Morphological Structure Research Articles

Wood meet MOFs: Facile, green, and highly selective adsorbent for textile wastewater

Owing to their unique physicochemical features, ionic liquids (ILs) are extensively utilized to dissolve cellulose for the preparation of regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs) in the textile industry. However, Cu2+ is introduced during the cellulose dissolution process and gradually accumulates, seriously affecting the RCF performance and IL recovery. Herein, to achieve an efficient and selective adsorption of Cu2+ from ILs aqueous solutions, a facile and green method based on the in situ growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 in wood hydrogels (ZIF-67@WH) is presented. The morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, thermal stability, and pore structure of the resulting ZIF-67@WH were investigated using various characterization techniques, and the adsorption selectivity, adsorption thermodynamics, adsorption kinetics, and recoverability were examined in depth by performing batch experiments. The ZIF-67@WH exhibits high adsorption selectivity for Cu2+ and ILs with adsorption ratios of 92.8 % and 2.2 %, respectively. The selective adsorption mechanism was elucidated by means of FT-IR, XPS, DFT, and MD. As the key for the selective adsorption, the N site in ZIF-67 dramatically promotes the coordination with Cu2+, while the adsorption for ILs mainly occurs via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions with adsorption energies of –80.61 and –35.33 kcal/mol, respectively. The results demonstrate that this approach constitutes a feasible technique for the efficient separation of Cu2+ and ILs in the textile industry.

Improvement of chlorpyrifos-induced cognitive impairment by mountain grape anthocyanins based on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

The organophosphorus insecticide Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is widely used worldwide due to its high effectiveness. However, when ingested through the mouth and nose, it can cause severe neurotoxic effects and cognitive impairment. Natural anthocyanins show great potential in improving cognitive impairment. In this paper, we will delve into the protective effect of anthocyanins on CPF-induced cognitive impairment and its mechanism through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Morris water maze, histopathological, ELISA and western blot analyses showed that anthocyanins effectively ameliorated CPF-induced spatial learning memory impairment in mice by ameliorating CPF-induced AChE inhibition, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation and by modulating the levels of apoptosis (Caspase-3, Caspase-9) and autophagy (LC3II/ LC3I, Beclin1, p62, mTOR) biomarkers, in order to restore damaged hippocampal tissue morphology, neuron and synapse structures. To identify the action pathway of anthocyanins, we used KEGG and GO pathway enrichment analysis for screening prediction and western blot and molecular docking to verify that anthocyanins improve CPF-induced cognitive impairment by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Exploring Pt-Cu Synergistic Effects on Porous SiO2 Support With Different Pt Loadings for Low-temperature Oxidation of CO and C3H6

To address the high cost of noble metals, this study aims to optimize Pt loading and the synergistic effect of Cu on porous SiO2 support for low-temperature oxidation of CO and C3H6. A simulated test bench system was used to evaluate the performance of PtxCu1/SiO2 (where x= 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1wt%), Cu1/SiO2 and Ptx/SiO2 (where x= 0.5 and 1wt%) catalysts with varying Pt loadings. Comprehensive characterization, including BET, XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS was conducted to assess particle size, structure, and surface morphology. The effects of Pt incorporation on reduction and oxidation properties were further examined using H2-TPR and CO-TPD techniques. Results demonstrated a significant enhancement in catalytic activity with the addition of Cu confirming a synergistic interaction between Pt and Cu. This synergy was particularly pronounced in lower Pt loadings, where PtxCu1/SiO2 composites outperformed Ptx/SiO2 in catalytic activity. Pt addition reduced the particle size, which resulted in the creation of PtCu alloy, with 1 and 0.7% wt Pt loading exhibiting comparable effects in CO conversion and 0.7% Pt loading exhibiting better activity at higher temperatures in C3H6 oxidation indicating that catalytic activity was maintained even with a reduced Pt loading. Additionally, minimal difference in activity for C3H6 oxidation was observed among PtxCu1/SiO2 catalysts with 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3wt% Pt loadings as indicated by T50 and T80 values. Reducing Pt loading from 0.7wt% had minimal impact on catalytic efficiency for C3H6 oxidation with catalysts maintaining high activity. 0.7wt% Pt loadings provide sufficient active sites for effective CO and HC oxidation. The enhanced catalytic activity and stability of bimetallic catalysts over monometallic Cu/SiO2 and Pt/SiO2 result from the simultaneous presence of active sites created by the synergetic effect of PtCu alloy formation with optimal ratio and well-optimized surface. These findings demonstrate the potential to optimize Pt usage without compromising catalytic performance, offering a cost-effective approach to catalyst design.

