• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.957-962
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• 2018

The gamma radiation shielding capability (GRSC) of two clay-materials (Ball clay and Kaolin)of Southwestern Nigeria ($7.49^{\circ}N$, $4.55^{\circ}E$) have been investigated by determine theoretically and experimentally the mass attenuation coefficient, ${\mu}/{\rho}(cm^2g^{-1})$ of the clay materials at photon energies of 609.31, 1120.29, 1173.20, 1238.11, 1332.50 and 1764.49 keV emitted from $^{214}Bi$ ore and $^{60}Co$ point source. The mass attenuation coefficients were theoretically evaluated using the elemental compositions of the clay-materials obtained by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) elemental analysis technique as input data for WinXCom software. While gamma ray transmission experiment using Hyper Pure Germanium (HPGe) spectrometer detector to experimentally determine the mass attenuation coefficients, ${\mu}/{\rho}(cm^2g^{-1})$ of the samples. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations of WinXCom software. Linear attenuation coefficient (${\mu}$), half value layer (HVL) and mean free path (MFP) were also evaluated using the obtained ${\mu}/{\rho}$ values for the investigated samples. The GRSC of the selected clay-materials have been compared with other studied shielding materials. The cognizance of various factors such as availability, thermo-chemical stability and water retaining ability by the clay-samples can be analyzed for efficacy of the material for their GRSC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1997

The moderately alkalophilic bacterium, identified as Bacillus sp. S-1 , was isolated from soils and effectively secrete extracellular pullulanase. The isolate was moderately alkalophilic since enzyme production occurred at pHs from 6.0 to 10.0. Extracellular crude enzymes of the isolate gave maltotriose as the major product from soluble starch and pullulan hydrolysis. Compared to other alkalophilic microbes, this isolate secreted extremely high concentration(7.0 units/ml) of pullulanase. The purified pullulanase was moderately alkalophilic and thermoactive; optimal activity was detected at pH 8.0-10.0 and between 50-60$^{\circ}$C. Even at pH 12.0, 10% of S-1 pulluanase activity remained and the strain had broad pH ranges and moderate thermo-stability for their enzyme activities. These results indicate that the new isolate have potential as producer of pullulanase for use in the starch industry.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.4-11
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• 1995

The amounts of waste stone and stone powder sludge that occurred in the quarry and processing plant of s stone plates, have been increased with the development of stone industry. The manufactunng process of 따tificial s stone was studied to reduce the outlet of these wastes and utilIze them as raw materials for architecture, interior decoration and art work. In order to compare the properties of artiflcial stone with those of natural building-stone, the physi$\alpha$II properties of artificial stone such as specific gravity, absorption ratio, elastic wave velocity, compressive s strength, tensile strength, shore hardness, elasticity and Poission's ratio were measured. From the mesaured d data of physical properties, it was found that physical propertIes of artificial stone were controlled by homogeneous m mixing ratio of constituents, molding pressure, and amount of binder. Also, from the thermo-gravimetric analysis, it was found that artIfIcial stone manufactured had a good thermal stability up to $300^{\circ}C$. It was concluded that t the optimum conditions for manufacturing process of artificial stone were $200kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ of molding pressure, 12-15 w weight % of binder amounts.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.311-325
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• 2020

In this research work, the hygrothermal and mechanical buckling responses of simply supported FG sandwich plate seated on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation are investigated using a novel shear deformation theory. The current model take into consideration the shear deformation effects and ensures the zero shear stresses on the free surfaces of the FG-sandwich plate without requiring the correction factors "Ks". The material properties of the faces sheets of the FG-sandwich plate are assumed varies as power law function "P-FGM" and the core is isotropic (purely ceramic). From the virtual work principle, the stability equations are deduced and resolved via Navier model. The hygrothermal effects are considered varies as a nonlinear, linear and uniform distribution across the thickness of the FG-sandwich plate. To check and confirm the accuracy of the current model, a several comparison has been made with other models found in the literature. The effects the temperature, moisture concentration, parameters of elastic foundation, side-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio and the inhomogeneity parameter on the critical buckling of FG sandwich plates are also investigated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.1444-1450
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• 2019

The fast-neutron shielding behaviour (FNSB) of two clay-materials (Ball clay and Kaolin)of Southwestern Nigeria ($7.49^{\circ}N$, $4.55^{\circ}E$) have been investigated using effective removal cross section, ${\Sigma}_R(cm^{-1})$, mass removal cross section, ${\Sigma}_{R/{\rho}}(cm^2g^{-1})$ and Mean free path, ${\lambda}$ (cm). These parameters decide neutron shielding behaviour of any material. A computer program - WinNC-Toolkit has been used for computation of these parameters. The toolkit evaluates these parameters by using elemental compositions and densities of samples. The proficiency of WinNC-Toolkit code was probe by using MCNPX and GEANT4 to model fast neutron transmission of the samples under narrow beam geometry, intending to represent the actual experimental setup. Direct calculation of effective removal cross section ($cm^{-1}$) of the samples was also carried out. The results from each of the methods for each types of the studied clay-materials (Ball clay and Kaolin) shows similar trend. The trend might be the fingerprint of water content retained in each of the samples being baked at different temperature. The compositions of each sample have been obtained by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique (Tandem Pelletron Accelerator: 1.7 MV, Model 5SDH). The FNSB of the selected clay-materials have been compared with standard concrete. The cognizance of various factors such as availability, thermo-chemical stability and water retaining ability by the clay-samples can be analyzed for efficacy of the material for their FNSB.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.995-1000
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• 2011

