Mechanical properties of HDPE/UHMWPE blends: effect of filler loading and filler treatment.

PubMed

Lai, K L K; Roziyanna, A; Ogunniyi, D S; Zainal, Arifin M I; Azlan, Ariffin A

2004-05-01

Various blend ratios of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were prepared with the objective of determining their suitability as biomaterials. In the unfilled state, a blend of 50/50 (HDPE/UHMWPE) ratio by weight was found to yield optimum properties in terms of processability and mechanical properties. Hydroxyapatite (HA) was compounded with the optimum blend ratio. The effects of HA loading, varied from 0 to 50wt% for both filled and unfilled blends were tested for mechanical properties. It was found that the inclusion of HA in the blend led to a remarkable improvement of mechanical properties compared to the unfilled blend. In order to improve the bonding between the polymer blend and the filler, the HA used was chemically treated with a coupling agent known as 3-(trimethoxysiyl) propyl methacrylate and the treated HA was mixed into the blend. The effect of mixing the blend with silane-treated HA also led to an overall improvement of mechanical properties.

Experimental Investigation of Performance and emission characteristics of Various Nano Particles with Bio-Diesel blend on Di Diesel Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karthik, N.; Goldwin Xavier, X.; Rajasekar, R.; Ganesh Bairavan, P.; Dhanseelan, S.

2017-05-01

Present study provides the effect of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles additives on the Performance and emission uniqueness of Jatropha. Jatropha blended fuel is prepared by the emulsification technique with assist of mechanical agitator. Nano particles (Zinc Oxide (ZnO)) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2)) mixed with Jatropha blended fuel in mass fraction (100 ppm) with assist of an ultrasonicator. Experiments were conducted in single cylinder constant speed direct injection diesel engine for various test fuels. Performance results revealed that Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide (B20CE) is 3% and 11% higher than Jatropha blended zinc oxide (B20ZO) and Jatropha blended fuel (B20) and 4% lower than diesel fuel (D100) at full load conditions. Emission result shows that HC and CO emissions of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide (B20CE) are (6%, 22%, 11% and 6%, 15%, 12%) less compared with Jatropha blended Zinc Oxide (B20ZO), diesel (D100) and Jatropha blended fuel (B20) at full load conditions. NOx emissions of Jatropha blended Cerium Oxide is 1 % higher than diesel fuel (D100) and 2% and 5% lower than Jatropha blended Zinc Oxide, and jatropha blended fuel.

Exploring the influence of radiation crosslinking on high-performance hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and polyamide 12 based blends with special reference to heat and oil resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohammed Reffai, Syed Ismail Syed; Chatterjee, Tuhin; Naskar, Kinsuk

2018-07-01

This paper reports the heat and oil resistant hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR)/Polyamide 12 (PA12) blends prepared by electron beam irradiation. Electron beam irradiated blends are characterized by processing behaviour like thermoplastic at elevated temperature and performance properties of vulcanized rubber at ambient temperature. In the present work, a new class of blends based on Hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and polyamide (PA12) has been developed. The blends are cured with different radiation dosage at a fixed blend ratio (70:30) of (HNBR/PA12). The blend having the 75 kGy shows the highest level of mechanical properties as well as superior thermal stability. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) also demonstrates the tanδ values of all the blends are lower and the storage modules are higher for HE-75 kGy blend system compared to other blend system. Heat aging, oil aging, oil swelling and cross-link density study have also been carried out in details to understand the performance behaviour of these blends at service condition (150 °C). These blends are considered to find potential application in automotive sector especially for automotive under-the-hood-applications.

Structural, mechanical and electrical properties biopolymer blend nanocomposites derived from poly (vinyl alcohol)/cashew gum/magnetite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramesan, M. T.; Jayakrishnan, P.; Manojkumar, T. K.; Mathew, G.

2018-01-01

Blending of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and natural biopolymers such as cashew gum (CG) with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles has been a promising way for preparing bio-degradable polymeric blend nanocomposites. PVA/CG/Fe3O4 blend nanocomposites have been prepared by a simple solution casting technique using water as the green solvent. The characterization of blend nanocomposites has been carried out by using Fourier transform infrared, UV, x-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. The interaction between nanoparticles and the blend segments was confirmed from the shift in characteristic absorption peaks of nanocomposites compared to PVA/CG blend. XRD analysis has shown the presence of crystalline peaks of nanoparticles in the blend matrix. The uniform distribution of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the blend was revealed by TEM and SEM. The strong interaction of nanoparticles with the blend has been confirmed by the increase in glass transition temperature resulting from the reduced flexibility of the blend nanocomposite compared to that of the blend system. An increase in thermal stability and tensile strength and reduction in elongation at break of nanocomposites have been noticed with the increasing loading of nanoparticles. The AC electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the nanocomposites have been found to be higher than that of the blend. Generally, it can be stated that the magnetite nanoparticles acts as a potential filler in the PVA/CG blend at 7 wt% loading, giving the best balance of properties.

COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTS TO CFD MODELS FOR MIXING USING DUAL OPPOSING JETS IN TANKS WITH AND WITHOUT INTERNAL OBSTRUCTIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leishear, R.; Poirier, M.; Lee, S.

2012-06-26

This paper documents testing methods, statistical data analysis, and a comparison of experimental results to CFD models for blending of fluids, which were blended using a single pump designed with dual opposing nozzles in an eight foot diameter tank. Overall, this research presents new findings in the field of mixing research. Specifically, blending processes were clearly shown to have random, chaotic effects, where possible causal factors such as turbulence, pump fluctuations, and eddies required future evaluation. CFD models were shown to provide reasonable estimates for the average blending times, but large variations -- or scatter -- occurred for blending timesmore » during similar tests. Using this experimental blending time data, the chaotic nature of blending was demonstrated and the variability of blending times with respect to average blending times were shown to increase with system complexity. Prior to this research, the variation in blending times caused discrepancies between CFD models and experiments. This research addressed this discrepancy, and determined statistical correction factors that can be applied to CFD models, and thereby quantified techniques to permit the application of CFD models to complex systems, such as blending. These blending time correction factors for CFD models are comparable to safety factors used in structural design, and compensate variability that cannot be theoretically calculated. To determine these correction factors, research was performed to investigate blending, using a pump with dual opposing jets which re-circulate fluids in the tank to promote blending when fluids are added to the tank. In all, eighty-five tests were performed both in a tank without internal obstructions and a tank with vertical obstructions similar to a tube bank in a heat exchanger. These obstructions provided scale models of vertical cooling coils below the liquid surface for a full scale, liquid radioactive waste storage tank. Also, different jet diameters and different horizontal orientations of the jets were investigated with respect to blending. Two types of blending tests were performed. The first set of eighty-one tests blended small quantities of tracer fluids into solution. Data from these tests were statistically evaluated to determine blending times for the addition of tracer solution to tanks, and blending times were successfully compared to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. The second set of four tests blended bulk quantities of solutions of different density and viscosity. For example, in one test a quarter tank of water was added to a three quarters of a tank of a more viscous salt solution. In this case, the blending process was noted to significantly change due to stratification of fluids, and blending times increased substantially. However, CFD models for stratification and the variability of blending times for different density fluids was not pursued, and further research is recommended in the area of blending bulk quantities of fluids. All in all, testing showed that CFD models can be effectively applied if statistically validated through experimental testing, but in the absence of experimental validation CFD model scan be extremely misleading as a basis for design and operation decisions.« less

Supporting School Leaders in Blended Learning with Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Acree, Lauren; Gibson, Theresa; Mangum, Nancy; Wolf, Mary Ann; Kellogg, Shaun; Branon, Suzanne

2017-01-01

This study provides a mixed-methods case-study design evaluation of the Leadership in Blended Learning (LBL) program. The LBL program uses blended approaches, including face-to-face and online, to prepare school leaders to implement blended learning initiatives in their schools. This evaluation found that the program designers effectively…

Blended Learning in Action: A Practical Guide toward Sustainable Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tucker, Catlin R.; Wycoff, Tiffany; Green, Jason T.

2017-01-01

Blended learning has the power to reinvent education, but transitioning to a blended model is challenging. Blended learning requires a fundamentally new approach to learning as well as a new skillset for both teachers and school leaders. Loaded with research, examples, and resources, "Blended Learning in Action" demonstrates the…

Estimation of F-3 and F-4 knock-limited performance ratings for ternary and quaternary blends containing triptane or other high-antiknock aviation-fuel blending agents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnett, Henry C

1948-01-01

Charts are presented that permit the estimation of F-3 and F-4 knock-limited performance ratings for certain ternary and quaternary fuel blends. Ratings for various ternary and quaternary blends estimated from these charts compare favorably with experimental F-3 and F-4 ratings. Because of the unusual behavior of some of the aromatic blends in the F-3 engine, the charts for aromatic-paraffinic blends are probably less accurate than the charts for purely paraffinic blends.

Degradation assessment of natural weathering on low density polyethylene/thermoplastic soya spent powder blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nuradibah, M. A.; Sam, S. T.; Noriman, N. Z.; Ragunathan, S.; Ismail, H.

2015-07-01

Soya spent powder was blended with low density polyethylene (LDPE) ranging from 5-25 wt%. Glycerol was added to soya spent powder (SSP) for preparation of thermoplastic soya spent powder (TSSP). Then, the blends were exposed to natural weathering for 6 months. The susceptibility of the LDPE/soya spent powder blends based on its tensile, morphological properties and structural changes was measured every three months. The tensile strength of LDPE/TSSP blends after 6 months of weathering was the lowest compared to the other blends whereas LDPE/SSP blends after 6 months of weathering demonstrated the lowest elongation at break (Eb). Large pore can be seen on the surface of 25 wt% of LDPE/SSP blends.

Property Analysis of Ethanol--Natural Gasoline--BOB Blends to Make Flex Fuel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alleman, Teresa L.; Yanowitz, Janet

Ten natural gasolines were analyzed for a wide range of properties, including Reid vapor pressure (RVP), benzene, sulfur, distillation, stability, metals, and aromatic content, to determine their quality. Benzene and sulfur content were sufficiently low in all but one of the samples that they could be blended without further upgrading. Four of these samples were selected to blend with blendstock for oxygenate blending (BOB) and ethanol to produce E51, E70, and E83 blends, targeting 7.8 and 9.0-psi finished fuels. The volume of each component in the blend was estimated using the Reddy model, with the assumption that the BOB andmore » natural gasoline blend linearly and behave as a single component in the model calculations. Results show that the Reddy model adequately predicts the RVP of the finished blend for E51 and E70, but significantly underpredicts the RVP of E83 blends by nearly 2 psi. It is hypothesized that the underprediction is a function of the very low aromatic content of the E83 blends, even compared to the E51 and E70 blends.« less

Bilingual processing of ASL-English code-blends: The consequences of accessing two lexical representations simultaneously

PubMed Central

Emmorey, Karen; Petrich, Jennifer; Gollan, Tamar H.