AI based diagnostics product design for osteosarcoma cells microscopy imaging of bone cancer patients using CA-MobileNet V3

ObjectiveThe incidence of osteosarcoma (OS) is low, but primary malignant bone tumors rank third among the causes of death in cancer patients under the age of 20. Currently, analysis of cellular structure and tumor morphology through microscopic images remains one of the main diagnostic methods for osteosarcoma. However, this completely manual approach is tedious, time-consuming, and difficult to diagnose accurately due to the similarities in certain characteristics of malignant and benign tumors. MethodsLeveraging the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in assessing and classifying images, this study explored a modified CA-MobileNet V3 model that was embedded into innovative microscope products to enhance the microscope’s feature extraction capabilities and help reduce misclassification during diagnosis. ResultsThe intelligent recognition model method introduced in this paper has significant advantages in retrieval and classification of osteosarcoma cells and other cell types. Compared with models such as ShuffleNet V2, EfficientNet V2, Mobilenet V3 (without transfer learning), TL-MobileNet V3 (with transfer learning), etc., the model size is only 5.33 MB, is a lightweight model, and the accuracy of the improved model reached 98.69 %. In addition, the artificial intelligence microscope (AIM) with integrated design based on this model can also help improve diagnostic efficiency. ConclusionThe innovative method of the CA-MobileNet V3 automatic classification model based on deep learning provides an efficient and reliable solution for the pathological diagnosis of osteosarcoma. This study contributes to medical image analysis and provides doctors with an accurate and valuable tool for microscopic diagnosis. It also promotes the advancement of artificial intelligence in medical imaging technology.

How is the posterior ocular segment affected in cesarean section and normal vaginal delivery?

To evaluate the effects of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and cesarean section (CS) on the retina, optic disc, and choroid in healthy pregnant women by using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This prospectively designed study included 60 healthy pregnant women, of whom 30 underwent NVD and 30 underwent CS. Ophthalmological examinations and OCT scans were performed on all pregnant women during the third trimester and the first postpartum week. The measurements were compared between the two visits within each group. Central retinal thickness, ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL + IPL) thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and optic disc morphology were determined using OCT scans. Central, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were manually measured using HD-line OCT. Choroidal vascular parameters were calculated from HD-line OCT scans by using a special image processing module. The ratio of the luminal choroidal area to the total choroidal area was determined as the choroidal vascular index (CVI). In the NVD group, the thinning in the mean and inferior pRNLF, the decrease in the rim area, and the increase in the mean cup/disc and cup volume at the first postpartum week were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the same group, the CVI was calculated as 0.69 ± 0.02 in the third trimester and 0.66 ± 0.03 in the first postpartum week (P = 0.001). In the CS group, except for the increase in the GCL + IPL thickness, no significant difference was detected in the measurements of the retina, optic disc, and choroid (P < 0.001 and P > 0.05). This is the first study to evaluate the effect of the delivery method on the retina, choroid, and optic disc. In NVD, changes in the choroidal vascular structure and optic disc morphology can be observed in the early postpartum period, which may be attributed to hormonal effects.

