Advanced Materials Research Vol. 853

Abstract: In this paper, new alkali-free hydroxyl sulfobetaine surfactant designed for the target oil reservoir in our laboratory was used. The interfacial tension property, emulsifying capability, peeling the oil film between surfactant/polymer binary oil-displacing system and the target crude oil and the viscosity of the system were investigated systematically. Finally, oil-displacement capacity of the binary oil-displacing system on the target reservoirs natural cores was discussed. The experimental results indicated under the actual condition of the target oil reservoir with total salinity ranging from 4694mg/L to 24270mg/L and temperature being 50°C, the surfactant/polymer binary oil-displacing system with surfactant mass fraction ranging from 0.025% to 0.2% and polymer mass fraction of 0.15% could reach ultra-low interfacial tension with the target crude oil rapidly. The surfactant/polymer binary system above mentioned could emulsified crude oil easily and the volume fraction of WinsorIII middle phase microemulsion could be up to 53.06%. It also could peel the oil film adhered to oil-wet quartz plate quickly and increase the viscoelastic of surfactant/polymer binary oil-displacing system slightly. The displacement experiments made by using natural core in the target oil field indicated that oil recovery was improved by 15% after water flooding. All these results showed that hydroxyl sulfobetaine surfactant had a good potential for flooding in EOR.

Abstract: This paper presents the first experimental pavement test road section in Lithuania including pavement design, annual measurements, data acquisition and response analysis. The road of experimental pavement structures was constructed in 2007. It’s laid on the road to the query, one traffic lane is used by loaded traffic and other – by unloaded traffic. The road consists of 27 different pavement structures with the same class of pavement structure but the different type and composition of materials. Final results after five years of monitoring indicate the performance of typical Lithuania flexible pavement structures influenced by different traffic loads. The total number of ESAL’s (100 kN) in February 2013 was 353 000.

Abstract: Pain reduction from palatal injection was comparatively investigated by using topical anesthetics, 5% lidocaine encapsulated niosomes (LN) and 18%benzocaine/2%tetraciane gel (BZ). The LN was prepared chair-sidedly by an ultrasonic dental scaler with physicochemical evaluation. A pin-prick test on the palatal mucosa of 10 healthy subjects determined the onset and the effective time of LN to be 45 s (±17.3) with the mean effective time of 130.5 s (±57.5). The pain intensity during an actual palatal injection (cuspid region) was compared after the topical application of LN and BZ in another 23 healthy subjects, using a split-mouth design. The median injection pain VAS after the application of BZ was 3.5 cm, significantly higher than that after the application of LN (median = 2.0 cm, (p< 0.05). The present study confirmed the use of the ultrasonic dental scaler in enhancing the efficacy of lidocaine in pain reduction from palatal injection.

Abstract: Tripod-like β-NaYF₄: Ln³⁺ (Ln = Yb, Er, Tm, Ho) nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized for the first time by solvothermal method. The results revealed that the as-prepared NaYF₄: Ln³⁺ crystals with pure hexagonal phase consisted of tripod-like particles with 300-500 nm in length and 60-80 nm in diameter. The upconversion (UC) luminescence properties of β-NaYF₄: Ln³⁺ samples were investigated in detail. By changing the dopants species (Ln³⁺), multicolor (green and blue) UC emissions can be obtained in β-NaYF₄: Ln³⁺ under 980 nm laser diode (LD) excitation. In conclusion, the luminescent branched particles should be of wide potential application as building blocks in the future nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Abstract: One isolate of mycorrhizal fungi from the roots of wild plant, in this experiment, the growth rate and dry weight of mycelium used as measurement index, PDMA medium is found suitable as basic medium for this strain after 4 kinds of medium are preliminarily screened. Using microbial dilution plate counting cultivation method, the rhizosphere soil microbial quantity were analyzed in a blueberry short-term pot experiment. Results indicate that the number of microbial physiological groups in rhizosphere soil under different varieties of different treatments were significantly differences,and bacteria were dominant,followed by actinomycetes,and fungi were the least.

Abstract: Lignocellulosic material is the earth's most abundant renewable resource, but because of its stable and complex structure, it is not easy for depredating and utilizing for a long time. Rumen can degrade lignocellulose, and is one of nature's most efficient fermentation fermenter; to be study rumen microorganisms has the potential to provide valuable solutions to renewable energy, processing of agricultural waste, organic waste etc. Research methods vary from screening of cellulose-degradation bacteria, enzymatic characterization, to the use of metagenomics technology to get a large number of genes directly from the rumen. This article reviews the characteristics, mechanism and contribution of different rumen microbial in degradation of lignocellulose, as well as the research progress of enzymatic characterization and rumen microbial metagenomics.

