200 adult dry scapulae obtained from osteology museum of Department of Anatomy, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. The height of the acromial arch, anterior and posterior angle of arch and their ratio were measured by using objective method of Getz et al (1996) for determining acromial shape. Presence or absence of enthesophyte was noted on the undersurface of the anterior aspect of the acromion process. Results: 28% scapulae exhibited type I acromion, 67% exhibited type II and 5% exhibited type III. The presence of enthesophytes on the anterior undersurface of the acromion was also studied; enthesophytes were observed in 3.5% in type I acromion, 15.67% in type II and 40% in type III acromion process. Conclusions: Association between subacromial impingement syndrome and acromial type is well established. This will assist the clinicians in deciding the modality of treatment: conservative or operative. Association of subacromial enthesophytes with acromial morphology and rotator cuff tears should be borne in mind when interpreting opacities on radiographs

Electrochemical behaviour of uncoated and phosphatidylcholine coated copper in hydrochloric acid medium

Electrochemical reactions occurring at the copper-aqueous hydrochloric acid interface and efficacy of phosphatidylcholine coating towards retarding the rate of these reactions are been assessed through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic methods. Phosphatidylcholine coating retards the rate of both cathodic and anodic reactions at the metal-electrolyte interface and maintains high degree of corrosion inhibition efficiency for copper in hydrochloric acid with 0.5 M to 2 M concentration up to 96 h of exposure time. Mode of adsorption of phosphatidylcholine molecule on copper surface in acid medium is explained from FTIR spectroscopic data and corroborated with quantum chemical results

Characterization of the Rust Fungus, \u3ci\u3ePuccinia emaculata\u3c/i\u3e, and Evaluation of Genetic Variability for Rust Resistance in Switchgrass Populations

Several fungal pathogens have been identified on ornamental and native stands of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Diseases of switchgrass, particularly rust, have been largely neglected and are likely to become the major limiting factor to biomass yield and quality, especially when monocultured over a large acreage. Based on teliospore morphology and internal transcribed spacer-based diagnostic primers, the rust pathogen collected from switchgrass research fields in Oklahoma was identified as Puccinia emaculata. Furthermore, to identify genetically diverse source(s) of rust resistance, several switchgrass genotypes from both upland (cv. ‘Summer’ and ‘Cave-in-Rock’) and lowland (cv. ‘Alamo’ and ‘Kanlow’) ecotypes were evaluated in Ardmore, Oklahoma during 2008 and 2009 and in growth chamber assays. Field and growth chamber evaluations revealed a high degree of genetic variation within and among switchgrass cultivars. In general, Alamo and Kanlow showed moderate resistance to P. emaculata, while Summer was highly susceptible. Distinct ecotypic variations for reactions to rust were also prevalent with the lowlands maintaining a high level of resistance. These results suggest the potential for improvement of rust resistance via the selection of resistant individuals from currently available cultivars. Further, the selection pressure on the pathogen would also be reduced by employing several rust resistant cultivars in production-scale situations