Pollen micromorphological analysis of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) with LM and SEM techniques

The morphology of pollen grains of the 06 species of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) belonging to one genus were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic (LM) approach. Lactic acid acetolysis method was used for (LM) while non‐acetolysis for (SEM). The species were examined for the both qualitative and quantitative palynological features. Qualitatively the pollen was studied for the shape, exine sculpturing, pollen shape, and pollen type. Oblate spheroidal shape of pollen was observed in Accacia modesta. Subprolate shape in Accaca nilotica. In Accacia farnesiana, prolate pollen was examined while prolate spheroidal in Acacia tortilis and spheroidal pollen grains were studied in Acacia catechu, respectively. Pollen exine sculpturing of the studied tribe possesses novel variation. Foveolate, reticulate, foveolate‐psilate, faint reticulate, fossulate, perforate, and scrabate exine sculpturing were noticed. Colpi were absent in all species. Excessive variation was observed in both qualitative and quantitative character of pollen. SPSS software was use for the quantitative measurement of the pollen grains. The current study will be helpful for the identification of the problematic species and phylogenetic studies of family Mimosaceae.     

Oxidation Behavior of UHP Fe-Based Model Alloy and SUS310S Steel in Superheated Steam and Supercritical Water Conditions

The quest for improvements in cycle efficiency of energy production plants leads to progressively higher operating temperatures and pressures in steam boiler. For this reason, the oxidation resistance of structural materials is the key issue, and hence, the consequences of increased growth rate of the oxides pose serious concern, such as oxide exfoliation. The oxidation behavior of ultra-high-purity (UHP) Fe–23Cr–23Ni–2Mo–0.6Nb wt% model alloy and SUS310S in steam and super critical water at atmospheric pressure and 25 MPa, respectively, and at 973 K (700 °C) is investigated. To elucidate the oxidation behavior, weigh gain measurement and characterization of the resulting oxide were performed. The critical chromium content to form and maintain protective oxide increased with increasing the pressure, 23 wt% in steam and 26 wt% in SCW conditions. Grain refinement was efficient for enhancing the oxidation resistance of SUS310S.     

Reaction of acid activated montmorillonites with hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide solution

Acid-activated montmorillonites (AMt) prepared at different acid montmorillonite ratios were reacted with hexadecyl trimethylammonium (C16TMA) bromide solution. The acid treated Mt incorporated smaller amounts of the surfactants than the parent Mt, due to the reduction of the cation exchange capacity after acid-treatment. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited a similar basal spacing of 3.80 nm but with less ordered structure at higher acid montmorillonite ratios. A certain degree of conformational heterogeneity was observed by ¹³C CP NMR spectroscopy due to the different local environment of C16TMA⁺ ions in the interlayer space. The in-situ PXRD patterns showed an increase of the basal spacing of organo acid-activated montmorillonites when heated at intermediate temperatures (100–200 °C), while the basal spacing was almost constant in this range of temperature for the organomontmorillonite. Generally, the stability of the surfactant decreased when intercalated into the montmorillonites compared to the pure C16TMABr. This fact implies that the interlayer space influences the decomposition steps.     

Taxonomic significance of caryopsis in subfamily Panicoideae (Poaceae) using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy

In recent study, 13 taxa of subfamily Panicoideae were investigated for morphological characterization of caryopsis. Light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to study macro‐ and micro‐morphological caryopsis features respectively. Caryopsis size in studied taxa was recorded as 1.5–10 mm long and 1–4 mm wide. Caryopsis color was brown, green, yellow, and whitish‐brown. Caryopsis shape studied was obovate, elliptic, linear oblate, and round shallowly obtriangular. Hilum position is grooved and depressed. Caryopsis compression type was lateral and dorsiventral. Major variations among studied taxa were observed in terms of caryopsis surface pattern and epicuticular projection types. Six types of caryopsis surface pattern were observed viz. scabrate, rugose, striate, reticulate, papillate, and scabridulous. Structures such as silica cells, bulges, spines, prickles, granules, and bicellular microhair were studied as epicuticular projections. Major variations were observed among Cenchrus pennisetiformis and Cenchrus ciliaris as both has entirely two different types of surface patterns and epicuticular projections. Anticlinal wall thickness and pattern as well as periclinal wall texture and level were investigated. The present research work emphasized on caryopsis characterization of subfamily Panicoideae and it is recommended to establish phylogeny within subfamily Panicoideae and with other subfamilies of Poaceae.     