2012-01-01

Bilinguals who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and English often produce code-blends - simultaneously articulating a sign and a word while conversing with other ASL-English bilinguals. To investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying code-blend processing, we compared picture-naming times (Experiment 1) and semantic categorization times (Experiment 2) for code-blends versus ASL signs and English words produced alone. In production, code-blending did not slow lexical retrieval for ASL and actually facilitated access to low-frequency signs. However, code-blending delayed speech production because bimodal bilinguals synchronized English and ASL lexical onsets. In comprehension, code-blending speeded access to both languages. Bimodal bilinguals’ ability to produce code-blends without any cost to ASL implies that the language system either has (or can develop) a mechanism for switching off competition to allow simultaneous production of close competitors. Code-blend facilitation effects during comprehension likely reflect cross-linguistic (and cross-modal) integration at the phonological and/or semantic levels. The absence of any consistent processing costs for code-blending illustrates a surprising limitation on dual-task costs and may explain why bimodal bilinguals code-blend more often than they code-switch. PMID:22773886

Electron beam irradiation induced compatibilization of immiscible polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate (PE/EVA) blends: Mechanical properties and morphology stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Entezam, Mehdi; Aghjeh, Mir Karim Razavi; Ghaffari, Mehdi

2017-02-01

Gel content, mechanical properties and morphology of immiscible PE/EVA blends irradiated by high energy electron beam were studied. The results of gel content measurements showed that the capability of cross-linking of the blend samples increased with an increase of the EVA composition. Also, the gel content for most compositions of the blends displayed a positive deviation from the additive rule. The results of mechanical properties showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of the samples increased and decreased, respectively, with irradiation dose. On the other hand, the mechanical properties of the irradiated blends also depicted a positive deviation from additive rule contrary to the un-irradiated blends. A synergistic effect observed for the mechanical properties improvement of the irradiated blends and it was attributed to the probable formation of the PE-graft-EVA copolymers at the interface of the blends during the irradiation process. A theoretical analysis revealed that irradiation induced synergistic effect was more significant for EVA-rich blends with weaker interfacial interaction as compared to PE-rich blends. The morphological analysis indicated that the blend morphology was not affected obviously, whereas it was stabilized by irradiation.

Mechanical properties, morphology, and hydrolytic degradation behavior of polylactic acid / natural rubber blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buys, Y. F.; Aznan, A. N. A.; Anuar, H.

2018-01-01

Due to its biodegradability and renewability, polylactic acid (PLA) has been receiving enormous attention as a potential candidate to replace petroleum based polymers. However, PLA has limitation due to its inherent brittleness. In order to overcome this limitation, blending PLA with elastomeric materials such as natural rubber (NR) are commonly reported. In previous, several researches on PLA/NR blend had been reported, with most of them evaluated the mechanical properties. On the other hand, study of degradation behavior is significance of importance, as controlling materials degradation is required in some applications. This research studied the effect of blend composition on mechanical properties, morphology development, and hydrolytic degradation behavior of PLA/NR blends. Various compositions of PLA/NR blends were prepared by melt blending technique. Tensile test and impact test of the blends were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties. Addition of NR improved the elongation at break and impact strength of the blends, but reduced the tensile strength and stiffness of the specimens. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) measurements of the blends displayed two peaks at temperature -70˚C which corresponded to T g of NR and 65˚C which corresponded to T g of PLA. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) micrograph of 70/30 PLA/NR specimen also showed two distinct phases, which lead to indication that PLA/NR blends are immiscible. Hydrolytic degradation behavior was evaluated by measuring the remaining weight of the samples immersed in sodium hydroxide solution for a predetermined times. It was shown that the degradation behavior of PLA/NR blends is affected by composition of the blends, with 100 PLA and 70/30 PLA/NR blend showed the fastest degradation rate and 100 NR displayed the slowest one.

Influence of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber on recyclability of blends prepared from poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(methyl methacrylate).

PubMed

Suresh, Sunil S; Mohanty, Smita; Nayak, Sanjay K

2018-06-01

The current investigation deals with the recycling possibilities of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(methyl methacrylate) in the presence of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. Recycled blends of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(methyl methacrylate) are successfully formed from the plastic constituents, those are recovered from waste computer products. However, lower impact performance of the blend and lower stability of the poly(vinyl chloride) phase in the recycled blend restricts its further usage in industrial purposes. Therefore, effective utilisation acrylonitrile butadiene rubber in a recycled blend was considered for improving mechanical and thermal performance. Incorporation of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber resulted in the improvement in impact performance as well as elongation-at-break of the recycled blend. The optimum impact performance was found in the blend with 9 wt% acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, which shows 363% of enhancement as compared with its parent blend. Moreover, incorporated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber also stabilises the poly(vinyl chloride) phase present in the recycled blend, similarly Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies indicate the interactions of various functionalities present in the recycled blend and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. In addition to this, thermogravimetric analysis indicates the improvement in the thermal stability of the recycled blend after the addition of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber into it. The existence of partial miscibility in the recycled blend was identified using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy.

Ternary Blend Composed of Two Organic Donors and One Acceptor for Active Layer of High-Performance Organic Solar Cells.

PubMed

Lee, Jong Won; Choi, Yoon Suk; Ahn, Hyungju; Jo, Won Ho

2016-05-04

Ternary blends composed of two donor absorbers with complementary absorptions provide an opportunity to enhance the short-circuit current and thus the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells. In addition to complementary absorption of two donors, ternary blends may exhibit favorable morphology for high-performance solar cells when one chooses properly the donor pair. For this purpose, we develop a ternary blend with two donors (diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymer (PTDPP2T) and small molecule ((TDPP)2Ph)) and one acceptor (PC71BM). The solar cell made of a ternary blend with 10 wt % (TDPP)2Ph exhibits higher PCE of 7.49% as compared with the solar cells with binary blends, PTDPP2T:PC71BM (6.58%) and (TDPP)2Ph:PC71BM (3.21%). The higher PCE of the ternary blend solar cell is attributed mainly to complementary absorption of two donors. However, a further increase in (TDPP)2Ph content in the ternary blend (>10 wt %) decreases the PCE. The ternary blend with 10 wt % (TDPP)2Ph exhibits well-developed morphology with narrow-sized fibrils while the blend with 15 wt % (TDPP)2Ph shows phase separation with large-sized domains, demonstrating that the phase morphology and compatibility of ternary blend are important factors to achieve a high-performance solar cell made of ternary blends.

Dipeptide-based Polyphosphazene and Polyester Blends for Bone Tissue Engineering

PubMed Central

Deng, Meng; Nair, Lakshmi S.; Nukavarapu, Syam P.; Jiang, Tao; Kanner, William A.; Li, Xudong; Kumbar, Sangamesh G.; Weikel, Arlin L.; Krogman, Nicholas R.; Allcock, Harry R.; Laurencin, Cato T.

2010-01-01

Polyphosphazene-polyester blends are attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications due to their controllable degradation pattern with non-toxic and neutral pH degradation products. In our ongoing quest for an ideal completely miscible polyphosphazene-polyester blend system, we report synthesis and characterization of a mixed-substituent biodegradable polyphosphazene poly[(glycine ethyl glycinato)1(phenyl phenoxy)1phosphazene] (PNGEG/PhPh) and its blends with a polyester. Two dipeptide-based blends namely 25:75 (Matrix1) and 50:50 (Matrix2) were produced at two different weight ratios of PNGEG/PhPh to poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLAGA). Blend miscibility was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Both blends resulted in higher tensile modulus and strength than the polyester. The blends showed a degradation rate in the order of Matrix2 < Matrix1 < PLAGA in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C over 12 weeks. Significantly higher pH values of degradation media were observed for blends compared to PLAGA confirming the neutralization of PLAGA acidic degradation by polyphosphazene hydrolysis products. The blend components PLAGA and polyphosphazene exhibited a similar degradation pattern as characterized by the molecular weight loss. Furthermore, blends demonstrated significantly higher osteoblast growth rates compared to PLAGA while maintaining osteoblast phenotype over a 21-day culture. Both blends demonstrated improved biocompatibility in a rat subcutaneous implantation model compared to PLAGA over 12 weeks. PMID:20334909

Segmentation and Representation of Consonant Blends in Kindergarten Children's Spellings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Werfel, Krystal L.; Schuele, C. Melanie

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the growth of children's segmentation and representation of consonant blends in the kindergarten year and to evaluate the extent to which linguistic features influence segmentation and representation of consonant blends. Specifically, the roles of word position (initial blends, final blends),…

Blended Course Design: Where's the Pedagogy?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGee, Patricia

2014-01-01

Blended or hybrid course design is generally considered to involve a combination of online and classroom activities. However defining blended courses solely based on delivery mode suggests there is nothing more to a blended course than where students meet and how they use technology. Ultimately there is a risk that blended courses defined in this…

27 CFR 24.213 - Heavy bodied blending wine.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Heavy bodied blending wine..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.213 Heavy bodied blending wine. Heavy bodied blending wine is wine made for blending purposes from grapes or other fruit without...

Effects of a blended learning approach on student outcomes in a graduate-level public health course.

PubMed

Kiviniemi, Marc T

2014-03-11

Blended learning approaches, in which in-person and online course components are combined in a single course, are rapidly increasing in health sciences education. Evidence for the relative effectiveness of blended learning versus more traditional course approaches is mixed. The impact of a blended learning approach on student learning in a graduate-level public health course was examined using a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design. Exam scores and course point total data from a baseline, "traditional" approach semester (n = 28) was compared to that from a semester utilizing a blended learning approach (n = 38). In addition, student evaluations of the blended learning approach were evaluated. There was a statistically significant increase in student performance under the blended learning approach (final course point total d = 0.57; a medium effect size), even after accounting for previous academic performance. Moreover, student evaluations of the blended approach were very positive and the majority of students (83%) preferred the blended learning approach. Blended learning approaches may be an effective means of optimizing student learning and improving student performance in health sciences courses.

An Investigation into the Processing of Lexicalized English Blend Words: Evidence from Lexical Decisions and Eye Movements During Reading.

PubMed

Juhasz, Barbara J; Johnson, Rebecca L; Brewer, Jennifer

2017-04-01

New words enter the language through several word formation processes [see Simonini (Engl J 55:752-757, 1966)]. One such process, blending, occurs when two source words are combined to represent a new concept (e.g., SMOG, BRUNCH, BLOG, and INFOMERCIAL). While there have been examinations of the structure of blends [see Gries (Linguistics 42:639-667, 2004) and Lehrer (Am Speech 73:3-28, 1998)], relatively little attention has been given to how lexicalized blends are recognized and if this process differs from other types of words. In the present study, blend words were matched to non-blend control words on length, familiarity, and frequency. Two tasks were used to examine blend processing: lexical decision and sentence reading. The results demonstrated that blend words were processed differently than non-blend control words. However, the nature of the effect varied as a function of task demands. Blends were recognized slower than control words in the lexical decision task but received shorter fixation durations when embedded in sentences.

Blending of soluble corn fiber with pullulan, sorbitol, or fructose attenuates glycemic and insulinemic responses in the dog and affects hydrolytic digestion in vitro.

