Investigation of Structures of Sintered Processed Fly Ash Materials: Resources of Industrial Wastes

The aim of the work is to use industrial waste as resource materials for formulating useful product for society. Materials are prepared using Fly ash as main ingredient through sintered process via solid state route. Different materials are prepared using various sintering temperature. The crystal structural and phases are explored by XRD analysis. Mulite phase are investigated, which is indicated the insulating properties of the materials. Surface topography of the prepared materials is analyzed by FESEM characterization. EDS analysis is also done during the FESEM characterization and is assessed the various chemical compositions. Identification of different chemical groups in the processed Fly Ash is carried out by FTIR analysis. Highest electrical resistivity is estimated and is found to be 35.1 MΩ, which indicates the very good insulating property.

ACCase inhibitor fractionation and glyphosate addition improve perennial sourgrass control

Glyphosate-resistant sourgrass is difficult to control, particularly when perennial, and strategies that improve the control efficiency against this grass and preserve the useful life of graminicides are warranted. Therefore, the present study aimed to answer the following questions: (i) Does fractionating the doses of ACCase inhibitors improve the control of perennial sourgrass? (ii) Does alternating the chemical groups cyclohexanediones (DIMs) and aryloxyphenoxypropanoates (FOPs) improve the control of perennial sourgrass, and does the order of their application affect sourgrass control efficiency? (iii) Does the addition of glyphosate to ACCase inhibitors improve to the control of perennial sourgrass resistant to 5-enol-pyruvyl-shiquime-3-phosphate synthase inhibitors? Two field experiments (I and II) were performed in 2018 and repeated in 2019. In experiment I, the treatments included a single or fractional application clethodim + quizalofop-P-ethyl (216 + 108 g a.i. ha-1), clethodim (216 g a.i. ha-1), and quizalofop-P-tefuryl (108 g a.i. ha-1), applied in the order of clethodim followed by quizalofop-P-tefuryl and vice versa, as well as a control treatment. In experiment II, the treatments included a single or fractional application of clethodim + quizalofop-P-ethyl (216 + 108 g a.i. ha-1) and clethodim (108 g a.i. ha-1), isolated or associated with glyphosate, as well as a control treatment. In both experiments, the interval between the fractional applications was 7 days. Percentage of control, number of tillers per plant, and height of sourgrass plants were determined. Compared with the unfractionated application, the fractionation of clethodim + quizalofop-P-ethyl and clethodim increased control by respectively 20-24 and 25-30%. Fractionated clethodim has greater

A nanographene disk rotating a single molecule gear on a Cu(111) surface

We perform molecular dynamics simulations to study the collective rotation of a graphene nanodisk functionalized on its circumference by tert-butylphenyl chemical groups in interaction with a molecule-gear hexa-tert-butylphenylbenzene supported by a Cu(111) surface. The rotational motion can be categorized underdriving, driving and overdriving regimes calculating the locking coefficient of this machinery as a function of external torque applied. Moreover, the rotational friction with the surface of both the phononic and electronic contributions is investigated. It shows that for small size graphene nanodisks the phononic friction is the main contribution, whereas the electronic one dominates for the larger disks putting constrains on the experimental way of achieving the transfer of rotation from a graphene nanodisk to single molecule-gear.

First Observation of Unicellular Organisms Concentrating Arsenic in ACC Intracellular Inclusions in Lake Waters

In unicellular organisms, intracellular inclusions of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) were initially described in cyanobacteria and, later, in unicellular eukaryotes from Lake Geneva (Switzerland/France). Inclusions in unicellular eukaryotes, named micropearls, consist of hydrated ACCs, frequently enriched in Sr or Ba, and displaying internal oscillatory zonations, due to variations in the Ba:Ca or Sr:Ca ratios. An analysis of our database, consisting of 1597 micropearl analyses from Lake Geneva and 34 from Lake Titicaca (Bolivia/Peru), showed that a certain number of Sr- and Ba-enriched micropearls from these lakes contain As in amounts measurable by EDXS. A Q-mode statistical analysis confirmed the existence of five chemically distinct morpho-chemical groups of As-bearing micropearls, among which was a new category identified in Lake Geneva, where As is often associated with Mg. This new type of micropearl is possibly produced in a small (7–12 μm size) bi-flagellated organism. Micropearls from Lake Titicaca, which contain Sr, were found in an organism very similar to Tetraselmis cordiformis, which was observed earlier in Lake Geneva. Lake Titicaca micropearls contain larger As amounts, which can be explained by the high As concentration in the water of this lake. The ubiquity of this observed biomineralization process points to the need for a better understanding of the role of amorphous or crystalline calcium carbonates in As cycling in surface waters.

DFTB investigations of the electronic and magnetic properties of fluorographene with vacancies and with adsorbed chemical groups

The electronic and magnetic properties of fluorographene (CF) in presence of F-vacancies defects and/or chemical groups (-OH, -CN, and -NH2) were computationally investigated within the framework of the Density Functional...

