Copper Black Coatings for the Absorption of Solar Concentration With an APPJ SiO2 Super-Hydrophobic Protection

Solar thermal energy can be captured on absorbent surfaces, but coatings tend to deteriorate, due to changes in hue, thermal shocks, or detachment of all layers. There is a great challenge in reducing the deterioration because of environmental factors such as corrosion, impact, and dust control, among others. The absorbent coatings interact with the incident solar radiation transforming it as heat energy, and selectivity allows a low emissivity. In this work, a three-layer system on copper is proposed. An anodized CuO or black copper layer as an absorbent with high absorptance is proposed. A protective layer was added to extend the lifetime of use while preserving the functional characteristics of the absorbent black layer by using SiO2 deposited by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) using hexamethyldisiloxane. A selective layer of aluminum was deposited by physical vapor deposition (PVD). Thermal shocks were applied by concentrated solar power with a Fresnel lens to represent sudden temperature changes in the radiation absorbent when the weather changes.

Effects of semen dosage, oviductal sperm storage and insemination interval on egg fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability in Nera Black breeder chickens

The biological basis of sustaining fertility in poultry is their ability to store sperm cells in the sperm storage tubules (SST) located in the uterovaginal junction. However, artificial insemination in poultry industry is haphazardly administered in Nigeria without regulation on semen dose and frequency of insemination for optimum fertility. The objective of this study was to establish a semen dosage and insemination interval for maximum fertility and embryonic survival in Nera black layer breeder chickens. A total of 80 breeder hens (52 weeks) were allotted to five (5) treatments with four (4) replicate per treatment. Semen was pooled from 10 matured breeder cocks and inseminated to four groups of hens at varied semen dose of 0.02mL (T1), 0.04mL (T2), 0.06mL (T3) and 0.08mL (T4) of undiluted semen while hens in T5 were mated naturally, both for two consecutive days. 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08mL of pooled semen contained 20.43×10 , 40.87×106 , 61.30×106 and 81.74×106 motile spermatozoa. Eggs were collected, stored and artificially incubated weekly for 4 weeks. Fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability parameters were determined. Another 78 breeder hens were allocated into 4 treatments of 5 replicates per treatment with unequal number of hens and were inseminated with 0.02mL of raw semen containing 20.43 × 106 motile sperm cells at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days intervals. Fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at &0.05 Hatch of fertile eggs in T5 at week 2 (65.36±13.28) was significantly higher (p<0.05) . than T1 (33.83±12.65), T2 (13.25±6.88), T3 (39.17±14.17) and T4 (28.21±11.37). At weeks 1 and 2, there was no significant different across the treatments. Fertility at 4 weeks in T1 (11.53±6.66) was significantly (p<0.05) different from treatments T2 (0.00±0.00), T3 (0.00±0.00), T4 (1.66±1.66) and T5 (0.00±0.00). Total and early embryo mortality in week 3 was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T1 (100.00±0.00, 95.00±5.00) than in treatments T2 (43.75±0.00, 43.75±25.77), T3 (66.67±23.57, 66.67±23.57), T4 (95.00±5.00, 85.00±15.00) and T5 (37.50±23.94, 22.92±15.73). Fertility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3 days insemination interval (52.65±7.25) compared with 6 days (39.87±4.70), 9 days (22.98±5.71) and 12 days (36.14±6.89). At weeks 1 and 3, the hatch of fertile eggs across the treatments was not significantly (p>0.05) different from one another. This study suggests that 6 inseminating semen dose of 0.02mL containing approximately 20.43×10 motile sperm cells in Nera black layer breeder chickens will give a maximum fertile period of 5 days, while insemination interval of 3 days using 0.02mLof semen gave highest fertility level.

How Microanalysis Can Be Discriminant on Black Pompeian Wares

In the present work the advantages of punctual approaches are discussed in the discrimination of black wares from the Sanctuary of Venus Fisica (Pompeii, Italy), dated between the 2nd and 1st century BC. Black-gloss ware and "bucchero" samples are analyzed by a multi-analytical approach including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) to investigate the mineralogical and petrographic features of these artefacts. Grain size, firing conditions and potter’s expertise influenced the final appearance of the superficial decorative black layer. In addition, punctual chemical analysis was fundamental to verify the archaeological indication of specific production sites.

