Synthesis and characterization of transition metal mixed oxide doped graphene embedded durable electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

A promising electrocatalyst containing variable percentage of V₂O₅–TiO₂ mixed oxide in graphene oxide support was prepared by embedding the catalyst on Cu substrate through facile electroless Ni–Co–P plating for hydrogen evolution reaction. The solvothermal decomposition method was opted for tuning the crystalline characteristics of prepared material. The optimized mixed oxide was well characterized, active sites centres were identified and explained by X-ray diffraction, high resolution tunnelling electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray photon spectroscopy analysis. The structural and electronic characteristics of material was done by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the electrochemical behaviour of the prepared material was evaluated by using Tafel plot, electrochemical impedance analysis, linear sweep voltammetry, open circuit analysis and chronoamperometry measurements. The results show the enhanced catalytic activity of Ni–Co–P than pure Ni–P plate, due to synergic effect. Moreover, the prepared mixed oxide incorporated Ni–Co–P plate has a high activity towards HER with low over potential of 101 mV, low Tafel slope of 36 mVdec^?1, high exchange current density of 9.90 × 10^?2 Acm^?2.     

Semiflexible random thermotropic copolymers from 8‐(3‐hydroxy phenyl) octanoic acid and 3‐chloro‐4‐hydroxy benzoic acid/3,5‐dibromo‐4‐hydroxy benzoic acid

Two series of semiflexible random thermotropic copolymers containing 8‐(3‐hydroxy phenyl) octanoic acid (HPOA) with either 3‐chloro‐4‐hydroxy benzoic acid or 3,5‐dibromo‐4‐hydroxy benzoic acid were prepared by melt polycondensation techniques. The copolyesters were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dilute solution viscometry, hot‐stage polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. Studies revealed that the amount of HPOA as a disruptor incorporated into the backbone of substituted 4‐hydroxy benzoic acids had a detrimental effect on the liquid‐crystalline behavior. Mesophase‐transition temperatures were observed between 210 and 250°C, and the optical textures were of typical nematic phases. The degree of crystallinity decreased with an increase in the HPOA content. The thermal stability of the copolymers was in the range of 310–370°C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Adhesive Joint Strengths of Emulsion Polymers Produced by Power Feed Technique. III. Adhesive Joint Strengths of Grafted Power Feed Copolymer

Power feed copolymers were synthesized using styrene and n-butyl acrylate through non-uniform feeding emulsion polymerization. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was used as a protective colloid, onto which vinyl monomers were grafted. Power feed copolymer had a very broad glass transition temperature compared with random copolymer, even if grafting and/or crosslinking were introduced to the system. This tendency was almost the same as the non-grafted power feed copolymer where only low molecular weight surfactant was used.

Adhesive joint strengths of power feed copolymers were evaluated compared with random copolymers. In the case of usual linear power feed copolymer, the adhesive joint strengths were not higher than those of random copolymer, which was considered to be due to the lower film strengths of the power feed copolymer. Power feed copolymer having grafting showed slightly higher adhesive joint strengths over a wide range of temperatures than random copolymer. When crosslinking was introduced to the system, power feed copolymer showed much higher adhesive joint strengths over a wide temperature range.     

Stability of fine water droplet clouds

The rate of evaporation of monodisperse water droplets was first evaluated by solving numerically the modified Maxwell equation, assuming the cellular model for a droplet clouds. The results are discussed in comparison with those for a single isolated droplet, which can be obtained analytically. The critical conditions for the droplet cloud to be stable are then evaluated as a function of droplet number concentration, droplet size and initial conditions of the surrounding air. Secondly, the equilibrated system, where a water droplet cloud is steadily mixed with unsaturated air, was analysed on the basis of enthalpy and material balance of the system to evaluate the total volume change of the droplets. Some of these analyses were verified by experiment, using an ultramicroscopic technique which is useful for droplet size analysis.     