PubMed

de Godoy, M R C; Knapp, B K; Bauer, L L; Swanson, K S; Fahey, G C

2013-08-01

The objective of these experiments was to measure in vitro hydrolytic digestion and glycemic and insulinemic responses of select carbohydrate blends, all containing the novel carbohydrate soluble corn fiber (SCF). Two SCF that varied in their method of production were used to formulate the carbohydrate blends. One set of blends contained a SCF that was spray dried (SCFsd) and then blended with different amounts of either pullulan, sorbitol, or fructose. The other set of blends contained a SCF produced using longer evaporation time (SCF) and then blended with different ratios of pullulan, sorbitol, and fructose. Free sugar concentrations found in the individual SCFsd and SCF substrates were low but varied. Spray-dried soluble corn fiber had a reduced free sugar concentration compared with SCF (2.8 vs. 14.2%). Glucose was the main free sugar found in both SCFsd and SCF but at different concentrations (2.7 vs. 12.7%, respectively). The majority of the SCFsd blends were completely hydrolyzed to their monosaccharide components. Glucose accounted for most of the hydrolyzed monosaccharides for SCFsd and all the SCFsd blends. Hydrolyzed monosaccharide concentrations for the SCF:pullulan:sorbitol:fructose blends followed similar trends to the SCFsd blends where greater percentages of fructose and sorbitol resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) hydrolyzed monosaccharide concentrations. The SCFsd blends had intermediate to high amounts of monosaccharides released as a result of in vitro hydrolytic digestion. The SCFsd:pullulan blends were more digestible in vitro (approximately 91%; P < 0.05) than SCFsd:fructose or SCFsd:sorbitol. Total released monosaccharides were high in SCFsd blends containing either 50% fructose or sorbitol, but the combination resulted in reduced concentrations of glucose released (P < 0.05). The SCF:pullulan:sorbitol:fructose blends also had intermediate to high released monosaccharides as a result of in vitro hydrolytic digestion. All SCF blends resulted in decreased glycemic and insulinemic responses compared with the maltodextrin control (P < 0.05) using a canine model. The addition of pullulan reduced the glycemic response compared with maltodextrin at all concentrations, but only 50:50 SCFsd:pullulan resulted in a reduction of the glycemic response compared with SCFsd alone (P < 0.05). The addition of fructose and sorbitol in the blends had the greatest impact on glycemic and insulinemic responses, even at concentrations as low as 5% of the blends. Overall, SCF and their blends may prove beneficial as components of low glycemic foodstuffs.

Effect of irradiation on the prevulcanized latex/low nitrosamines latex blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ibrahim, Pairu; Zin, Wan Manshol Wan; Daik, Rusli

2015-09-25

Radiation Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex (RVNRL) was blended with Low Nitrosamines Latex (LNL) at different composition ratio. Methyl Metachrylate (MMA) was added for grafting onto the blended latex. Blended latex was subjected to gamma irradiation at various doses up to 8kGy. The mechanical properties and FTIR analysis were investigated as a function of the blended composition and irradiation dose. It was found that blending at specific ratio and gamma irradiation at specific dose led to significant improvement on the properties of the latex. The optimum mechanical properties was attained at a total blending ratio of 70% RVNRL and 30% ofmore » LNL.« less

Investigation of in-situ poly(lactic acid)/soy protein concentrate composites: Composite preparation, properties and foam application development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bo

2011-12-01

In this study, soy protein (SP), the residue of oil crushing, was used for preparation of value-added thermoplastics. Novel poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/soy protein concentrate (SPC) blends were investigated and foaming of the resulting blends was developed. PLA/SPC blends were prepared by twin-screw extrusion and test specimens by injection molding. Unlike the practice elsewhere SP was used as a filler in mixing with other polymers, SPC was processed as a plastic component in blending process in this work. Processing SPC as plastic component, water played an important role in terms of the deformability and the morphology of SP thus the properties of the blends. Plasticization of SP, compatibilization of the blends and structure-property relationship of the PLA/SPC blends were studied. In the literature water and glycerol were often used together in preparing SP plastics or plastic blends, but this study found that this traditional combination did not provide the best results in terms of morphology and mechanical properties. Water is only recommended in plasticizing SP in the blends. This study showed water as a plasticizer was a domain factor on control of morphology and properties of PLA/SPC blends. The due to the evaporation of water after extrusion, SP domain lost its deformability thus resulted in in-situ composites. Interconnected SPC phase structure was achieved by control water content in the pre-formulated SPC and SPC content in the blends. A novel dual compatibilization method was developed to improve the properties of PLA/SPC blends. Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) was used to improve the dispersion of SPC in the blending stage, and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate was used to improve the interfacial adhesion between SPC and PLA in the subsequent processing. The result showed excellent mechanical properties and improved thermal properties of PLA/SPC blends. Using processing aids is an effective way to decrease processing temperature and thermal degradation of PLA/SPC blends. Interfacial adhesion and chemical blowing agent (CBA) played important roles in extrusion foaming PLA/SPC blends. The interconnected SPC particles provided a convenient passage for gas escape due to the weak adhesion between PLA melt and SPC, especially when CBA content was high. Strong interfacial adhesion is necessary to prevent gas escape and get low density foam at low CBA content. The new findings in this work contribute to the knowledgebase of polymer blends and composites. The findings in this work and implementation of the investigation of preparation and properties of PLA/SP blends set up a framework for future research and development of similar natural polymer blends and will contribute to the commercialization of natural polymer based polymer blends such as starch and sugar beet pulp.

Apparatus for blending small particles

DOEpatents

Bradley, R.A.; Reese, C.R.; Sease, J.D.

1975-08-26

An apparatus is described for blending small particles and uniformly loading the blended particles in a receptacle. Measured volumes of various particles are simultaneously fed into a funnel to accomplish radial blending and then directed onto the apex of a conical splitter which collects the blended particles in a multiplicity of equal subvolumes. Thereafter the apparatus sequentially discharges the subvolumes for loading in a receptacle. A system for blending nuclear fuel particles and loading them into fuel rod molds is described in a preferred embodiment. (auth)

Water resistance and thermal properties of polyvinyl alcohol-starch fiber blend film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salleh, M. S. N.; Nor, N. N. Mohamed; Mohd, N.; Draman, S. F. Syed

2017-02-01

The growing attention of starch fiber (SF) has led to the innovation of Polyvinyl Alcohol-SF (PVA-SF) blends. This blend is regarded as the biodegradable material which aims to reduce the accumulation of synthetic polymer solid waste derived from petroleum. In this study, the thermal blending characterizations of PVA-SF were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The water resistance of the blend was also evaluated to study the polarity of the blends. The blend was prepared by plasticizing the polyvinyl alcohol with glycerol and distilled water with the addition of starch fiber. The incorporation of SF to the blends was at 10 wt% to 50 wt% composition. Based on the thermal analysis, PVA-SF blends were suitable for processing at high temperatures, which can be seen by the shifted onset degradation temperature to a higher temperature. This is because cyclic hemiacetals which were provided by SF can act to prevent the thermal attacks. Conversely, increasing the starch fiber proportion to the film blend reduce the endothermic peak amplitude in the DSC thermogram. It was found that PVA-SF blend at the higher composition of SF had the highest water resistance. This may be attributed to the content of fibre in SF which is hydrophilic.

Improvement of toughness and water resistance of bioplastic based on wheat gluten using epoxidized natural rubber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemsri, S.; Thongpin, C.; Somkid, P.; Sae-arma, S.; Paiykaew, A.

2015-07-01

Novel blends based on wheat gluten (WG) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) were fabricated with different ENR contents of 10, 20 and 30 wt% in an internal mixer. Sulfur vulcanization was used to crosslink the ENR phase in the blends. Comparatively, blends of WG and natural rubber (WG/NR) were prepared in the same condition as the WG/ENR blends. Tensile mechanical properties and impact strength of the WG/ENR blends were investigated and compared with the WG/NR blends as well as pure WG. Moreover, water absorption of pure WG and the WG/ENR blends was also tested. As investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the results revealed more compatibility between WG and ENR compared with NR. The elongation at break, impact strength and water resistance of the WG/ENR blends were found to remarkably increase with respect to the pure WG. Thus, incorporation of ENR into WG could improve toughness and water resistance of WG. Furthermore, the effect of adding glycerol acting as a plasticizer on the mechanical properties and impact strength of the WG/ENR blends was also studied. The blends with glycerol-plasticized WG (WG-Gly/ENR) showed more homogeneous morphologies and superior results in the mechanical properties and impact strength compared with the WG/ENR blends.

Polymeric Endoaortic Paving (PEAP): Mechanical, Thermoforming, and Degradation Properties of Polycaprolactone/Polyurethane Blends for Cardiovascular Applications

PubMed Central

Ashton, John H.; Mertz, James A. M.; Harper, John L.; Slepian, Marvin J.; Mills, Joseph L.; McGrath, Dominic V.; Vande Geest, Jonathan P.

2010-01-01

Polymeric endoaortic paving (PEAP) is a process by which a polymer is endovascularly delivered and thermoformed to coat or “pave” the lumen of the aorta. This method may offer an improvement to conventional endoaortic therapy in allowing conformal graft application with reduced risk of endoleak and customization to complex patient geometries. Polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyurethane (PU) blends of various blend ratios were assessed as a potential material for PEAP by characterizing their mechanical, thermoforming, and degradation properties. Biaxial tension testing revealed that the blends' stiffness is similar to that of aortic tissue, is higher for blends with more PCL content, and may be affected by thermoforming and degradation. Tubes of blends were able to maintain a higher diameter increase after thermoforming at higher PCL content and higher heating temperatures; 50/50 blend tubes heated to 55°C were able to maintain 90% of the diameter increase applied. Delamination forces of the blends ranged from 41 to 235 N/m2. In a Pseudomonas lipase solution, the 50/50 blend had a 94% lower degradation rate than pure PCL, and the 10/90 blend exhibited no degradation. These results indicate that PEAP, consisting of a PCL/PU blend, may be useful in developing the next generation of endoaortic therapy. PMID:20832506

Biomimetic, bioactive etheric polyphosphazene-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) blends for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Deng, Meng; Nair, Lakshmi S; Nukavarapu, Syam P; Kumbar, Sangamesh G; Brown, Justin L; Krogman, Nicholas R; Weikel, Arlin L; Allcock, Harry R; Laurencin, Cato T

2010-01-01

The long-term goal of this work is to develop biomimetic polymer-based systems for bone regeneration that both allow for neutral pH degradation products and have the ability to nucleate bonelike apatite. In this study, the etheric biodegradable polyphosphazene, poly[(50%ethyl glycinato)(50%methoxyethoxyethoxy)phosphazene] (PNEG(50)MEEP(50)) was blended with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) PLAGA and studied their ability to produce high-strength degradable biomaterials with bioactivity. Accordingly, two blends with weight ratios of PNEG(50)MEEP(50) to PLAGA 25:75 (BLEND25) and 50:50 (BLEND50) were fabricated using a mutual solvent approach. Increases in PNEG(50)MEEP(50) content in the blend system resulted in decreased elastic modulus of 779 MPa when compared with 1684 MPa (PLAGA) as well as tensile strength 7.9 MPa when compared with 25.7 MPa (PLAGA). However, the higher PNEG(50)MEEP(50) content in the blend system resulted in higher Ca/P atomic ratio of the apatite layer 1.35 (BLEND50) when compared with 0.69 (BLEND25) indicating improved biomimicry. Furthermore, these blends supported primary rat osteoblast adhesion and proliferation with an enhanced phenotypic expression when compared with PLAGA. These findings establish the suitability of PNEG(50)MEEP(50)-PLAGA biodegradable blends as promising bioactive materials for orthopedic applications.

Effect of blend ratio of PP/kapok blend nonwoven fabrics on oil sorption capacity.