Modular hydrogel selectively adsorbs phosphates and hexavalent chromium while enabling phosphate recovery

Electroplating wastewater containing high concentrations of phosphates and hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) poses serious environmental pollution. Moreover, phosphorus, as a non-renewable resource, necessitates its recovery to meet sustainable development goals. To address this issue, this study used sodium alginate as the scaffold module, synthesized lanthanum carbonate in situ within a chitosan module to serve as the phosphate adsorption module, and employed polyethyleneimine (PEI) modules to enhance the adsorption capacity for Cr(VI), successfully fabricating a modular hydrogel (LC-CSP). LC-CSP exhibits a complex porous structure and surface morphology, forming an ultra-low-density fiber network with good strength and elasticity, ensuring uniform distribution and exposure of active sites. Under optimal conditions for single-component adsorption, LC-CSP achieved adsorption capacities of 232.02 mg/g for phosphates and 474.61 mg/g for Cr(VI). Additionally, LC-CSP demonstrated excellent reusability, retaining over 83 % of its performance after five cycles. In simulated electroplating wastewater experiments with various interfering substances, LC-CSP maintained high removal efficiencies (>90.72 %) for phosphates and Cr(VI). Post-experiment, enriched water after phosphate desorption was further treated to recover phosphorus resources in complex water environments. Multiple characterization techniques elucidated the adsorption mechanisms of LC-CSP: phosphate adsorption primarily involved ligand exchange, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding, while Cr(VI) adsorption included electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and reduction reactions. Finally, fixed-bed simulated wastewater adsorption experiments validated the technical potential of LC-CSP for practical electroplating wastewater management.

Single layered Ag/NiO plasmonic nanocoatings: A new green synthesis method for selective solar absorber

This study presents the synthesis of environmentally benign, single-layered spectrally selective Ag/NiO nanocoating absorbers using a green synthesis method. Various characterization techniques, including Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to examine the effects of plasmonic Ag concentration on the structural, chemical composition, and surface morphology of the nanocomposites. The optical properties of the deposited nanocoatings were investigated using a UV–Vis-NIR spectrophotometer in the solar spectrum region (300–2500 nm) and an FT-IR spectrophotometer in the infrared wavelength region (3000–20,000 nm). XRD results confirmed the coexistence of a face-centered cubic phase of Ag and NiO in the Ag/NiO nanocermet thin films. SEM and TEM topography revealed uniformly distributed nanosphere NiO thin films and cubic Ag metal with better dispersibility and crystallization. The RBS spectrum of the samples showed a homogeneous distribution of Ni, Ag, and O atoms throughout the coatings. Ag/NiO nanocoatings deposited with 8 wt% Ag content exhibited excellent solar absorptance (α) = 0.95 and thermal emittance of (ɛ) of 0.08. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect associated with the embedded Ag nanoparticles, which facilitates more effective utilization of light.

Neuro-pharmacological Assessment of Coleus forskohlii for Anti-compulsive Activity in Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness characterized by obsessions or compulsions that significantly disrupt or impair daily functioning. Coleus forskohlii, a significant medicinal crop, has forskolin in its roots. It is utilized extensively as food and medicine all over the world. Coleus forskohlii has reputed medicinal uses, which include antidepressant, antiaggregant, cAMP-genic, anticancer, etc. Objective: This study used mice models of marble burying and nestlet shredding to assess the potential efficacy of Coleus forskohlii against obsessive-compulsive disorder. 8-hydroxy-2-(di-npropylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) induced compulsive checking can demonstrate OCD-like repetitive and obsessive behavior as well as neurotransmitter imbalance (serotonin). Methods: Each group had six mice, and the therapy was administered to the animals for a total of 15 days. On days 1, 7, and 14, the marble burying test was assessed for 30 minutes, and on days 2, 8 and 15, the nestlet shredding test was assessed for 30 minutes. The T-maze paradigm was used to assess anti-OCD activity. The brain histology and morphometry were also performed. Results: When compared to the control group, treatments with Coleus forskohlii (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly enhanced performance on both behavior tests. The SAB score is dramatically increased following the administration of the 8-OH-DPAT (2 mg/kg, i.p.) group. Coleus forskohlii (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluoxetine (15 mg/kg, p.o.) groups showed significantly lowered results. Animals treated with 8-OH-DPAT showed a considerable reduction in serotonin levels. Following Coleus forskohlii administration, the histology of the brain tissues showed normal morphological structure with no toxicity or abnormalities. Conclusion: The combination of all these findings points to Coleus forskohlii delivering a possible therapeutic option for the treatment of OCD. The identification and anticompulsive properties of the components from Coleus forskohlii should be the main aim of future studies.