Package Design of Ready-to-Drink Coffee Beverages Based on Food <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kansei</Emphasis> Model—Effects of Straw and Cognition Terms on Consumer’s Pleasantness

To design a consumer-oriented package that complements the taste and aroma of ready-to-drink chilled-cup coffee beverages by using the food kansei model, the effects of the diameter and the color of drinking straws as well as the cognition terms of coffee on consumer sensory characteristics and preferences were investigated. Variance and factor analyses of the sensory scores for chilled-cup coffee with milk and sugar using straws of different diameters, as rated by consumer panelists, extracted two perceived factors (F1, contribution ratio 36.5%, and F2, 28.6%). A two-dimensional plot of the average F1 and F2 scores of 123 panelists showed that the perceived characteristics of the same taste and aroma varied according to the straw diameter. An image investigation of different straw colors and another sensory evaluation using “black,” “brown,” and “green” straws were also performed. A principal component analysis of the image data revealed that the sensory characteristics of coffee with milk and sugar were imaged from the straw color. The second evaluation suggested that the images of straw colors affected the sensory characteristics. In addition, cluster and multiple-comparison analyses of Internet research data from consumers regarding the cognition terms for coffee exhibited three clusters representing the cognitive characteristics of terms by consumers and by developers and the differences of attractiveness degree on the cognition terms due to the consumers’ personal attributes. These studies provide useful information for the development of packages of chilled-cup coffee beverages.     

NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS OF THERMOELASTIC WAVE PROBLEMS BY THE METHOD OF CHARACTERISTICS

This article is concerned with the numerical treatment of thermal and thermal stress waves in thermoelastic solids. To keep the numerical treatment general, the development of the formulation is based on the generalized theory of thermoelasticity. A number of thermoelastic wave problems, which involve one or two space variables, are treated, in a uniform manner, by a system of first-order partial differential equations with stress, velocity, heat flow, and temperature as dependent variables. This system of equations is analyzed by the method of characteristics, yielding the characteristics and the characteristic equations. Procedures of numerical integration along the characteristics are established and carried out for several generalized and classical thermoelastic wave problems in homogeneous materials, composite materials, nonhomogeneous materials, and nonlinear elastic solids.     

Durability studies of surface-modified coir geotextiles

Coir (Cocos nucifera) is a natural fibre known to retain its strength and resist biodegradation far better than other industrial natural fibres. However, systematic studies in this discipline are scarce. Geotextiles are usually exposed to diverse pH, salinity, moisture, and microbial association conditions. In the present work, specific surface modifications of coir geotextiles using a natural agent (cashew nut shell liquid) have been carried out to enhance their long-term performance depending on the end applications. The modified and unmodified geotextiles were subjected to acidic, alkaline, and neutral pH conditions, saline conditions, alternate wetting and drying cycles, and thermal cycles for the assessment of their durability, measured in terms of tensile strength. In situ soil burial studies in a tropical climate were conducted in specially prepared soil to follow the biodegradation behaviour of geotextiles at various depths. The surface-modified geotextiles were found to resist adverse chemical, physical, and biological conditions much better than the unmodified geotextiles. Alkaline conditions marginally accelerated the degradation rates when compared to acidic environments. The saline conditions, as well as alternate wetting and drying conditions, resulted in marginal loss of tensile strength (<7%). The surface-modified geotextiles buried within lower depths of soil under field conditions retained 70–80% of their initial tensile strength after 12 months, whereas the unmodified geotextiles lost 88% strength in four months. The positive impact of surface modification on durability is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results indicate the excellent potential of suitably surface-modified coir geotextiles for long-term use in adverse conditions.     

Conference assistant system for supporting knowledge sharing in academic communities

This paper describes our ongoing attempts to build a communityware system by presenting a project of providing digital assistants to support participants in an academic conference. We provided participants at the conference with a personal assistant system with mobile and ubiquitous computing technologies and facilitated communication among the participants. We also made online services available via the Web to encourage the participants to continue their relationships even after the conference. In this paper, we show the system we provided for the project and report the results.     

Long-term cure of a malignant lymphoma of the pleural cavity treated by irradiation

Malignant lymphomas arise in the pleura in association with a long-standing chronic tuberculous pyothorax. We report a case of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the pleural cavity, inoperable because of local invasion into thoracic wall, who has survived more than 6 years without recurrence. This patient represents the longest reported survival after radiation therapy alone. Radiotherapy holds an important role in the treatment of locally advanced lymphoma of the pleural cavity.