Investigation of the changes in physical properties of PES/PVC fabrics after aging

The aim of this work was to investigate the physical and mechanical performance of architectural polyester (PES)–poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes exposed to different artificial aging conditions. Two commercially available architectural membranes were chosen as research objects. The durability of the PES/PVC fabrics was evaluated by the loss in mechanical performance, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis in order to understand the effect of the degradation agents on the surface of the membranes. The mechanical performance of the PES/PVC membranes was unchanged. Scanning electron microscopy images of the tested materials showed initial cracks after aging. The X-ray fluorescence analysis showed that at the time of aging, the amount of Cl and Si decreased slightly, while Ti decreased by half, and Ca by volume increased twice. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47523.     

The Young Scientists Network: How the European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) Became Young Again

The European Federation for Medicinal Chemistry (EFMC) created the Young Scientists Network (YSN) to support early-career medicinal chemists and chemical biologists. By doing this, it addressed the rapid changes taking place in the scientific community and in our society, such as the rise of social media, the evolution of the gender balance in the scientific population, and educational needs. Creating the YSN was also a way to ensure that the next generation of scientists would contribute to shaping EFMC's strategy, while recognizing and addressing their needs. The YSN was set up as a very dynamic concept, and has now developed to the point where its impact is evident. The activities it promotes complement EFMC's community support and scientific opportunities, rejuvenating the Federation and preparing it for the future. It also provides opportunities for many brilliant young scientists, who do not hesitate to invest time and energy in supporting our community and shaping their own future.     

Fast removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) from contaminated water by groundwater treatment waste: impact of sorbent composition

ABSTRACT

A non-hazardous groundwater treatment waste (GWTW) was examined as a low-cost sorbent for Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions. The content of the dominant elements in GWTW was as follows: 78% Fe₂O₃, 7.4% P₂O₅, 7.4% CaO and 5.2% SiO₂. The removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) was fast, and more than 67–95% of ions were accumulated by GWTW during the first 3 min. The sorption capacity of GWTW depends on solution pH, concentration and temperature. Equilibrium data fitted well with Langmuir–Freundlich and Langmuir-partition models. The inherently formed nano-adsorbent could be utilized for the treatment of water contaminated with Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions.     

Investigation of hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride using different cobalt catalysts

Effective Co/Cu, CoB/Cu, and CoBM (M = Mo,Zn,Fe)/Cu catalysts were prepared on the copper surface by a simple electroless deposition method using a morpholine borane as a reducing agent in the glycine solution. The activity of the deposited catalysts was investigated for hydrogen generation from an alkaline sodium borohydride solution. It was determined that these synthesized catalysts demonstrated the catalytic activity for the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH₄. The lowest obtained activation energy (E_A) of the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH₄was 27 kJ mol^?1 for the CoBMo/Cu catalyst. The hydrogen generation rate of 15.30 ml min^?1 was achieved using CoBMo/Cu catalysts at 313 K and it increased ~3.5 times with the increase of temperature to 343 K. The highest hydrogen generation rate obtained by CoBMo/Cu films may be related to the hierarchical cauliflower-shaped 3D structures and the high roughness surface area. Moreover, the CoBMo/Cu catalyst showed an excellent reusability.     

Implementing lean practices in manufacturing SMEs: testing ‘critical success factors’ using Necessary Condition Analysis

Lean practices are known to increase operational performance. Previous research has identified critical success factors for implementing lean practices. This research aims to examine the extent to which success factors are critical for various degrees of lean practice implementation. Using multiple-respondent self-assessments from 33 Dutch manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we conducted a Necessary Condition Analysis. Our findings indicated that the criticality of success factors is progression dependent. In the initial stages of the lean journey, SMEs could improve their lean practices in a bottom-up manner through local factors such as a learning focus, improvement training and support congruence. When lean practices are more advanced, some company-wide factors must be present: top management support, a shared improvement vision and a supplier link. Our findings question the universality of success factors such as strategic involvement and indicate the need for a more dynamic model of lean implementation.     

Detection and analysis of triterpenic compounds in apple extracts

A new technique for the rapid detection and analysis of triterpenic compounds in apple extracts using HPLC was developed and validated. The main advantage of this technique is the short duration of the analysis – this makes this technique superior to others currently applied for the routine HPLC analysis of triterpenic compounds. The developed, optimized, and validated technique was used for the evaluation of triterpenic compounds in samples of different cultivars of apples, their peels, and flesh. In total, four triterpenic compounds were isolated and identified. Ursolic acid was the dominant compound in all the tested apple samples. The highest amounts of triterpenic compounds were detected in the peels of the ‘Lodel’ apple cultivar, and thus apples of this cultivar may be potentially useful for the isolation of individual compounds and the production of functional food and dietary supplements.