Between compounding and phrasal derivation: Polish complex nouns in sam(o)-

The aim of this paper is to explore the class of Polish complex nouns with the initial combining form samo-, such as samobójca ‘suicide’. The study seeks to determine the morphological structure of what we consider to be a case of ‘syntax-inside-morphology’ in the domain of Polish word-formation. We want to argue that what appears to be sheer concatenation of morphological building blocks, often routinely classified as a compound word with a lefthand bound root, could, in fact, be interpreted as a derived noun based on a phrasal unit. In what follows, we shall argue that the morphosemantics of Polish complex nouns in samo- can successfully be captured by left-branching structure, which ensures that their morphological and semantic representations cohere into a well-organised whole. The dispute over derivational phenomena exhibiting a degree of reciprocity between morphology and syntax has long surrounded the data-driven examination of certain word-formation types across languages. Currently, a rich body of linguistic data amassed across various languages seems to strongly undermine the aprioristic separation of the two modules of grammar. The present study draws on tenets central to theories which are neither strictly lexicalist nor syntactocentric, in particular the Firewall Theory advanced by Lieber &amp; Scalise (2006) .

Cellulose nanocrystal dispersion-ability in polylactides with various molecular weights prepared in dichloromethane/dimethyl sulfoxide solvents for electrospinning applications

In this study, effects of polylactide molecular weight, i.e., high (HPLA), medium (MPLA), low (LPLA), and dichloromethane (DCM)/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) blend ratio on cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) dispersion quality in solution casted PLA/CNC nanocomposites were investigated via small amplitude oscillatory shear rheological analysis, while crystallization behavior, thermal degradation, morphological structure of the nanocomposites were also reported. Due to its low dielectric constant, none of the nanocomposites with 100DCM indicated a change in their complex viscosity as a result of poor CNC dispersion. This is while the increase in DMSO content (50%vv−1) improved CNC dispersion. The superior CNC dispersion-ability in PLAs with lower molecular weight was confirmed. The poorer CNC dispersion in HPLA attributes to hindering effect of higher molecular weight on solvent and nanoparticle diffusion. The better dispersed CNCs influenced crystal nucleation behavior of PLAs and increased crystallinity degree. In addition, the impact of well-dispersed CNCs on fiber formation quality of nanocomposites was reported. Introducing finely dispersed CNCs (1 wt%) in LPLA refined fiber diameters around 1200 nm with more homogenous structure. Besides, the use of 100DCM and the use of DMSO at high contents (50%vv−1) deteriorated fiber formation, respectively, due to low conductivity of DCM and high boiling temperature of DMSO.

In situ synthesis and structural morphology analysis of 3D porous hierarchical V2O5 films for transmissive-to-black all-solid-state electrochromic devices

3D, porous, low-dimensional, and nanostructured V2O5 films have significant potential for application in ECDs, but their development is still in its nascency. This paper reports a facile strategy of using PEG as a structure-directing agent and short-time heat treatments to obtain 3D, porous, and hierarchical V2O5 films comprising interpenetrating stacked ultra-long nanowire surfaces and nanorod/nanosheet mixed interiors deposited on ITO-glass substrates. The mechanism of morphological transformation was studied in detail, and the analysis shows that the formation of such special structured films is a synergetic result of the guided intercalation of PEG, atomic rearrangement, Ostwald ripening, anisotropy of crystal growth, and orientation attachment mechanism. Among them, the preferred PEG addition amount of 25 % for the 350-3-V2O5 film was applied in two types of all-solid-state ECDs: one using a gel quasi-solid electrolyte and the other using a solid-film electrolyte. The 350-3-V2O5 film served as an ion storage coating and WO3 was the electrochromic layer. These devices achieved ideal reversible switching of transmissive-to-black electrochromic characteristics. Notably, the ‘Integrated-Type’ ECD, composed of inorganic all-solid-state films, has a large optical modulation range ΔT = 72.0 %, rapid switching responses (colouration 25.4 s and bleaching 20.8 s), and sustained electrochromic performance.