Label-Free Comparative Proteomic Analysis Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection Suggests Important Roles of Stress Responses in the Black Layer of Maize Kernels

The black layer (BL) is traditionally used as an indicator for kernel harvesting in maize, as it turns visibly dark when the kernel reaches physiological maturity. However, the molecular roles of BL in kernel development have not been fully elucidated. In this work, microscopy images showed that BL began to appear at a growth stage earlier than 10 days after pollination (DAP), and its color gradually deepened to become dark as the development period progressed. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that BL is a tissue structure composed of several layers of cells that are gradually squeezed and compressed during kernel development. Laser-capture microdissection (LCM) was used to sample BL and its neighboring inner tissue, basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL), and outer tissue, inner epidermis (IEP), from 20 DAP of kernels. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry profiling (MALDI-TOF MS profiling) detected 41, 104, and 120 proteins from LCM-sampled BL, BETL, and IEP, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that the 41 BL proteins were primarily involved in the response to stress and stimuli. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis found that the BL proteins were enriched in several defense pathways, such as the ascorbate and aldarate metabolic pathways. Among the 41 BL proteins, six were BL-specific proteins that were only detected from BL. Annotations of five BL-specific proteins were related to stress responses. During kernel development, transcriptional expression of most BL proteins showed an increase, followed by a decrease, and reached a maximum zero to 20 DAP. These results suggest a role for BL in stress responses for protecting filial tissue against threats from maternal sides, which helps to elucidate the biological functions of BL.

Review of Research Work on Performance Measures in Die Sinking EDM

Electro Discharge Machine (EDM) is one of the non-conventional machines utilized to cut hard material and complex contours that are difficult to achieve by other conventional techniques. The material is removed by spark generated between the tool and work gap, which melts and vaporizes the material and is then flushed along the flow of dielectric. It has been extensively used in various industries, for improved efficiency and productivity. The present research tends to review the diverse work executed by researchers on various performance measures of EDM. The utmost considered performance measures are material removal rate, tool wear rate, surface roughness, radial overcut, residual stress, white layer thickness and black layer that are reviewed in this paper. The paper also elaborates future trends for research on EDM.

GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENTS FROM THE GULF OF ELEFSINA -STUDY OF THE ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT

Mineralogical and geochemical data on sediment of three sampling locations in the gulf of Elefsina, have been studied in order to access the impact of inorganic pollutants. The gulf is relatively shallow in depth and is connected to Saronicos bay with two shallow channels. This bottom physiography, worses the depositional environment since it receives pollutants of both the city and the industry without having wide towards the open sea. Grain size analysis of the surface sediments indicates that they are classified as sandy loam. However the main characteristic is the widespread appearance of a silty black layer, rich in organic matter. The thickness of the layer is 12 cm and is related to the oxic-anoxic conditions of the surface of the sediments. During the summer period the anoxic conditions promote an increase of the concentration of the organic matter in the bottom sediments which results in the widespread black coloring. The existence of a black layer in the first 10 to 12 cm of the cored sample is attributed to human activity. During the winter period, in which sampling took place, the increase in soluble O2 was responsible for the appearance of a thin brownish color top of the black layer. The thickness of this coloration is 0.5 mm. The pH of the sediments fluctuated between 7.4 and 8.5. The lower pH values are obtained in the top of the sediments while the higher ones in the bottom of the sediments. Data from the cation exchange capacity measurements have asserted the predominant of clays in the west side of the gulf. The distribution of total organic values yields higher values in the eastern side of the gulf (average value 4%) from the western side (average value 2.5%). Mineralogical composition of the sediments yielded the following minerals; quartz, calcite, dolomite, chlorite, illite, albite and alunite. A characteristic fluctuation of the soluble metals Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, Μη, Cr, Hg and Cd, was observed, which characterize the environmental condition and pollution of the gulf of Elefsina