Thin-Film Multiple Electrode Probes: Possibilities and Limitations

Thin-film multiple electrode probes are produced by means of thin-film techniques. They are successfully employed for potential measurements in brain research. The most advantageous feature of these probes is that the electrodes can be designed and arranged accurately and close together. The geometric size of the electrode areas is usually in the range of between 50 and 10 000 ?m2. The size limitations of these thin-film probes are mainly determined by the electrode-electrolyte interface and insulation layer qualities. Since medical research problems, as well as surgical requests, are stressing these limitations, some estimates of maximum resolution and probe dimensions are presented.     

A service-oriented architecture for financial business processes

Recent years have witnessed a tremendous growth in information and communication technologies that facilitate the design and implementation of complex inter-enterprise business processes. One of the major innovations is the concept of service-oriented architectures which considers software systems as being made up with autonomous, dynamic, loosely coupled and service-based components. This paper describes an attempt to automate financial business processes by utilizing a number of basic and composite services. As a case study, the paper describes the implementation of a realistic business process that is related to simulating a trading strategy in capital markets. An evaluation of the appropriateness of service-oriented architectures is conducted taking into account a number of factors such as flexibility, performance and development costs.     

Combined system for the simultaneous optical and electrochemical monitoring of intra- and extracellular NO produced by glioblastoma cells

A combined, optospectroscopic and electrochemical assay system for the simultaneous monitoring of intra- and extracellular production of biologically important species has been developed and assessed. The present model system evaluates intra- and extracellular nitric oxide produced by stimulated glioblastoma multiform cell line (A172). The production of endogenous NO was induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and inhibited by N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. Intracellular production of NO was monitored via fluorescence image analysis using a 4,5-diaminofluorescein probe, while extracellular NO release was monitored via a chemically modified electrode, which was incorporated into an optically transparent cell chip. The results indicated that there was no mutual interference between the optical and electrochemical measurement systems. The response time of the combined optical/electrochemical system was found to be in the range of a few tens of seconds.     

The mediating effect of rewarding on the relationship between employee involvement and job satisfaction

Employee support provides enormous benefits to help sustain a competitive advantage, respond to changes more quickly than competitors, and position the organization ahead of others. Awareness of this fact triggers organizations to prepare new motivational programs and practices. Employee involvement and rewards are among the many ways to achieve employee job satisfaction and motivational needs. Employee involvement entails giving employees an opportunity to influence decisions and actions regarding their jobs. Furthermore, rewards have the potential to prompt employees to act in line with organizational goals. This study aims to examine the relationship between employee involvement and job satisfaction based on the mediation effect of rewarding. Four hundred employees from the financial sector responded to a questionnaire. The relationship between employee involvement and job satisfaction was tested using hierarchical linear regression analysis. Results revealed that rewarding does mediate the relationship between employee involvement and job satisfaction. Organizations that give priority to employee needs and motivational processes should take both employee involvement and rewarding into consideration.     

Understanding factors affecting e-reverse auction use: An integrative approach

Using electronic-reverse auction (e-reverse auction) offers many advantages to companies such as price reduction, decrease in cycle time, standardization, and transparency in purchasing process. Despite its great advantages, some users do not want to use e-reverse auction technology for the procurement of products or services. This study aims to understand factors affecting e-reverse auction usage in companies by integrating three important theories. Key constructs of technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and innovation diffusion theory (IDT) are integrated to explain behavioral intention to use and actual use of e-reverse auction. Using LISREL 8.54, data collected from 156 employees working in the procurement department of companies in 40 different countries were used to test the proposed research model. Results indicated that, 76% of employees’ intention to use e-reverse auction is explained by subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived usefulness. Among them, subjective norms have the strongest effect. Besides, actual use of e-reverse auction is directly predicted by behavioral intention to use. We conclude with managerial implications and recommendations for possible future research.     

Complexity results for the horizontal bar packing problem

This paper deals with the packing of a grid by horizontal bars while respecting given orthogonal projections and several constraints of distance between the consecutive bars. We show that packing under a maximal or uniform distance is an NP-complete problem. We also give a polynomial time algorithm to solve the packing problem under a minimal distance.