Humidity-responsive actuators of synthesized graphene oxide/gelatin composite hydrogels: effect of oxidation degree of graphene oxide

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared for humidity-responsive actuator application. GO has outstanding properties such as single-atom thickness, abundant oxygen, water solubility, and good moisture absorption. GO was prepared at various graphite:potassium permanganate (oxidizer) ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4; the corresponding structures are denoted as GO1, GO2, GO3, and GO4, respectively). The GO particles synthesized according to the effect of the oxidizer ratio were characterized to elucidate the internal morphology and humidity response. The defects and disorders and morphological properties of the GO particles were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. To study the humidity-responsive properties, the prepared GO was blended with gelatin (GEL). The bending angle of the GO/GEL hydrogel was studied at relative humidities of 80–85% at 37 ºC. The internal structure morphology of the blend gel was analyzed by synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy. GO2/GEL was selected for the development of a humidity-responsive actuator because of its optimal intensity ratio (ID/IG) in the Raman spectrum. X-ray and TEM images showed the good dispersion of GO2 particles in the hydrogel matrix. GO2/GEL exhibited the largest bending angle (θ = 930.11 ± 49.28º) and fast humidity response (angular rate of change ~ 9.380 ± 0.513 ºs-1). Thus, GO2 particles are suitable for use as a humidity-responsive material for humidity actuator applications.

The effect of hydroxyapatite particle shape, and concentration on the engineering performance and printability of polycaprolactone-hydroxyapatite composites in bioplotting

In this study, medical poly [ε-caprolactone] (PCL) was used as the matrix material for the development of composites, with hydroxyapatite (HAp) particles with angular and spherical shapes employed as additives. Pellets of such composites were created with five different filler concentrations in the range of 0.0 up to 8.0 wt% (2.0 wt % increase). Three-dimensional (3D) specimens suitable for investigation were bioplotted using the corresponding pellets. The mechanical behavior of the samples was studied in terms of their tensile and flexural characteristics. Rheological and thermal investigations were conducted, and the morphology and chemical structure were investigated using field-emission scanning electron emission SEM and EDS spectroscopy, respectively. A μ-CT scanning course was employed to evaluate the inbound porosity and dimensional conformity of the specimens. The greatest enhancement in the engineering response of the specimens was observed at a tensile strength of 6.0 wt % PCL/angular HAp, showing a 17.0 % increase over pure PCL. The results demonstrate the potential of HAp as a reinforcing agent for polymers in medical applications using bioplotting. The key findings suggest that the shape and concentration document a significant impact on their mechanical performance.

Multifunctional SEBS/AgNWs Nanocomposite Films with Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties Promote Infected Wound Healing.

Wound healing is a complex biological process that can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress and impair myofibrillogenesis and angiogenesis. Several advanced wound-dressing nanocomposite materials have been designed to address these issues. Here, we designed a new multifunctional styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene/silver nanowire (SEBS/AgNWs)-based nanocomposite film with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties to promote wound healing. The porous morphological structure of SEBS/AgNWs enhances their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. SEBS/AgNWs significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli strains, effectively wiping out ABTS•+, DPPH•, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals, showing their effective ROS-scavenging properties. It further showed significant antioxidant properties by increasing the levels of enzyme-like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH), while decreasing malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. Additionally, SEBS/AgNWs reduced the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), while increasing levels of transforming growth factor- β (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF), and CD31 in wound healing. This suggests that applying a multifunctional nanoplatform based on SEBS/AgNWs could enhance wound healing and improve patient outcomes in wound care management.

