AHW-BGOA-DNN: a novel deep learning model for epileptic seizure detection

Neural Computing and Applications - “Brain–Computer Interface” (BCI)—a real-life support system provides a way for epileptic patients to improve their quality of life. In...     

Influence of fly ash on strength and sorption characteristics of cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete

Cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete with fly ash as part of binder or fine aggregate facilitates high volume utilization of fly ash in concrete with minimum energy consumption. This paper investigates the influence of fly ash on strength and sorption behaviour of cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete due to partial replacement of cement and also as replacement material for sand. While cement replacement must be restricted based on the compressive strength requirement at desired age, replacement of sand with fly ash appears to be advantageous from early days onwards with higher enhancement in strength and higher utilization of fly ash in mixes of lower cement content. Microstructure of concrete was examined under BSEI mode. Replacement of sand with fly ash is effective in reducing water absorption and sorptivity attributable to the densification of both matrix and matrix–aggregate interfacial bond. Cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete with a cement content of 250 kg/m³, results in compressive strength of about 45 MPa, with a total inclusion of around 0.6 m³ of fly ash in unit volume of concrete.     

Essential oil yield and composition of Pistacia vera ‘Kerman’ fruits,peduncles and leaves grown in California

BACKGROUND: Pistacia vera ‘Kerman’ is the predominant pistachio nut cultivar in the United States (California), the world's second largest producer. Despite several reports on the essential oil (EO) content in the genus Pistacia, data on ‘Kerman’ are limited. The EO content and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of tree nut orchards are of current interest to researchers investigating insect pests and the potential role of EO and VOCs as semiochemicals. To establish a basis for the VOC output of pistachios, the EO content of fruits, peduncles, and leaves was analyzed. RESULTS: Evaluated plant parts contained limonene as the primary EO component, followed by α‐terpinolene. Peduncles were unique in containing relatively high levels of α‐thujene. The results were reproducible between two different geographical locations. In situ solid phase microextraction (SPME) studies demonstrated the volatile emission was representative of the EO composition. CONCLUSION: This is the first report detailing the content and distribution of EO and the unique limonene‐dominant profile for this Pistacia vera cultivar which may influence pistachio insect pest semiochemical research. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

克力士剑 笑傲马来

从铸剑师到餐厅服务员,从商品LOGO到婚礼设计,世界级非遗克力士剑在马来西亚被运用到各个产业,古老的铸剑技艺实现了全民的继承和创新。     

Decarbonization of EU energy sector: techno-feasibility analysis of 100% renewables by 2050 in Cyprus

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - Cyprus continues to be one of the European Union’s most energy import-dependent countries. It is of worthy note that Cyprus is also the only...     

Survey of ex situ fruit and leaf volatiles from several Pistacia cultivars grown in California

BACKGROUND: California is the second largest cultivator of pistachios, producing over 375 million pounds and a revenue of $ 787 million in 2009. Despite the agricultural and economic importance of pistachios, little is known regarding their actual volatile emissions, which are of interest owing to their potential roles as semiochemicals to insect pests. RESULTS: The ex situ volatile analysis of leaves from Pistacia atlantica, P. chinensis, P. lentiscus, P. palaestina, P. terebinthus, P. vera and P. weimannifolia demonstrated emission differences between species as well as between female and male leaves. Leaves from the female P. vera cultivars Bronte, Damghan, II, III, Kerman and Ohadi as well as fruits of P. atlantica, P. chinensis, P. lentiscus, P. palaestina, P. terebinthus and P. vera (cultivars II, III, Kaleh, Kerman, Momtaz and Ohadi) showed differences in the composition and relative quantity of major volatiles. The compounds in highest relative quantities from the various analyses were sabinene, Δ³‐carene, β‐myrcene, α‐phellandrene, limonene, (Z)‐ocimene, (E)‐β‐ocimene and α‐terpinolene. CONCLUSION: This is the first ex situ survey of fruit and leaf volatile emissions from California‐grown Pistacia species and a number of corresponding cultivars. The study provides an overview of the major and minor volatile emissions and also offers evidence of chemotypes based on monoterpenes. The results highlight the dissimilarity of major components detected between ex situ volatile collection and essential oil analysis. Published 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dispersion study of long and aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes in water

Dispersion of nanotubes is a crucial step for many applications. The properties of the final nanotube-based material are strongly dependent on the quality of nanotube suspensions. In this study, long and aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes obtained by catalytic chemical vapour deposition were dispersed in water with different dispersing agents using high intensity ultrasounds. Among different additives, we selected sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as dispersing agent to prepare suspensions of nanotubes. UV-Visible spectrometry method was used to measure the influence of dispersion parameters (power and duration of sonication) on dispersion state and suspension stability. Therefore, we demonstrated that, even if high intensity ultra-sounds are breaking nanotubes, it is possible to obtain stable water-based suspensions containing MWNTs which exhibit length up to 20 microm.     

Eupatoriochromene and encecalin,plant growth regulators from yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.)

Two chromenes, eupatoriochromene (1) and encecalin (2), have been isolated from yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.). Both chromenes retard seed germination and reduce radicle and hypocotyl growth of weed and crop plant seedlings. In addition,1 increases adventitious root formation of mung bean cuttings.     

Workability and strength behaviour of concrete with cold-bonded fly ash aggregate

This paper discusses the development of empirical models for workability and compressive strength of cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete in terms of mixture proportioning variables such as cement content, water content and volume fraction of cold-bonded aggregate through statistically designed experiments based on Response Surface Methodology. Factor level of cement is taken from 250 to 450 kg/m³ to introduce weak as well as strong matrix phase in the concrete. Apart from water content, workability of concrete is highly influenced by main and interaction effect of volume fraction of cold-bonded aggregate in the composition. Response surface indicate that increase in cement content causes to change the predominant failure mode from mortar failure to aggregate fracture and concrete strength decreases with increase in volume fraction of aggregate at higher cement contents. The models developed have been found useful in arriving typical relationship to establish a mixture proportioning methodology for cold-bonded fly ash aggregate concrete.