PubMed

Lee, Young-Hee; Kim, Ji-Soo; Kim, Do-Hyung; Shin, Min-Seung; Jung, Young-Jin; Lee, Dong-Jin; Kim, Han-Do

2013-01-01

More research and development on novel oil sorbent materials is needed to protect the environmental pollution. New nonwoven fabrics (pads) of polypropylene (PP)/kapok blends (blend ratio: 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 10/90) were prepared by needle punching process at a fixed (optimized) condition (punch density: 50 punches/cm2 and depth: 4mm). This study focused on the effect of blend ratio of PP/kapok nonwoven fabrics on oil sorption capacities to find the best blend ratio having the highest synergy effect. The PP/kapok blend (50/50) sample has the lowest bulk density and showed the best oil absorption capacity. The oil sorption capacity of PP/kapok blend (50/50) nonwoven fabric for kerosene/soybean oil [21.09/27.01 (g oil/g sorbent)] was 1.5-2 times higher than those of commercial PP pad oil sorbents. The highest synergy effect of PP/kapok blend (50/50) was ascribed to the lowest bulk density of PP/kapok blend (50/50), which might be due to the highest morphologically incompatibility between PP fibre and kapok. These results suggest that the PP/kapok blend (50/50) having the highest synergy effect has a high potential as a new high-performance oil sorbent material.

Characterization of interfaces in Binary and Ternary Polymer Blends by Positron Lifetime Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranganathaiah, C.

2015-06-01

A miscible blend is a single-phase system with compact packing of the polymeric chains/segments due configuration/conformational changes upon blending. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is the most employed method to ascertain whether the blend is miscible or immiscible. Positron Lifetime Spectroscopy (PLS) has been employed in recent times to study miscibility properties of polymer blends by monitoring the ortho-Positronium annihilation lifetimes as function of composition. However, just free volume monitoring and the DSC methods fail to provide the composition dependent miscibility of blends. To overcome this limitation, an alternative approach based on hydrodynamic interactions has been developed to derive this information using the same o-Ps lifetime measurements. This has led to the development of a new method of measuring composition dependent miscibility level in binary and ternary polymer blends. Further, the new method also provides interface characteristics for immiscible blends. The interactions between the blend components has a direct bearing on the strength of adhesion at the interface and hence the hydrodynamic interaction. Understanding the characteristic of interfaces which decides the miscibility level of the blend and their end applications is made easy by the present method. The efficacy of the present method is demonstrated for few binary and ternary blends.

Design Principles for the Blend in Blended Learning: A Collective Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lai, Ming; Lam, Kwok Man; Lim, Cher Ping

2016-01-01

This paper reports on a collective case study of three blended courses taught by different instructors in a higher education institution, with the purpose of identifying the different types of blend and how the blend supports student learning. Based on the instructors' and students' interviews, and document analysis of course outlines, two major…

Preparation of Starch/Gelatin Blend Microparticles by a Water-in-Oil Emulsion Method for Controlled Release Drug Delivery.

PubMed

Phromsopha, Theeraphol; Baimark, Yodthong

2014-01-01

Information on the preparation and properties of starch/gelatin blend microparticles with and without crosslinking for drug delivery is presented. The blend microparticles were prepared by the water-in-oil emulsion solvent diffusion method. Glutaraldehyde and methylene blue were used as the crosslinker and the water-soluble drug model, respectively. The blend microparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functional groups of the starch and gelatin blend matrices were determined from the FTIR spectra. Blend microparticles with a nearly spherical shape and internal porous structure were observed from SEM images. The average particle size of the gelatin microparticles depended on the crosslinker ratio but not on the starch/gelatin blend ratio. The in vitro drug release content significantly decreased as the crosslinker ratio increased and the starch blend ratio decreased. The results demonstrated that the starch/gelatin blend microparticles should be a useful controlled release delivery carrier for water-soluble drugs.

Preparation of Starch/Gelatin Blend Microparticles by a Water-in-Oil Emulsion Method for Controlled Release Drug Delivery

PubMed Central

Phromsopha, Theeraphol; Baimark, Yodthong

2014-01-01

Information on the preparation and properties of starch/gelatin blend microparticles with and without crosslinking for drug delivery is presented. The blend microparticles were prepared by the water-in-oil emulsion solvent diffusion method. Glutaraldehyde and methylene blue were used as the crosslinker and the water-soluble drug model, respectively. The blend microparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functional groups of the starch and gelatin blend matrices were determined from the FTIR spectra. Blend microparticles with a nearly spherical shape and internal porous structure were observed from SEM images. The average particle size of the gelatin microparticles depended on the crosslinker ratio but not on the starch/gelatin blend ratio. The in vitro drug release content significantly decreased as the crosslinker ratio increased and the starch blend ratio decreased. The results demonstrated that the starch/gelatin blend microparticles should be a useful controlled release delivery carrier for water-soluble drugs. PMID:24868207

Dipeptide-based polyphosphazene and polyester blends for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Deng, Meng; Nair, Lakshmi S; Nukavarapu, Syam P; Jiang, Tao; Kanner, William A; Li, Xudong; Kumbar, Sangamesh G; Weikel, Arlin L; Krogman, Nicholas R; Allcock, Harry R; Laurencin, Cato T

2010-06-01

Polyphosphazene-polyester blends are attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications due to their controllable degradation pattern with non-toxic and neutral pH degradation products. In our ongoing quest for an ideal completely miscible polyphosphazene-polyester blend system, we report synthesis and characterization of a mixed-substituent biodegradable polyphosphazene poly[(glycine ethyl glycinato)(1)(phenyl phenoxy)(1)phosphazene] (PNGEG/PhPh) and its blends with a polyester. Two dipeptide-based blends namely 25:75 (Matrix1) and 50:50 (Matrix2) were produced at two different weight ratios of PNGEG/PhPh to poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLAGA). Blend miscibility was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Both blends resulted in higher tensile modulus and strength than the polyester. The blends showed a degradation rate in the order of Matrix2

Compatibilization of HIPS/ABS blends from WEEE by using Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR).

PubMed

Vazquez, Yamila V; Barbosa, Silvia E

2018-07-01

The aim of this work is to develop compatibilization strategies for High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)/ Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) blends from WEEE in order to add value to these recycled plastics by improving their mechanical performance. Results from a screening study of HIPS/ABS blends compatibilization by the addition of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) are presented. Two different weight proportion of HIPS/ABS physical blends were analyzed, 80/20 and 20/80, with three different concentration of SBR: 2, 10 and 20 wt%. Compatibilization efficiency was analyzed from an accurate thermal and mechanical analysis, by comparing each physical blend and corresponding compatibilized blends with SBR. Results were discussed relating glass transition changes with mechanical performance, both aspects were interpreted in terms of blend morphology. Phase and fillers dispersion and distribution as well as SBR amount and its interaction with each phase were accurate analyzed. Compatibilization of HIPS/ABS blends from WEEE with the addition of SBR is effective in blends with HIPS as main component. With the addition of 2 wt% of SBR, strength and toughness have notably increased respect to the corresponding physical blend, 244% and 186% respectively. From this screening study is possible to infer that SBR is a sustainable and efficient compatibilizer of HIPS rich blends allowing to obtain a final blend that can be used as a replacement material of separated resins from WEEE. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85 and Other Ethanol-Gasoline Blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

This document provides information on ethanol fuel properties, standards, codes, best practices, and equipment information for those who blend, distribute, store, sell, or use E15 (gasoline blended with 10.5 percent - 15 percent ethanol), E85 (marketing term for ethanol-gasoline blends containing 51 percent - 83 percent ethanol, depending on geography and season), and other ethanol blends.

Optimized Co-Processing of Algae Bio-Crude through a Petroleum Refinery

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saydah, Ben; Behnke, Craig

2014-03-14

A middle distillate algal oil blend and red diesel algal oil blend from Sapphire Energy, Inc. were hydrotreated and distilled. The middle distillate feedstock blend was 8.0 wt.% biocrude and 92.0 wt.% middle distillate. The red diesel feedstock blend was 12.6 wt.% biocrude and 87.4 wt.% red diesel. During steady state, 151.4 kilograms of hydrotreated middle distillate/algal oil blend product was collected. During steady state, 312.6 kilograms of red diesel/algal oil blend hydrotreated product was collected. From the liquid product of the hydrotreated middle distillate/algal oil blend, 9.75 wt.% of the jet fuel cut is estimated to be from themore » algal oil. From the liquid product of the hydrotreated red diesel/algal oil blend, 11.3 wt.% of the diesel cut is estimated to be from the algal oil. The jet fuel cut of the middle distillate algal oil blend hydrotreated liquid product was analyzed using ASTM D1655, Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels. The diesel cut of the red diesel algal oil blend hydrotreated liquid product was analyzed using ASTM D975, Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils.« less

Blended Working: For Whom It May (Not) Work

PubMed Central

Van Yperen, Nico W.; Rietzschel, Eric F.; De Jonge, Kiki M. M.

2014-01-01

Similarly to related developments such as blended learning and blended care, blended working is a pervasive and booming trend in modern societies. Blended working combines on-site and off-site working in an optimal way to improve workers’ and organizations’ outcomes. In this paper, we examine the degree to which workers feel that the two defining features of blended working (i.e., time-independent working and location-independent working) enhance their own functioning in their jobs. Blended working, enabled through the continuing advance and improvement of high-tech ICT software, devices, and infrastructure, may be considered beneficial for workers’ perceived effectiveness because it increases their job autonomy. However, because blended working may have downsides as well, it is important to know for whom blended working may (not) work. As hypothesized, in a sample of 348 workers (51.7% women), representing a wide range of occupations and organizations, we found that the perceived personal effectiveness of blended working was contingent upon workers’ psychological need strength. Specifically, the perceived effectiveness of both time-independent working and location-independent working was positively related to individuals’ need for autonomy at work, and negatively related to their need for relatedness and need for structure at work. PMID:25033202

Blend sign predicts poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

PubMed

Li, Qi; Yang, Wen-Song; Wang, Xing-Chen; Cao, Du; Zhu, Dan; Lv, Fa-Jin; Liu, Yang; Yuan, Liang; Zhang, Gang; Xiong, Xin; Li, Rui; Hu, Yun-Xin; Qin, Xin-Yue; Xie, Peng

2017-01-01

Blend sign has been recently described as a novel imaging marker that predicts hematoma expansion. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prognostic value of CT blend sign in patients with ICH. Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours were included. The presence of blend sign on admission nonenhanced CT was independently assessed by two readers. The functional outcome was assessed by using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Blend sign was identified in 40 of 238 (16.8%) patients on admission CT scan. The proportion of patients with a poor functional outcome was significantly higher in patients with blend sign than those without blend sign (75.0% versus 47.5%, P = 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, intraventricular hemorrhage, admission GCS score, baseline hematoma volume and presence of blend sign on baseline CT independently predict poor functional outcome at 90 days. The CT blend sign independently predicts poor outcome in patients with ICH (odds ratio 3.61, 95% confidence interval [1.47-8.89];p = 0.005). Early identification of blend sign is useful in prognostic stratification and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for prospective interventional studies.

Contributions to advances in blend pellet products (BPP) research on molecular structure and molecular nutrition interaction by advanced synchrotron and globar molecular (Micro)spectroscopy.

