Influence of alkaline treatment and fiber loading on the physical and mechanical properties of kenaf/polypropylene composites for variety of applications

Due to current trend and increasing interest towards natural based fiber products, Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) fibers have been used for the developments of many products. Therefore, Kenaf fiber-reinforced composites have been widely used in engineering and industrial applications. The present work deals with the fabricating and characterization of untreated and treated kenaf/polypropylene (PP)-reinforced composites. Composites of PP reinforced with treated and untreated kenaf fibers were fabricated using the injection molding technique. Different fiber loadings of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt% treated and untreated kenaf composites were also prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed on the treated, untreated kenaf fibers and kenaf/PP composites. Moreover, the alkaline-treated kenaf composites exhibit better physical, morphological, and mechanical properties because of the compatibility of kenaf with PP. However, variations in tensile and flexural properties depend on treatment and kenaf fiber contents. The percentage increase in the mechanical properties of the treated kenaf/PP composites relative to that of PP was also measured. In addition, 40 wt% kenaf fiber loading resulted in higher mechanical properties. By contrast, kenaf/PP composite with 50% fiber loading was not successfully prepared because of improper mixing and the burning of kenaf fibers in the PP matrix. To conclude, 40% kenaf/PP composites with superior physical and mechanical properties may be used in variety of applications such as automotive, sports, construction, animal bedding, and mass production industries.     

Preparation,characterization, and antibacterial activity of γ-irradiated silver nanoparticles in aqueous gelatin

Colloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were obtained through γ-irradiation of aqueous solutions containing AgNO₃ and gelatin as a silver source and stabilizer, respectively. The absorbed dose of γ-irradiation influences the particle diameter of the Ag-NPs, as evidenced from surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. When the γ-irradiation dose was increased (from 2 to 50 kGy), the mean particle size was decreased continuously as a result of γ-induced Ag-NPs fragmentation. The antibacterial properties of the Ag-NPs were tested against Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a) (Gram-negative) bacteria. This approach reveals that the γ-irradiation-mediated method is a promising simple route for synthesizing highly stable Ag-NPs in aqueous solutions with good antibacterial properties for different applications.     

The DNA sequence and analysis of human chromosome 14

Chromosome 14 is one of five acrocentric chromosomes in the human genome. These chromosomes are characterized by a heterochromatic short arm that contains essentially ribosomal RNA genes, and a euchromatic long arm in which most, if not all, of the protein-coding genes are located. The finished sequence of human chromosome 14 comprises 87,410,661 base pairs, representing 100% of its euchromatic portion, in a single continuous segment covering the entire long arm with no gaps. Two loci of crucial importance for the immune system, as well as more than 60 disease genes, have been localized so far on chromosome 14. We identified 1,050 genes and gene fragments, and 393 pseudogenes. On the basis of comparisons with other vertebrate genomes, we estimate that more than 96% of the chromosome 14 genes have been annotated. From an analysis of the CpG island occurrences, we estimate that 70% of these annotated genes are complete at their 5' end.     

Characterization of Inverse Spinel LiNiVO_4 Cathode Materials Prepared by the Sol-gel and Polymer Precursor Method

1 Results Due to the high cell voltage of LiNiVO4,the compound properties have been continuously studied as the potential cathode material for Li-ion batteries.LiNiVO4 cathode product has been known to exhibit high cell voltage of 4.8 V[1].LiCH3COO.2H2O (Sigma),Ni(CH3COO)2.4H2O (Aldrich) and NH4VO3(Ajax Finechem) were used as the starting reactants. In this work,LiNiVO4 was prepared by the sol gel method.This method was used to replace the conventional solid state reaction method in terms of the sample ...     

Characteristics of LiNiPO_4 Prepared by Chitosan Polymer Precursor Method

1 Results Stoichimetric quantities of lithium acetate,nickel acetate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate were mixed with ethanol and stirred with heating until complete dissolution.A solution of 1 g chitosan in 1% acetic acid was then poured into the heated and stirred solution until all solvents have evaporated.The precursor was then sintered at 500,600,700,800,900 and 1 000 ℃ for 3 hours.X-ray diffraction results showed that single phase LiNiPO4 was obtained at sintering temperatures above 600 ℃.TEM res...     

Molybdenite alkali fusion and leaching: reactions and mechanism

The production of MoO₃ from Sarcheshmeh molybdenite concentrate via a pyro-hydrometallurgical process was studied. The molybdenite concentrate and sodium carbonate were premixed and fused under air atmosphere. Then the fused products were leached in water and the dissolved molybdenum was recovered as ammonium molybdate. The ammonium molybdate was then calcined to produce molybdic oxide. At the fusion stage, the effect of the mass ratio of carbonate to sulfide on the reaction products and the solubility of the products was investigated. The results show that during the fusion, sodium molybdate and sodium sulfate are the final reaction products and sodium sulfide is detected as an intermediate reaction product. By melting at 850℃ with 5wt% excess carbonate, the maximum solubility of the products is obtained. The molybdenum is recovered from the solutions as ammonium molybdate.     

Hypomorphic mutations in syndromic encephalocele genes are associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS) is a genetically heterogeneous, neonatally lethal malformation and the most common form of syndromic neural tube defect (NTD). To date, several MKS-associated genes have been identified whose protein products affect ciliary function. Here we show that mutations in MKS1, MKS3 and CEP290 (also known as NPHP6) either can cause Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) or may have a potential epistatic effect on mutations in known BBS-associated loci. Five of six families with both MKS1 and BBS mutations manifested seizures, a feature that is not a typical component of either syndrome. Functional studies in zebrafish showed that mks1 is necessary for gastrulation movements and that it interacts genetically with known bbs genes. Similarly, we found two families with missense or splice mutations in MKS3, in one of which the affected individual also bears a homozygous nonsense mutation in CEP290 that is likely to truncate the C terminus of the protein. These data extend the genetic stratification of ciliopathies and suggest that BBS and MKS, although distinct clinically, are allelic forms of the same molecular spectrum.     

Rapid synthesis of MoSi2-Si3N4 nanocomposite via reaction milling of Si and Mo powder mixture

The nanocomposite of MoSi2-SiaN4 （molybdenum disilicide-silicon nitride） was synthesized by reaction milling of the Mo and Si powder mixture. Changing the processing parameters led to the formation of different products such as a- and B-MoSi2, SiaN4, Mo2N, and M05Si3 at various milling times. A thermodynamic appraisal showed that the milling of Moa2Siss powder mixture was associated with highly exothermic mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction （MSR） between Mo and Si. The MSR took place around 5 h of milling led to the formation of a-MoSi2 and the reaction between Si and N2 to produce Si3N4 under a nitrogen pressure of 1 MPa. By increasing the nitrogen pressure to 5 MPa, more heat is released, resulting in the dissociation of Si3N4 and the transformation of a-MoSi2 to β-MoSi2. Heat treatment was also performed on the milled samples and led to the formation of Mo2N and the transformation of a-MoSi2 to β-MoSi2 at the milling times of 10 and 40 h, respectively.     

The Ku complex: recent advances and emerging roles outside of non-homologous end-joining

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Since its discovery in 1981, the Ku complex has been extensively studied under multiple cellular contexts, with most work focusing on Ku in terms of its...