Abstract: In this paper, a novel biosensor based on multiple total-internal reflections (MTIRs) in heterodyne interferometry (HI) is proposed. The biosensor is made of an elongated prism. As a heterodyne optical light source transmits through the new-type biosensor, it will undergo multiple total-internal reflections (MTIRs). Thus we can obtain the text signal at the output. The phase difference variation due to the different refractive indices of the tested media can be obtained by a Lock-In-amplifier (LIA). By some numerical calculations, we can achieve the related parameters of the tested medium. The resolution of the sensor can reach 4×10^-7 refractive index unit (RIU). The electro-optical biosensor has some merits, easy operation, in real-time measurement, and high stability, etc.

Abstract: The present work deals with the formation of NiP/NiB duplex coatings by electroless plating and evaluation of their hardness and wear resistance. The duplex coatings were prepared with Ni-P as the inner layer. To analyze the structure of the coatings, XRD analysis was carried out. According to the results, NiP and NiB coatings are amorphous in their as-plated condition and after applying heat-treatment at 450 °C for 1 h, both NiP and NiB coatings crystallize and produce nickel, nickel phosphide and nickel borides in the coatings. To determine the surface morphology and cross-section characteristics of the coatings, SEM observations were carried out and concluded that duplex coatings are uniform and good coherent exists between the duplex layers and the coatings are also connected closely to the substrate. The hardness of electroless nickel duplex coatings increased with applying heat treatment and reached maximum value at coatings annealed at 400 °C. To analyze the tribological properties, pin-on-disc tests were carried out. The wear track patterns on the coatings and on Al₂O₃ balls were then examined by optical microscopy and EDS. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the coatings were lower than the substrate steel. Friction coefficient decreased from 0.43 to 0.36 and wear resistance decreased from 11.3 to 6.4 by applying heat treatment at 450 °C for 1 h to duplex coatings.

Abstract: Development of Novel Bio-degradable Electrolyte Based on Polylactide (pla) for Lithium Rechargeable Batteryarmfu� h
� r�rment, degradable polymer which is Polylactide (PLA) was chosen as the host material in the electrolyte. PLA alone had low ionic conductivity which cannot satisfy the current electrical appliance usage. Therefore, PLA is complexed with Ethylene Carbonate, Lithium perchlorate and Aluminum Oxide using THF as a wetting agent. The ionic conductivity of the electrolyte is tested with a.c impedance spectroscopy to determine its ionic conductivity. The highest ionic conductivity of pure PLA is 3.624 x 10^-12 Scm^-1. The PLA is mixed with Ethylene Carbonate to increase its amorphous nature. The result showed that PLA when mixed with 35% of EC give the highest conductivity which is 1.90 x 10^-10 Scm^-1. While the PLA mixed with 20% of Lithium perchlorate give an optimum ionic conductivity which is 5.72 x 10^-7 Scm^-1. Later, the ionic conductivity of PLA, EC and lithium salt mixture were carried out and shows the highest conductivity of 1.44 x 10^-6 Scm^-1. Lastly, with the addition of 4% aluminum oxide filler, the highest conductivity is boosted to 2.07 x 10^-5 Scm^-1. The samples were then analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to better understand the microstructure of the polymer system.

Abstract: The objective of this research is to study the efficiency of acclimating the Tapumei Series red clay collected from Ming-Tou, Na-Tou in central Taiwan by using the calcium-rich by-product recovered from the CFB (Circulation Fluidized-Bed Boiler) de-sulfur operation. At the end of the testing period, the samples were dried, sieved and analyzed for pH, exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, and aluminum. The plant growth was observed for 7 weeks in order to investigate the influence of soil improvement on the growth and production of corn. The results reveal that all samples show an initial sharp increase from 3 to 7.5, 8.1, 8.4 and 8.6 for samples added with 18, 27, 36 and 45 tons/hectare of lime, respectively, and the final pH values after 6 months were 6.5, 7.2, 7.6 and 7.9, respectively. The lime treatment increases the soil exchangeable anion concentrations and reduces the aluminum ion concentration. This is because that the recovered CBF by-product is rich in CaO that neutralizes the soil H+ and raises the soil pH. Additionally, the anions contained in the by-product will also enhance the soil nutrients and lower the solubility of aluminum.