PubMed

Guevara-Oquendo, Víctor H; Zhang, Huihua; Yu, Peiqiang

2018-04-13

To date, advanced synchrotron-based and globar-sourced techniques are almost unknown to food and feed scientists. There has been little application of these advanced techniques to study blend pellet products at a molecular level. This article aims to provide recent research on advanced synchrotron and globar vibrational molecular spectroscopy contributions to advances in blend pellet products research on molecular structure and molecular nutrition interaction. How processing induced molecular structure changes in relation to nutrient availability and utilization of the blend pellet products. The study reviews Utilization of co-product components for blend pellet product in North America; Utilization and benefits of inclusion of pulse screenings; Utilization of additives in blend pellet products; Application of pellet processing in blend pellet products; Conventional evaluation techniques and methods for blend pellet products. The study focus on recent applications of cutting-edge vibrational molecular spectroscopy for molecular structure and molecular structure association with nutrient utilization in blend pellet products. The information described in this article gives better insight on how advanced molecular (micro)spectroscopy contributions to advances in blend pellet products research on molecular structure and molecular nutrition interaction.

Effects of a blended learning approach on student outcomes in a graduate-level public health course

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Blended learning approaches, in which in-person and online course components are combined in a single course, are rapidly increasing in health sciences education. Evidence for the relative effectiveness of blended learning versus more traditional course approaches is mixed. Method The impact of a blended learning approach on student learning in a graduate-level public health course was examined using a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design. Exam scores and course point total data from a baseline, “traditional” approach semester (n = 28) was compared to that from a semester utilizing a blended learning approach (n = 38). In addition, student evaluations of the blended learning approach were evaluated. Results There was a statistically significant increase in student performance under the blended learning approach (final course point total d = 0.57; a medium effect size), even after accounting for previous academic performance. Moreover, student evaluations of the blended approach were very positive and the majority of students (83%) preferred the blended learning approach. Conclusions Blended learning approaches may be an effective means of optimizing student learning and improving student performance in health sciences courses. PMID:24612923

Identification of a New Blend of Host Fruit Volatiles from Red Downy Hawthorn, Crataegus mollis, Attractive to Rhagoletis pomonella Flies from the Northeastern United States.

PubMed

Cha, Dong H; Powell, Thomas H Q; Feder, Jeffrey L; Linn, Charles E

2018-06-20

A new blend of volatiles was identified for the fruit of downy red hawthorn, Crataegus mollis, that is attractive to Rhagoletis pomonella flies infesting this host in the northeastern USA. The new blend was as attractive as the previously identified mixture but is more complex in the number of odorants (six in the old versus ten in the new) and differs significantly in the ratio of three volatiles, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, butyl hexanoate, and dihydro-β-ionone, that are common to both blends and exerted agonist or antagonist effects on behavior in a flight tunnel assay. However, behavioral results with the old and new northern hawthorn blends, as well as modified blends with substituted ratios of 3-methylbutan-1-ol, butyl hexanoate, dihydro-β-ionone, indicated that the 'agonist' or 'antagonist' effects of these volatiles depended on the ratio, or balance of compounds within the blend. In addition, the new blend contains a number of esters identified from the headspace of domesticated apple, Malus domestica, that are attractive to apple-origin R. pomonella, and present in the five other blends from southern hawthorns, including the southern C. mollis var. texana blend, but are not part of the previously identified blend from northern C. mollis fruit. This finding supports the hypothesis that in addition to providing specificity to the odor blends of the northern and southern hawthorn populations, the presence of the significant amounts of ester compounds in the new northern hawthorn blend might have provided a source of standing variation that could help explain the shift in host preference by C. mollis-infesting flies to introduced apple in the mid-1800's.

Effect of reactive agent and transesterification catalyst on properties of PLA/PBAT blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pitivut, S.; Suttiruengwong, S.; Seadan, M.

2015-07-01

This research aimed to study the properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends with two different reactive systems: free radical reaction through peroxide (Perkadox) and transesterification catalyst (tetrabutyl titanate; TBT). Two blends composed of PLA as a matrix phase with the composition of 80 and 70 percent by weight. PLA/PBAT blends with Perkadox were prepared in twin screw extruder, whereas PLA/PBAT blends with TBT were prepared in an internal mixer. The morphology of the blends was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tensile and impact testingsof the blends were reported. In case of the blends with Perkadox, SEM micrographs revealed that the size of particles was substantially reduced when adding more Perkadox. Young's modulus and the tensile strength of all blend ratios were insignificantly changed, whereas the elongation at break was decreased when compared to non-reactive blends due to the possible crosslinking reaction as observed from melt flow index (MFI) values. When adding Perkadox, the impact strength of PLA/PBAT (80/20) remained almost unchanged. However, the impact strength of PLA/PBAT (70/30) was enhanced, increasing to 110% for 0.05 phr Perkadox. In case of the blends with TBT, SEM micrographs showed the decrease in the particle size of PBAT phase when adding TBT. Young's modulus and the tensile strength of all blend ratios were not different, but the elongation at break was improved when adding TBT owing to the transesterification reaction. For PLA/PBAT (80/20), the elongation at break was increased by 39%, whereas the elongation at break was increased by 15% for PLA/PLA (70/30). The impact strength of all blend ratios unaffected.

27 CFR 24.213 - Heavy bodied blending wine.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.213 Heavy bodied blending wine. Heavy bodied blending wine is wine made for blending purposes from grapes or other fruit without...

27 CFR 24.213 - Heavy bodied blending wine.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.213 Heavy bodied blending wine. Heavy bodied blending wine is wine made for blending purposes from grapes or other fruit without...

27 CFR 24.213 - Heavy bodied blending wine.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.213 Heavy bodied blending wine. Heavy bodied blending wine is wine made for blending purposes from grapes or other fruit without...

27 CFR 24.213 - Heavy bodied blending wine.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.213 Heavy bodied blending wine. Heavy bodied blending wine is wine made for blending purposes from grapes or other fruit without...

[Research on whole blending end-point evaluation method of Angong Niuhuang Wan based on QbD concept].

PubMed

Liu, Xiao-Na; Zheng, Qiu-Sheng; Che, Xiao-Qing; Wu, Zhi-Sheng; Qiao, Yan-Jiang

2017-03-01

The blending end-point determination of Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNH) is a key technology problem. The control strategy based on quality by design (QbD) concept proposes a whole blending end-point determination method, and provides a methodology for blending the Chinese materia medica containing mineral substances. Based on QbD concept, the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to assess the cinnabar, realgar and pearl powder blending of AGNH in a pilot-scale experiment, especially the whole blending end-point in this study. The blending variability of three mineral medicines including cinnabar, realgar and pearl powder, was measured by moving window relative standard deviation (MWRSD) based on LIBS. The time profiles of realgar and pearl powder did not produce consistent results completely, but all of them reached even blending at the last blending stage, so that the whole proposal blending end point was determined. LIBS is a promising Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for process control. Unlike other elemental determination technologies such ICP-OES, LIBS does not need an elaborate digestion procedure, which is a promising and rapid technique to understand the blending process of Chinese materia medica (CMM) containing cinnabar, realgar and other mineral traditional Chinese medicine. This study proposed a novel method for the research of large varieties of traditional Chinese medicines.. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

40 CFR 80.599 - How do I calculate volume balances for designation purposes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) The following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene and the blending... following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene, the blending of non...

40 CFR 80.599 - How do I calculate volume balances for designation purposes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) The following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene and the blending... following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene, the blending of non...

40 CFR 80.599 - How do I calculate volume balances for designation purposes?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) The following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene and the blending... following calculation may be used to account for wintertime blending of kerosene, the blending of non...

Radiation crosslinking of styrene-butadiene rubber containing waste tire rubber and polyfunctional monomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasin, Tariq; Khan, Sara; Shafiq, Muhammad; Gill, Rohama

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of polyfunctional monomers (PFMs) and absorbed dose on the final characteristics of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) mixed with waste tire rubber (WTR). A series of SBR/WTR blends were prepared by varying the ratios of WTR in the presence of PFMs, namely trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) and crosslinked using gamma rays. The physicochemical characteristics of the prepared blends were investigated. It was observed that tensile strength, hardness and gel content of the blends increased with absorbed dose while the blends containing TMPTA showed higher tensile strength, gel content and thermal stability as compared to the blends containing TMPTMA. Higher thermal stability was observed in the blends which were crosslinked by radiation as compared to the blends crosslinked by sulfur. These blends exhibited higher rate of swelling in organic solvents, whereas negligible swelling was observed in acidic and basic environment.

Separation of n-hexane/acetone mixtures by pervaporation using high density polyethylene/ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber blend membranes.

PubMed

Kumar, P V Anil; Anilkumar, S; Varughese, K T; Thomas, Sabu

2012-01-15

Polymer membranes were prepared by blending high density polyethylene (HDPE) with ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM). These blend membranes were evaluated for the selective separation of n-hexane from acetone. The flux and selectivity of the membranes were determined both as a function of the blend composition and feed mixture composition. Results showed that polymer blending method could be very useful to develop new membranes with improved selectivity. Pervaporation properties could be optimized by adjusting the blend composition. The effects of blend ratio, feed composition, and penetrant size on the pervaporation process were analyzed. The permeation properties have been explained on the basis of interaction between the membrane and solvents and blend morphology. Flux increases with increasing alkane content in the feed composition. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear-programming mathematical modeling of coal blending for power plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tang Longhua; Zhou Junhu; Yao Qiang

At present most of the blending works are guided by experience or linear-programming (LP) which can not reflect the coal complicated characteristics properly. Experimental and theoretical research work shows that most of the coal blend properties can not always be measured as a linear function of the properties of the individual coals in the blend. The authors introduced nonlinear functions or processes (including neural network and fuzzy mathematics), established on the experiments directed by the authors and other researchers, to quantitatively describe the complex coal blend parameters. Finally nonlinear-programming (NLP) mathematical modeling of coal blend is introduced and utilized inmore » the Hangzhou Coal Blending Center. Predictions based on the new method resulted in different results from the ones based on LP modeling. The authors concludes that it is very important to introduce NLP modeling, instead of NL modeling, into the work of coal blending.« less

Using Blended Teaching to Teach Blended Learning: Lessons Learned from Pre-Service Teachers in an Instructional Methods Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shand, Kristen; Farrelly, Susan Glassett

2017-01-01

In this study, we explore the design and delivery of a blended social studies teaching methods course to examine the elements of the blended design that pre-service teachers found most constructive. In focus groups at the completion of the course, pre-service teachers were asked to reflect on their experience in the blended course, identify the…

Concurrent Timbres in Orchestration: a Perceptual Study of Factors Determining "blend"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sandell, Gregory John

Orchestration often involves selecting instruments for concurrent presentation, as in melodic doubling or chords. One evaluation of the aural outcome of such choices is along the continuum of "blend": whether the instruments fuse into a single composite timbre, segregate into distinct timbral entities, or fall somewhere in between the two extremes. This study investigates, through perceptual experimentation, the acoustical correlates of blend for 15 natural-sounding orchestral instruments presented in concurrently-sounding pairs (e.g. flute-cello, trumpet -oboe, etc.). Ratings of blend showed primary effects for centroid (the location of the midpoint of the spectral energy distribution) and duration of the onset for the tones. Lower average values of both centroid and onset duration for a pair of tones led to increased blends, as did closeness in value for the two factors. Blend decreased (instruments segregated) with higher average values or increased difference in value for the two factors. The musical interval of presentation slightly affected the relative importance of these two mechanisms, with unison intervals determined more by lower average centroid, and minor thirds determined more by closeness in centroid. The contribution of onset in general was slightly more pronounced in the unison conditions than in the minor third condition. Additional factors contributing to blend were correlation of amplitude and centroid envelopes (blend increased as temporal patterns rose and fell in synchrony) and similarity in the overall amount of fundamental frequency perturbation (decreased blend with increasing jitter from both tones). To confirm the importance of centroid as an independent factor determining blend, pairs of tones including instruments with artificially changed centroids were rated for blend. Judgments for several versions of the same instrument pair showed that blend decreased as the altered instrument increased in centroid, corroborating the earlier experiments. Other factors manipulated were amplitude level and the degree of inharmonicity. A survey of orchestration manuals showed many illustrations of "blending" combinations of instruments that were consistent with the results of these experiments. This study's acoustically-based guidelines for blend augment instance-based methods of traditional orchestration teaching, providing underlying abstractions helpful for evaluating the blend of arbitrary combinations of instruments.