Mechanisms of Change in Emulsifying Capacity Induced by Protein Denaturation and Aggregation in Quick-Frozen Pork Patties with Different Fat Levels and Freeze–Thaw Cycles

Herein, we discuss changes in the emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) because of protein denaturation and aggregation from quick-frozen pork patties with multiple fat levels and freeze–thaw (F–T) cycles. Protein denaturation and aggregation were confirmed by the significantly increased surface hydrophobicity, turbidity, and particle size, as well as the significantly decreased solubility and absolute zeta potential, of MPs with increases in fat levels and F–T cycles (p < 0.05). After multiple F–T cycles, the emulsifying activity and emulsion stability indices of all samples were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The emulsion droplets of MP increased in size, and their distributions were dense and irregular. The results demonstrated that protein denaturation and aggregation due to multiple F–T cycles and fat levels changed the distribution of surface chemical groups and particle sizes of protein, thus affecting the emulsifying properties.

Yeast Double Transporter Gene Deletion Library for Identification of Xenobiotic Carriers in Low or High Throughput

Our library of double transporter deletion strains is a powerful tool for rapid identification of potential drug import and export routes, which can aid in determining the chemical groups necessary for transport via specific carriers. This information may be translated into a better design of drugs for optimal absorption by target tissues and the development of drugs whose utility is less likely to be compromised by the selection of resistant mutants.

Testing the behaviour of Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) to candidate semiochemicals from conspecifics’ urine

<p>The Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a prolific introduced mammalian pest. Current pest control methods involve traps and poisons, but are proving to be ineffective long term solutions. As semiochemical lures are thought to be more attractive than food-based lures at low densities, researchers are attempting to utilize semiochemicals for kill traps. The objectives of this thesis were to create a testing protocol for use in a research colony of possums and use that protocol to test the attractiveness of semiochemicals found in possum urine that had been positively associated with possum attraction and interest in urine.. I hypothesised that there would be an observer effect present in the colony due to the nature of the colony husbandry protocols. There was no statistically significant observer effect present in the colony for eating, interaction, sitting, grooming or enclosure use (front or back). However, there was a trend (across the colony) that sitting and grooming increased in the presence of an observer. From these results, I designed an active presentation protocol for testing semiochemicals. I predicted that the most attractive compounds would belong to the acids and alcohol chemical groups. Overall there was no statistically significant difference between the semiochemicals. However, when taken individually there was clear evidence that five of the semiochemicals (belonging to the ketone, alcohol and phenol chemical groups) were more attractive than their control and the standard lure. It has been shown in this thesis that the attractiveness of semiochemicals can be tested in a small research colony. However, limits on colony size greatly reduce statistical power. For future studies, I would recommend increasing the sample size or instead developing field-based bioassays capable of being repeated across a greater number of sites, populations and therefore, individual possums.</p>

Testing the behaviour of Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) to candidate semiochemicals from conspecifics’ urine

<p>The Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is a prolific introduced mammalian pest. Current pest control methods involve traps and poisons, but are proving to be ineffective long term solutions. As semiochemical lures are thought to be more attractive than food-based lures at low densities, researchers are attempting to utilize semiochemicals for kill traps. The objectives of this thesis were to create a testing protocol for use in a research colony of possums and use that protocol to test the attractiveness of semiochemicals found in possum urine that had been positively associated with possum attraction and interest in urine.. I hypothesised that there would be an observer effect present in the colony due to the nature of the colony husbandry protocols. There was no statistically significant observer effect present in the colony for eating, interaction, sitting, grooming or enclosure use (front or back). However, there was a trend (across the colony) that sitting and grooming increased in the presence of an observer. From these results, I designed an active presentation protocol for testing semiochemicals. I predicted that the most attractive compounds would belong to the acids and alcohol chemical groups. Overall there was no statistically significant difference between the semiochemicals. However, when taken individually there was clear evidence that five of the semiochemicals (belonging to the ketone, alcohol and phenol chemical groups) were more attractive than their control and the standard lure. It has been shown in this thesis that the attractiveness of semiochemicals can be tested in a small research colony. However, limits on colony size greatly reduce statistical power. For future studies, I would recommend increasing the sample size or instead developing field-based bioassays capable of being repeated across a greater number of sites, populations and therefore, individual possums.</p>

Disinfection in public venues and transport as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19

The article addresses to the epidemiological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It covers detailed features and ways of coronavirus infection spreading in public venues, factors that affect the viability of the Coronaviridae family viruses, and the infection after-effects for people. Methodological and technical means of processing public transport and crowded places in the context of the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) analysis has been carried out. The assessment of inactivating effectiveness of the basic chemical groups of disinfectants (oxygen-active; chloactive; cationic surfactants) is presented. The features of air masses and surfaces disinfection by the ultraviolet irradiation method are described. Special aspects and factors influencing the installations quality are considered, recommendations for the use of UV emitters of various types are given. The given study presents the general concept and current requirements for disinfection measures in public venues and transport in the context of coronavirus infection spreading. Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, disinfection, novel coronavirus infection, sanitary epidemic control measures, transport, public venues.