Ononin delays the development of osteoarthritis by down-regulating MAPK and NF-κB pathways in rat models.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is featured as cartilage loss, joint pain and loss of labor, which the inflammatory reaction may play critical roles. Ononin is an isoflavone isolating from medicinal plants and has anti-inflammatory effects. Our study investigated the anti-inflammation response of ononin on OA. Anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA operation was used to establish research model, then treated with ononin for 8 weeks. The condition of joint injury was assessed using pathological staining. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum were measured by Elisa kit. The expression of collagen II and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) proteins to assess cartilage metabolism level by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. We detected the expression of proteins involved in the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Finally, we used molecular docking to assess the affinity of ononin for the target proteins ERK1/2, JNK1/2, p38 and p65. Our results confirmed that ononin ameliorated cartilage impairment through histopathological analysis by improving the morphological structures and cartilage tidal lines and decreasing Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores in OA rats. Moreover, ononin inhibited the secretion of above factors in OA rats. Furthermore, ononin has been shown to improve cartilage content levels in OA rats. In addition, ononin inhibited the reactivity of MAPK and NF-κB pathways in OA rats. And molecular docking indicated the ligand molecules could stably bind to the proteins of above receptors. Our results demonstrated that ononin may ameliorate cartilage damage and inflammatory response in OA rats by downgrading MAPK and NF-κB pathways, thus identifying ononin as a potential novel drug to treat OA.

Sodium carbonate pulping of oil palm empty fruit bunches for paperboard production

Abstract This study investigated the use of sodium carbonate pulping in oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) pulp production for paperboard manufacturing. The pulping varying the active alkali (AA) (4.5 %, 6.5 %, 8.5 %), NaOH fraction (F) (10 %, 20 %, 30 %), and cooking time (T) (30′, 60′, 90′). The performance was evaluated based on screened pulp yield, kappa number, and delignification selectivity. Furthermore, the functional groups, S/G ratio, and morphological structure of the optimum pulp were observed. The tensile and tear indices of the OPEFB pulp paperboard were also measured. The results suggest sodium carbonate pulping at a low chemical dose successfully produced OPEFB pulp. Based on the highest delignification selectivity value of 12.74, the most effective pulping conditions were achieved with AA-6.5 %, F-30 %, and T-90′. The optimum OPEFB pulp analysis revealed a decrease in lignin proportion with the dominant degradation of the syringyl unit. Thus, the fibers are easily separable during mechanical treatment. These characteristics influenced the paperboard, resulting high tensile and tear indices of 7.90–8.15 Nm g−1 and 15.09–16.25 mN m2 g−1, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of sodium carbonate pulping to produce high-quality pulp and paperboard from OPEFBs, highlighting the thoroughness of the research process in the pulp and paper manufacturing field.

Impact of H I cooling and study of accretion disks in asymptotic giant branch wind-companion smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations

Context. High-resolution observations reveal that the outflows of evolved low- and intermediate-mass stars harbour complex morphological structures that are linked to the presence of one or multiple companions. Hydrodynamical simulations provide a way to study the impact of a companion on the shaping of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star out-flow. Aims. Using smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) simulations of an AGB star undergoing mass loss, which also has a binary companion, we study the impact of including H I atomic line cooling on the flow morphology. We also study how this affects the properties of the accretion disks that form around the companion. Methods. We used the PHANTOM code to perform high-resolution 3D SPH simulations of the interaction of a solar-mass companion with the outflow of an AGB star, using different wind velocities and eccentricities. We compared the model properties, computed with and without the inclusion of H I cooling. Results. The inclusion of H I cooling produces a sizeable decrease in the temperature, up to one order of magnitude, in the region closely surrounding the companion star. As a consequence, the morphological irregularities and relatively energetic (bipolar) outflows that were obtained without H I cooling no longer appear. In the case of an eccentric orbit and a low wind velocity, these morphologies are still highly asymmetric, but the same structures recur at every orbital period, making the morphology more regular. Flared accretion disks, with a (sub-)Keplerian velocity profile, are found to form around the companion in all our models with H I cooling, provided the accretion radius is small enough. The disks have radial sizes ranging from about 0.4 to 0.9 au and masses around 10−7−10−8 M⊙. For the considered wind velocities, mass accretion onto the companion is up to a factor of 2 higher than predicted by the standard Bondi Hoyle Littleton rate, ranging between ~4 to 21% of the AGB wind mass loss rate. The lower the wind velocity at the location of the companion, the larger and the more massive the disk and the higher the mass accretion efficiency. In eccentric systems, the disk size, disk mass, and mass accretion efficiency vary, depending on the orbital phase. Conclusions. H I cooling is an essential ingredient to properly model the medium around the companion where density-enhanced wind structures form and it favours the formation of an accretion disk.