Effectiveness of a blended learning course and flipped classroom in first year anaesthesia training.

PubMed

Marchalot, Antoine; Dureuil, Bertrand; Veber, Benoit; Fellahi, Jean-Luc; Hanouz, Jean-Luc; Dupont, Hervé; Lorne, Emmanuel; Gerard, Jean-Louis; Compère, Vincent

2017-11-22

Blended learning, which combines internet-based platform and lecturing, is used in anaesthesiology and critical care teaching. However, the benefits of this method remain unclear. We conducted a prospective, multicentre, non-randomised work between 2007 and 2014 to study the effect of blended learning on the results of first year anaesthesia and critical care residents in comparison with traditional teaching. Blended learning was implemented in Rouen University Hospital in 2011 and residents affiliated to this university corresponded as the blended learning group. The primary outcome was the resident's results as measured with multiple-choice questions between blended learning and control groups after beginning blended learning (post-interventional stage). The secondary outcomes included residents' results between pre and post-interventional stages and homework's time. Moreover, comparison between control and blended learning group before beginning blended learning (pre-interventional stage) was performed. From 2007 to 2014, 308 residents were included. For the pre-interventional period, the mean score in the blended learning group (n=53) was 176 (CI 95% 163 to 188) whereas the mean score in the control group (n=106) was 167 (CI 95% 160 to 174) (no difference). For the post-interventional period, the mean score in blended learning group (n=54) was 232 on 300 (CI95% 227-237) whereas the mean score in the control group (n=95) is 215 (CI95% 209-220) (P<0.001). In the two groups, comparison between pre and post-interventional stages showed the increase of mean score, stronger for blended learning group (32% and 28% in blended learning and control group, P<0.05). The average time of homework in the blended learning group was 27h (CI 95% 18.2-35.8) and 10h in the control group (CI 95% 2-18) (P<0.05). This work suggests the positive effect of blended learning (associating internet-based learning and flipped classroom) on the anaesthesia and critical care residents' knowledge by increasing their homework's time. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

[Blending powdered antineoplastic medicine in disposable ointment container].

PubMed

Miyazaki, Yasunori; Uchino, Tomonobu; Kagawa, Yoshiyuki

2014-01-01

On dispensing powdered antineoplastic medicines, it is important to prevent cross-contamination and environmental exposure. Recently, we developed a method for blending powdered medicine in a disposable ointment container using a planetary centrifugal mixer. The disposable container prevents cross-contamination. In addition, environmental exposure associated with washing the apparatus does not arise because no blending blade is used. In this study, we aimed to confirm the uniformity of the mixture and weight loss of medicine in the blending procedure. We blended colored lactose powder with Leukerin(®) or Mablin(®) powders using the new method and the ordinary pestle and mortar method. Then, the blending state was monitored using image analysis. Blending variables, such as the blending ratio (1:9-9:1), container size (35-125 mL), and charging rate (20-50%) in the container were also investigated under the operational conditions of 500 rpm and 50 s. At a 20% charging rate in a 35 mL container, the blending precision of the mixtures was not influenced by the blending ratio, and was less than 6.08%, indicating homogeneity. With an increase in the charging rate, however, the blending precision decreased. The possible amount of both mixtures rose to about 17 g with a 20% charging rate in a 125 mL container. Furthermore, weight loss of medicines with this method was smaller than that with the pestle and mortar method, suggesting that this method is safer for pharmacists. In conclusion, we have established a precise and safe method for blending powdered medicines in pharmacies.

Early-Stage Estimated Value of Blend Sign on the Prognosis of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Zhou, Ningquan; Wang, Chao

2018-01-01

Background and Purpose This study aimed to explore the relationship between blend sign and prognosis of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods Between January 2014 and December 2016, the results of cranial computed tomography imaging within 24 h after the onset of symptoms from 275 patients with ICH were retrospectively analyzed. The patients with or without blend sign were compared to observe and analyze the difference in coagulation function abnormality, rebleeding, mortality, and bad prognosis rates in the early stages. Results Of the 275 patients with ICH, 47 patients had Blend Sign I (17.09%) and 17 patients had Blend Sign II (6.18%). The coagulation function abnormality rate had no statistical difference among Blend Sign I, Blend Sign II, and conventional groups (P > 0.05). In the Blend Sign I group, the rebleeding rate was 4.26%, bad prognosis rate was 25.53%, and mortality rate was 6.38%, which were not statistically significantly different compared with those in the conventional group (P > 0.05). The rebleeding rate in the Blend Sign II group was 47.06%, bad prognosis rate was 82.35%, and mortality rate was 47.06%, which were statistically significantly different compared with those in the conventional and Blend Sign I groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions For the patients associated with Blend Sign I, the prognosis was equivalent to that in the conventional group, with no statistically significant difference. The rebleeding, bad prognosis, and mortality rates were higher in the Blend Sign II group than in the conventional group and deserved more attention.

Blending Velocities In Task Space In Computing Robot Motions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volpe, Richard A.

1995-01-01

Blending of linear and angular velocities between sequential specified points in task space constitutes theoretical basis of improved method of computing trajectories followed by robotic manipulators. In method, generalized velocity-vector-blending technique provides relatively simple, common conceptual framework for blending linear, angular, and other parametric velocities. Velocity vectors originate from straight-line segments connecting specified task-space points, called "via frames" and represent specified robot poses. Linear-velocity-blending functions chosen from among first-order, third-order-polynomial, and cycloidal options. Angular velocities blended by use of first-order approximation of previous orientation-matrix-blending formulation. Angular-velocity approximation yields small residual error, quantified and corrected. Method offers both relative simplicity and speed needed for generation of robot-manipulator trajectories in real time.

Evaluation and implementation of a soil blending application

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Honerlah, H.; Sendra, D.; Zafran, A.

2007-07-01

With the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issuing guidance on the 'Use of Intentional Mixing of Contaminated Soil' (SECY-04-0035) dated 1 March 2004, an opportunity to blend higher level radiologically contaminated soils with that of lower activity from the Colonie Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) site became available. Shaw Environmental, under contract with United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to remediate the Colonie site, was tasked to blend soils of higher radioactivity (> 6.29 Bq/g or 170 pCi/g) concentration with soils of lower radioactivity concentration (< 6.29 Bq/g or 170 pCi/g). A mass balance formula approach was usedmore » to determine the proper soil blending ratio. This blending process enabled soils to meet the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) of a specific disposal facility. All blended waste streams were treated to stabilize lead, removing the hazardous waste code D008, and to meet appropriate Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements and land disposal restrictions. The initial blending on-site was conducted with a 2,485 m{sup 3} (3,250 yd{sup 3}) stockpile of higher concentration soils being blended with lower concentration soils. The lower concentration soils were excavated, staged and sampled into 191 m{sup 3} (250 yd{sup 3}) stockpiles. The ratio for this blending was based on the average radiological concentration of the large stockpile being blended and average concentrations of the individual 191 m{sup 3} (250 yd{sup 3}) piles of lower radiological concentration using a mass balance approach. Once a new 191 m{sup 3} (250 yd{sup 3}) stockpile was created with blended soils it was sampled to insure it met the WAC of Facility A. After the large stockpile had been successfully blended and additional in-situ soils of higher concentration were excavated, they were blended using a similar mass balance approach. For the newly excavated soils, each of the individual piles radiological concentrations was used to determine the specific blending ratio. The blending process took place to lower the disposal costs for the project. By sending the soils to Facility A (RCRA part C permitted) vs. Facility B (Part 61 NRC licensed), a cost savings of over 1.56 million dollars was realized. Prior to commencing the blending of soils, USACE coordinated discussions with appropriate state and federal governmental organizations. (authors)« less

Fabrication of chitosan/polyacrylonitrile blend and semi-IPN hydrogel with epichlorohydrin

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aijaz, Muhammad Omer; Haider, Sajjad, E-mail: shaider@ksu.edu.sa; Al Mubddel, Fahad S.

2015-05-22

The present study is focused on the preparation of chitosan (CS)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blend and semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN). Blend CS/PAN hydrogel films (HFs) were prepared by solution blending and casting technique. CS in the blend was crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (ECH) to prepare sIPN. The developed CS/PAN blend and sIPN hydrogels were characterized with Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermagravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The result showed good miscibility between CS and PAN and crosslinking of CS in the blend. The swelling of the different blended and sIPN hydrogels samples were examinedmore » at room temperature (T{sub r}). Blend (C80/P20) sample showed highest swelling (∼2400%) and fair degree of stability (∼28% until 96 h), whereas sIPN hydrogel exhibited relatively low degree of swelling (∼244%) and high degree of aqueous (∼85 % until 96 h), and thermal (onset temperature 304°C) stabilities.« less

A poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate blend monolith with nanoscale porous structure

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

A stimuli-responsive poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) blend monolith with nanoscale porous (mesoporous) structure is successfully fabricated by thermally impacted non-solvent induced phase separation (TINIPS) method. The PVA/SA blend monolith with different SA contents is conveniently fabricated in an aqueous methanol without any templates. The solvent suitable for the fabrication of the present blend monolith by TINIPS is different with that of the PVA monolith. The nanostructural control of the blend monolith is readily achieved by optimizing the fabrication conditions. Brunauer Emmett Teller measurement shows that the obtained blend monolith has a large surface area. Pore size distribution plot for the blend monolith obtained by the non-local density functional theory method reveals the existence of the nanoscale porous structure. Fourier transform infrared analysis reveals the strong interactions between PVA and SA. The pH-responsive property of the blend monolith is investigated on the basis of swelling ratio in different pH solutions. The present blend monolith of biocompatible and biodegradable PVA and SA with nanoscale porous structure has large potential for applications in biomedical and environmental fields. PMID:24093494

Emissions characteristics of a diesel engine operating on biodiesel and biodiesel blended with ethanol and methanol.