The microstructure of Cu-24 wt.%Ag filamentary nanocomposite fabricated by a thermo-mechanical process has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. This study is focused on the stability of Ag filaments formed by cold drawing; the effects of thermal treatment on the precipitation behavior and distribution of Ag-rich precipitates were also investigated. The Ag filaments elongated along the <111> orientation were observed in Cu-rich ${\alpha}$ phase of the as-drawn specimen and the copper matrix and the silver filament have a cube on cube orientation relationship. Annealing at temperatures lower than $200^{\circ}C$ for the as-drawn specimen caused insignificant change of the fibrous morphology but squiggly interfaces or local breaking of the elongated Ag filaments were easily observed with annealing at $300^{\circ}C$. When samples were annealed at $400^{\circ}C$, discontinuous precipitation was observed in supersaturated Cu solid solution. Ag precipitates with a thickness of 7-20 nm were observed along the <112> direction and the orientation relationship between the copper matrix and the Ag precipitates maintained the same orientation relationship in the as-drawn specimen. The interface between the copper matrix and the Ag precipitates is parallel to {111} and micro-twins were observed in the Ag precipitates.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.435-439
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• 2010

Pt-$MoO_3$ electrodes were fabricated on ITO-coated glass by electrodeposition method using 20 mM hydrogen hexachloroplatinate ($H_2PtCl_6$) and 10 mM Mo-peroxo electrolyte. Deposition order was varied, and catalytic activities of synthesized electrodes were compared with that of pure Pt electrode. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was utilized to examine surface morphology. The crystallinity of synthesized films was analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the oxidation state of both the platinum and molybdenum were determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation were measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) in a mixture of 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.5 M $CH_3OH$ aqueous solution. $MoO_3$ electrodeposited on the surface of Pt showed much higher catalytic acitivity and stability than pure Pt electrode due to the good contact between Pt and $MoO_3$.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.160-171
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• 2021

Purpose. This in-vitro study evaluated and compared the color stability of 3D-printed and conventional heat-polymerized acrylic resins following aging, mechanical brushing, and immersion in staining medium. Materials and methods. Forty disc-shaped specimens (10 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick) were prepared from two 3D-printed [DentaBASE (DB) and Denture 3D+ (D3D)] and one conventional polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) denture materials. The specimens were thermo-cycled, subjected to mechanical brushing, and were immersed in either coffee, lemon juice, coke, or artificial saliva (AS) to simulate one and two years of oral use. Color measurements of the specimens were recorded by a spectrophotometer at baseline (T0), and after one (T1) and two years (T2) of simulation. The color changes (ΔE) were determined and also quantified according to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) units. Descriptive statistics, followed by factorial ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test (α=.05), were applied for data analysis. Results. The independent factors, namely material, staining medium, and immersion time, and interaction among these factors significantly influenced ΔE (P<.009). Irrespective of the materials, treatments, and time, the highest and the lowest mean ΔEs were observed for PMMA in lemon juice (4.58 ± 1.30) and DB in AS (0.41 ± 0.18), respectively. Regarding the material type, PMMA demonstrated the highest mean ΔE (2.31 ± 1.37), followed by D3D (1.67 ± 0.66), and DB (0.85 ± 0.52), and the difference in ΔE between the materials were statistically significant (P<.001). All the specimens demonstrated a decreased color changes at T2 compared to T1, and this difference in mean ΔE was statistically significant (P<.001). Conclusion. The color changes of 3D-printed denture resins were low compared to conventional heat polymerized PMMA. All the tested materials, irrespective of the staining medium used, demonstrated a significant decrease in ΔE values over time.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2015

Polycarbonate (PC)/graphene oxide (GO) composites with 3 phr of GO were prepared by using a twin screw extruder at 240, 260, and $280^{\circ}C$ after mixing the solution with chloroform. It was confirmed by DSC and TGA that the glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of PC/GO composites were not changed and the thermal stability was the best in case of the extrusion temperature at $260^{\circ}C$. Thermo mechanical properties of PC/GO composites according to extrusion temperatures were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Storage moduli of PC/GO composites were higher than that of pure PC and there was no detectable changes at varying the extrusion temperature. Based on these results, the extrusion temperature of PC/GO composites was fixed at $260^{\circ}C$. The degree of the chemical reaction of PC/GO composites with respect to the GO reduction time was confirmed by the C-H stretching peak at $3000cm^{-1}$ and the degree of the chemical reaction was similar to that of GO when the reduction time was 1 h. A decrease in the complex viscosity as a function of the GO reduction time was detected by dynamic rheometer, which may be originated from the enhancement of GO dispersion by PC-GO reaction. The GO dispersion was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2012

Barium zirconate exhibits good thermo-chemical stability and proton conduction at high temperatures, but shows poor electron conductivity. Therefore, for high efficiency of hydrogen separation, a very thin and dense Pd-Barium zirconate membrane has to be coated on a porous substrate. A thin and dense Pd-Barium zirconate membrane was successfully synthesized on a porous substrate by means of dual sputtering method. The structural and chemical features of the $BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$ membranes sputtered at $300^{\circ}C$ and $400^{\circ}C$ were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, and it was found that a well-crystallized membrane, Pm-3m space group of $BaZrO_3$, was synthesized. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies of membrane were assessed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM(transmission electron microscopy) of the surface and of cross sections. The cross sectional observation of Pd-$BaZr_{0.85}Y_{0.15}O_{3-{\delta}}$ membrane by dual sputtering shows that the coating is quite dense with columnar structure.