Synthesis and Properties of Nickel Copper Phosphorus (NixCuyPz) Catalyst

Nowadays, scientists around the world are paying more attention to renewable hydrogen fuels. There is a growing need for precious metal catalysts to calculate the cost of obtaining renewable energy, an efficient method of producing H2 by electrolysis of water, as well as to facilitate the decomposition of water into its elemental parts. Today, due to the increase in the problem of the shortage of energy resources and the growing of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, attention is being paid to hydrogen energy. However, the production of H2 requires low-cost, efficient catalysts that facilitate hydrogen/oxygen separation reactions in the water splitting. For this purpose, intermediate metal phosphides (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, W) were used as effective electrocatalysts for water decomposition. The catalytic activity of intermediate metal phosphides to form hydrogen is largely dependent on the phosphorus content, but the P atoms play an important role in increasing efficiency. The production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water on the basis of bifunctional catalysts has good prospects for use in the energy industry. In the article, the one-step hydrothermal synthesis method and physico-chemical (electronic structure and conductivity, structure morphology) of double metal phosphide with NixCuyPz composition were studied.

Synergistic Effect of Surface Hydrophobicity and &lt;i&gt;In-Vitro&lt;/i&gt; Antimicrobial Activity of Polymeric Nano-Formulation in Textile Finishing

Fouling and damage of variety of surfaces including textile material is a global challenge. As textile wears next to the skin and health issues are more significant. Thus in an effort to address the issues related to textile surfaces damage, antimicrobial polymeric textile finishing was developed to impart antimicrobial functionalities to the textile fabric. The nanoprecipitation technique was done to synthesize antimicrobial polymeric nanoparticles and applied on to the cotton textile fabric via layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayers dip coating technique. The particle size and zeta potential of the nanoparticles was evaluated form dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS) as 216 nm and-11.2 mV. The antimicrobial polymeric finishing of cotton textile was done by alternate dip coating in polyelectrolytes and nanoformulation. The structural morphology and roughness of the resultant textile was studied by SEM and optical profilometery. While the surface hydrophobicity was found to increase with the number of bilayers coating of hydrophobic polymeric formulation as measured in term of contact angle θ. In-vitro antimicrobial activity was studied against gram negative E. coli and gram positive S. aureus with significant zone of inhibition against both strains. Thus surface hydrophobicity and antimicrobial activity of the textile fabric was synergistically achieved and have potential for biomedical and industrial application.

Preparation and Formation Mechanism of β-SiC Coatings Using a SiCl4-CH4-H2-N2 System.

The mechanism of β-SiC preparation via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of the SiCl4-CH4-H2-N2 system remains unclear. Consequently, the change of molar Gibbs free energy of the CVD β-SiC chemical reaction in the SiCl4-CH4-H2-N2 system has been studied by the Helsinki Software Corporation (HSC) Chemistry code for the first time. The role of nitrogen in the reaction was confirmed. Seven potential reaction pathways of CVD β-SiC were presented, and the thermodynamic equilibrium components of each reaction were calculated systematically. The most viable reaction pathway and corresponding optimal temperature range for CVD β-SiC were determined. In addition, a kinetic study of CVD β-SiC was conducted. The microscopic morphology and crystal structure of β-SiC coatings prepared on the graphite surface at different temperatures were charactered by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, etc. Ultimately, through SEM, XRD, and Raman observation, uniform and dense β-SiC coatings with fine grains and high crystallinity were successfully obtained. Furthermore, large β-SiC-coated graphite trays with diameters of 230 and 465 mm were prepared by CVD using the SiCl4-CH4-H2-N2 system, and the average thickness of β-SiC was about 100.6 μm. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical recommendations for the fabrication of SiC-coated graphite trays used in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) equipment.