PubMed

Zhu, Lei; Cheung, C S; Zhang, W G; Huang, Zhen

2010-01-15

Euro V diesel fuel, pure biodiesel and biodiesel blended with 5%, 10% and 15% of ethanol or methanol were tested on a 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated direct-injection diesel engine. Experiments were conducted under five engine loads at a steady speed of 1800 r/min. The study aims to investigate the effects of the blended fuels on reducing NO(x) and particulate. On the whole, compared with Euro V diesel fuel, the blended fuels could lead to reduction of both NO(x) and PM of a diesel engine, with the biodiesel-methanol blends being more effective than the biodiesel-ethanol blends. The effectiveness of NO(x) and particulate reductions is more effective with increase of alcohol in the blends. With high percentage of alcohol in the blends, the HC, CO emissions could increase and the brake thermal efficiency might be slightly reduced but the use of 5% blends could reduce the HC and CO emissions as well. With the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), the HC, CO and particulate emissions can be further reduced. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of blending on the properties of diesel and palm biodiesel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bukkarapu, Kiran Raj; Srinivas Rahul, T.; Kundla, Sivaji; Vishnu Vardhan, G.

2018-03-01

Palm biodiesel is blended to diesel in different volume percentages to improve certain properties. This would help in having a good understanding of the dependence of the diesel properties on the biodiesel proportion. The properties of interest in the present work are density, kinematic viscosity, flash point and fire point of the blends which are determined and compared to petrodiesel. It is observed that the kinematic viscosity and density of the diesel increase with the palm biodiesel proportion and it is not preferable. Blends with higher palm content possess higher flash point and fire point. Apparently, blending worsens the conditions and hence might be of no use when compared to diesel, but when compared to neat palm biodiesel, blending helped in pulling down the density, viscosity, fire point and flash point of the latter. Using regression analysis and the properties data of respective blends, correlations are developed to predict the properties of diesel and biodiesel blends known the percentage of biodiesel added to diesel, which are validated using biodiesel and diesel blends which are not used as an input to develop them.

PLA and single component silicone rubber blends for sub-zero temperature blown film packaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meekum, Utai; Khiansanoi, Apichart

2018-06-01

The poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blend with single component silicone rubber in the presence of reactive amino silane coupling agent and polyester polyols plasticizer were studied. The manufacturing of film packaging for sub-zero temperature applications from the PLA blend was the main objective. The mechanical properties, especially the impact strengths, of PLA/silicone blends were significantly depended on the silicone loading. The outstanding impact strengths, tested at sub-zero temperature, of the blend having silicone content of 8.0 phr was achieved. It was chosen as the best candidate for the processability improvement. Adding the talc filler into the PLA/silicone blend to enhance the rheological properties was investigated. The ductility of the talc filled blends were decreased with increasing the filler contents. However, the shear viscosity of the blend was raised with talc loading. The blend loaded with 40 phr of talc filler was justified as the optimal formula for the blown film process testing and it was successfully performed with a few difficulties. The obtained blown film showed relative good flexibility in comparison with LDPE but it has low transparency.

PLA and two components silicon rubber blends aiming for frozen foods packaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meekum, Utai; Khiansanoi, Apichart

2018-03-01

Designing of PLA and two components silicone rubber blends was studies. Frozen food packaging application is the main ultimate aim. The statistical method using 23 DOE was conducted. The standard testing methods, in particular impact testing at sub-zero temperature, were performed. The preliminary blend formula comprised 1.0 phr of silane and polyester polyols, respectively, was initially resolved. Then, the optimize the silicone portion in the blends was determined. Blending formula using 8.0 phr of silicone with respect to PLA matrix gave rise to the overall satisfactory properties. 3. TETA was used as the silicone curing agent and reactively blended onto the ingredients. TETA at 0.4 phr, with respect to the silicone, enhanced the mechanical properties, especially flexibility and toughness, of the PLA/silicone blend. Exceeding the optimal TETA loading would cause the chain scission and also the dilution effects. Hence, marginal inferior properties of the blends were be experienced. The preliminary biodegradability investigation found that the PLA/silicone blend initially triggered at the second week. Its degradation rate was likely to be faster than neat PLA.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of biodegradable starch/PVA composite films reinforced with cellulosic fibre.

PubMed

Priya, Bhanu; Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Pathania, Deepak; Singha, Amar Singh

2014-08-30

Cellulosic fibres reinforced composite blend films of starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by using citric acid as plasticizer and glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker. The mechanical properties of cellulosic fibres reinforced composite blend were compared with starch/PVA crossed linked blend films. The increase in the tensile strength, elongation percentage, degree of swelling and biodegradability of blend films was evaluated as compared to starch/PVA crosslinked blend films. The value of different evaluated parameters such as citric acid, glutaraldehyde and reinforced fibre to starch/PVA (5:5) was found to be 25 wt.%, 0.100 wt.% and 20 wt.%, respectively. The blend films were characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA/DTG). Scanning electron microscopy illustrated a good adhesion between starch/PVA blend and fibres. The blend films were also explored for antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results confirmed that the blended films may be used as exceptional material for food packaging. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental investigation on CRDI engine using butanol-biodiesel-diesel blends as fuel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divakar Shetty, A. S.; Dineshkumar, L.; Koundinya, Sandeep; Mane, Swetha K.

2017-07-01

In this research work an experimental investigation of butanol-biodisel-diesel blends on combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a direct injection (DI) diesel engine is carried out. The blends are prepared at different proportions and fuel properties such as calorific value, viscosity, flash point and fire point, cloud point, pour point of butanol (B), biodiesel (B), diesel (D), biodiesel-diesel (BD) blends and butanol-biodiesel-diesel (BBD) blends are determined. The engine test is conducted at different speed and load. From the results obtained for fuel properties we can observe that the flash, fire and pour point, viscosity and density are decreasing by increasing the percentage of butanol in BBD blends. It is also observed that the performance parameters such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and exhaust gas temperature increases with increase in the proportion of butanol in BBD blend. However, the brake specific fuel consumption (BFSC) decreases with increase in the proportion of butanol in BBD blend. The increase of butanol in BBD blends also influence to increase on emission characteristic such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

A poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate blend monolith with nanoscale porous structure.

PubMed

Sun, Xiaoxia; Uyama, Hiroshi

2013-10-04

A stimuli-responsive poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) blend monolith with nanoscale porous (mesoporous) structure is successfully fabricated by thermally impacted non-solvent induced phase separation (TINIPS) method. The PVA/SA blend monolith with different SA contents is conveniently fabricated in an aqueous methanol without any templates. The solvent suitable for the fabrication of the present blend monolith by TINIPS is different with that of the PVA monolith. The nanostructural control of the blend monolith is readily achieved by optimizing the fabrication conditions. Brunauer Emmett Teller measurement shows that the obtained blend monolith has a large surface area. Pore size distribution plot for the blend monolith obtained by the non-local density functional theory method reveals the existence of the nanoscale porous structure. Fourier transform infrared analysis reveals the strong interactions between PVA and SA. The pH-responsive property of the blend monolith is investigated on the basis of swelling ratio in different pH solutions. The present blend monolith of biocompatible and biodegradable PVA and SA with nanoscale porous structure has large potential for applications in biomedical and environmental fields.

Comparative Analysis on Nonlinear Models for Ron Gasoline Blending Using Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilera, R. Carreño; Yu, Wen; Rodríguez, J. C. Tovar; Mosqueda, M. Elena Acevedo; Ortiz, M. Patiño; Juarez, J. J. Medel; Bautista, D. Pacheco

The blending process always being a nonlinear process is difficult to modeling, since it may change significantly depending on the components and the process variables of each refinery. Different components can be blended depending on the existing stock, and the chemical characteristics of each component are changing dynamically, they all are blended until getting the expected specification in different properties required by the customer. One of the most relevant properties is the Octane, which is difficult to control in line (without the component storage). Since each refinery process is quite different, a generic gasoline blending model is not useful when a blending in line wants to be done in a specific process. A mathematical gasoline blending model is presented in this paper for a given process described in state space as a basic gasoline blending process description. The objective is to adjust the parameters allowing the blending gasoline model to describe a signal in its trajectory, representing in neural networks extreme learning machine method and also for nonlinear autoregressive-moving average (NARMA) in neural networks method, such that a comparative work be developed.

Students' experiences of blended learning across a range of postgraduate programmes.

PubMed

Smyth, Siobhan; Houghton, Catherine; Cooney, Adeline; Casey, Dympna

2012-05-01

The article describes the students' experiences of taking a blended learning postgraduate programme in a school of nursing and midwifery. The indications to date are that blended learning as a pedagogical tool has the potential to contribute and improve nursing and midwifery practice and enhance student learning. Little is reported about the students' experiences to date. Focus groups were conducted with students in the first year of introducing blended learning. The two main themes that were identified from the data were (1) the benefits of blended learning and (2) the challenges to blended learning. The blended learning experience was received positively by the students. A significant finding that was not reported in previous research was that the online component meant little time away from study for the students suggesting that it was more invasive on their everyday life. It is envisaged that the outcomes of the study will assist educators who are considering delivering programmes through blended learning. It should provide guidance for further developments and improvements in using Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and blended learning in nurse education. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inkjet-Printed Organic Transistors Based on Organic Semiconductor/Insulating Polymer Blends.

PubMed

Kwon, Yoon-Jung; Park, Yeong Don; Lee, Wi Hyoung

2016-08-02

Recent advances in inkjet-printed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on organic semiconductor/insulating polymer blends are reviewed in this article. Organic semiconductor/insulating polymer blends are attractive ink candidates for enhancing the jetting properties, inducing uniform film morphologies, and/or controlling crystallization behaviors of organic semiconductors. Representative studies using soluble acene/insulating polymer blends as an inkjet-printed active layer in OFETs are introduced with special attention paid to the phase separation characteristics of such blended films. In addition, inkjet-printed semiconducting/insulating polymer blends for fabricating high performance printed OFETs are reviewed.

Miscibility and Morphology of Poly(lactic ACID)/POLY(Β-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tri Phuong, Nguyen; Guinault, Alain; Sollogoub, Cyrille

2011-01-01

The miscibility and morphology of poly(lactic)acid (PLA)/polyβ-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) prepared by melt blending method were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), melt rheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. FTIR and DSC methods present some limits to examine the miscibility state of PLA/PHB blends. This drawback can be overcome with the Cole-Cole method by observing the η" = f(η') curves to confirm the miscibility of semicrystalline PLA/ semicrystalline PHB blends. MEB micrographs of fractured surface of blends were also used to investigate the miscibility of these blends.

Inkjet-Printed Organic Transistors Based on Organic Semiconductor/Insulating Polymer Blends

PubMed Central

Kwon, Yoon-Jung; Park, Yeong Don; Lee, Wi Hyoung

2016-01-01

Recent advances in inkjet-printed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on organic semiconductor/insulating polymer blends are reviewed in this article. Organic semiconductor/insulating polymer blends are attractive ink candidates for enhancing the jetting properties, inducing uniform film morphologies, and/or controlling crystallization behaviors of organic semiconductors. Representative studies using soluble acene/insulating polymer blends as an inkjet-printed active layer in OFETs are introduced with special attention paid to the phase separation characteristics of such blended films. In addition, inkjet-printed semiconducting/insulating polymer blends for fabricating high performance printed OFETs are reviewed. PMID:28773772

Damage initiated self-healing in ionomer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Md. Arifur; Penco, Maurizio; Spagnoli, Gloria; Peroni, Isabella; Ramorino, Giorgio; Sartore, Luciana; Bignotti, Fabio; Landro, Luca Di

2012-07-01

The development and understanding of self-healing mechanisms have been investigated in blends of ionomers (Poly(ethyelene-co-methacrylic acid), sodium & zinc ions) (EMNa & EMZn) containing both elastomers (Epoxidized natural rubbers (ENR) and cis-1,4-Polyisoprene (PISP)) and crystalline component (Poly(vinly alcohol-co-ethylene) [PVAcE]) as secondary phases. All the blends were prepared by melt-blending and self-healing behavior was studied in ballistic puncture tests. Self-healing behavior of each material was evaluated by observing the impact zones under a stereo-optical microscope and the micrographic results were further supported by the fluid flow test in the punctured zones. Interestingly, ENR50 blends of sodium ion containing ionomers exhibited complete self-repairing behavior while zinc ion containing ionomer showed limited mending but EMNa/ENR25 and EMNa/PISP blends did not show any self-healing behavior following the damage. On the other hand, a composition dependent healing behavior was observed in the EMNa/PVAcE blends where healing was observed up to 30wt% PVAcE containing blends. The chemical structure studied by FTIR analysis showed that both ion content of ionomer and functionality of ENR have significant influence on the self-repairing behavior of blends. TEM analysis revealed that self-healing occurs in the blends when the dispersed phase has a dimension of 100 to 400 nm.

Improved crystallinity and dynamic mechanical properties of reclaimed waste tire rubber/EVA blends under the influence of electron beam irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramarad, Suganti; Ratnam, Chantara T.; Khalid, Mohammad; Chuah, Abdullah Luqman; Hanson, Svenja

2017-01-01

Dependence on automobiles has led to a huge amount of waste tires produced annually around the globe. In this study, the feasibility of recycling these waste tires by blending reclaimed waste tire rubber (RTR) with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and electron beam irradiation was studied. The RTR/EVA blends containing 100-0 wt% of RTR were prepared in the internal mixer followed by electron beam (EB) irradiation with doses ranging from 50 to 200 kGy. The processing torques, calorimetric and dynamic mechanical properties of the blends were studied. Blends were found to have lower processing torque indicating easier processability of RTR/EVA blends compared to EVA. RTR domains were found to be dispersed in EVA matrix, whereas, irradiation improved the dispersion of RTR into smaller domains in EVA matrix. Results showed the addition of EVA improves the efficiency of irradiation induced crosslink formation and dynamic mechanical properties of the blends at the expense of the calorimetric properties. Storage and loss modulus of 50 wt% RTR blend was higher than RTR and EVA, suggesting partial miscibility of the blend. Whereas, electron beam irradiation improved the calorimetric properties and dynamic mechanical properties of the blends through redistribution of RTR in smaller domain sizes within EVA.

Characterization of an Experimental Referee Broadened Specification (ERBS) aviation turbine fuel and ERBS fuel blends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seng, G. T.

1982-01-01

Characterization data and comparisons of these data are presented for three individual lots of a research test fuel designated as an Experimental Referee Broadened Specification (ERBS) aviation turbine fuel. This research fuel, which is a blend of kerosene and hydrotreated catalytic gas oil, is a representation of a kerojet fuel with broadened properties. To lower the hydrogen content of the ERBS fuel, a blending stock, composed of xylene bottoms and hydrotreated catalytic gas oil, was developed and employed to produce two different ERBS fuel blends. The ERBS fuel blends and the blending stock were also characterized and the results for the blends are compared to those of the original ERBS fuel. The characterization results indicate that with the exception of the freezing point for ERBS lot 2, which was slightly high, the three lots, produced over a 2 year period, met all general fuel requirements. However, although the properties of the fuels were found to be fairly consistent, there were differences in composition. Similarly, all major requirements for the ERBS fuel blends were met or closely approached, and the properties of the blended fuels were found to generally reflect those expected for the proportions of ERBS fuel and blending stock used in their production.

Structural and water diffusion of poly(acryl amide)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films: Experiment and molecular dynamics simulations.

PubMed

Wang, Yanen; Wei, Qinghua; Wang, Shuzhi; Chai, Weihong; Zhang, Yingfeng

2017-01-01

To study the effects of composition ratios and temperature on the diffusion of water molecules in PVA/PAM blend films, five simulation models of PVA/PAM with ten water molecules at different composition ratios (4/0, 3/1, 2/2, 1/3, 0/4) were constructed and simulated by using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The diffusion behavior of water molecules in blends were investigated from the aspects of the diffusion coefficient, free volume, pair correlation function (PCF) and trajectories of water molecules, respectively. And the hydrophilicity of blend composite was studied based on the contact angle and equilibrium water content (EWC) of the blend films. The simulation results show that the diffusion coefficient of water molecules and fractional free volume (FFV) of blend membranes increase with the addition of PAM, and a higher temperature can also improve the diffusion of water molecules. Additionally, the analysis of PCFs reveals the main reason why the diffusion coefficient of water in blend system increases with the addition of PAM. The measurement results of contact angle and EWC of blend films indicate that the hydrophilicity of blend films decreases with the addition of PAM, but the EWC of blends increases with the addition of PAM. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Blend sign predicts poor outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Cao, Du; Zhu, Dan; Lv, Fa-Jin; Liu, Yang; Yuan, Liang; Zhang, Gang; Xiong, Xin; Li, Rui; Hu, Yun-Xin; Qin, Xin-Yue; Xie, Peng

2017-01-01

Introduction Blend sign has been recently described as a novel imaging marker that predicts hematoma expansion. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prognostic value of CT blend sign in patients with ICH. Objectives and methods Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours were included. The presence of blend sign on admission nonenhanced CT was independently assessed by two readers. The functional outcome was assessed by using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Results Blend sign was identified in 40 of 238 (16.8%) patients on admission CT scan. The proportion of patients with a poor functional outcome was significantly higher in patients with blend sign than those without blend sign (75.0% versus 47.5%, P = 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, intraventricular hemorrhage, admission GCS score, baseline hematoma volume and presence of blend sign on baseline CT independently predict poor functional outcome at 90 days. The CT blend sign independently predicts poor outcome in patients with ICH (odds ratio 3.61, 95% confidence interval [1.47–8.89];p = 0.005). Conclusions Early identification of blend sign is useful in prognostic stratification and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for prospective interventional studies. PMID:28829797

Evaluation of degree of blending colored diluents using color difference signal method.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Yasunori; Uchino, Tomonobu; Kagawa, Yoshiyuki

2014-01-01

We developed a color difference signal method to evaluate the degree of blending powdered medicines in pharmacies. In the method, the degree of blending is expressed as the relative standard deviation of the color difference signal value (Cb or Cr) of the YCbCr color space after digital photos of the blended medicines are analyzed by image processing. While the method is effective to determine the degree of blending colored medicines, it remains unknown whether it can be applied to uncolored or white-colored medicines. To investigate this, we examined colored diluents to identify an indicator of the degree mixtures are blended. In this study, we applied this method to Pontal® and Prednisolone® powders, which were used as uncolored and white-colored medicines, respectively. Each of these medicines was blended with the colored lactose using a pestle and mortar, and then the uniformity of blending was evaluated. The degree of blending was well-monitored in both mixtures with various blending ratios (1 : 9-9 : 1), showing a sufficient uniformity at 60 rotations of the pestle. Moreover, the Cr values of the mixtures with various blending ratios were correlated with the concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredients in these medicines, which was determined using HPLC. This indicated the usefulness of the color difference signal method for the quantitative determination of medicines. Thus, we demonstrated the applicability and effectiveness of this method to check dispensing powders.

Supertoughened renewable PLA reactive multiphase blends system: phase morphology and performance.

PubMed

Zhang, Kunyu; Nagarajan, Vidhya; Misra, Manjusri; Mohanty, Amar K

2014-08-13

Multiphase blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EMA-GMA) terpolymer, and a series of renewable poly(ether-b-amide) elastomeric copolymer (PEBA) were fabricated through reactive melt blending in an effort to improve the toughness of the PLA. Supertoughened PLA blend showing impact strength of ∼500 J/m with partial break impact behavior was achieved at an optimized blending ratio of 70 wt % PLA, 20 wt % EMA-GMA, and 10 wt % PEBA. Miscibility and thermal behavior of the binary blends PLA/PEBA and PLA/EMA-GMA, and the multiphase blends were also investigated through differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Phase morphology and fracture surface morphology of the blends were studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to understand the strong corelation between the morphology and its significant effect on imparting tremendous improvement in toughness. A unique "multiple stacked structure" with partial encapsulation of EMA-GMA and PEBA minor phases was observed for the PLA/EMA-GMA/PEBA (70/20/10) revealing the importance of particular blend composition in enhancing the toughness. Toughening mechanism behind the supertoughened PLA blends have been established by studying the impact fractured surface morphology at different zones of fracture. Synergistic effect of good interfacial adhesion and interfacial cavitations followed by massive shear yielding of the matrix was believed to contribute to the enormous toughening effect observed in these multiphase blends.

Mechanical Properties and Morphologies of Carboxyl-Terminated Butadiene Acrylonitrile Liquid Rubber/Epoxy Blends Compatibilized by Pre-Crosslinking.

PubMed

Xu, Shiai; Song, Xiaoxue; Cai, Yangben

2016-07-29

In order to enhance the compatibilization and interfacial adhesion between epoxy and liquid carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber, an initiator was introduced into the mixture and heated to initiate the cross-linking reaction of CTBN. After the addition of curing agents, the CTBN/epoxy blends with a localized interpenetrating network structure were prepared. The mechanical properties and morphologies of pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends were investigated. The results show that the tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength of pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends are significantly higher than those of non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends, which is primarily due to the enhanced interfacial strength caused by the chemical bond between the two phases and the localized interpenetrating network structure. Both pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends show a bimodal distribution of micron- and nano-sized rubber particles. However, pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends have smaller micron-sized rubber particles and larger nano-sized rubber particles than non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends. The dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the storage modulus of pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends is higher than that of non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends. The glass transition temperature of the CTBN phase in pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends increases slightly compared with the CTBN/epoxy system. The pre-crosslinking of rubber is a promising method for compatibilization and controlling the morphology of rubber-modified epoxy materials.

Mechanical Properties and Morphologies of Carboxyl-Terminated Butadiene Acrylonitrile Liquid Rubber/Epoxy Blends Compatibilized by Pre-Crosslinking

PubMed Central

Xu, Shiai; Song, Xiaoxue; Cai, Yangben

2016-01-01

In order to enhance the compatibilization and interfacial adhesion between epoxy and liquid carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber, an initiator was introduced into the mixture and heated to initiate the cross-linking reaction of CTBN. After the addition of curing agents, the CTBN/epoxy blends with a localized interpenetrating network structure were prepared. The mechanical properties and morphologies of pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends were investigated. The results show that the tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength of pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends are significantly higher than those of non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends, which is primarily due to the enhanced interfacial strength caused by the chemical bond between the two phases and the localized interpenetrating network structure. Both pre-crosslinked and non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends show a bimodal distribution of micron- and nano-sized rubber particles. However, pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends have smaller micron-sized rubber particles and larger nano-sized rubber particles than non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends. The dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the storage modulus of pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends is higher than that of non-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends. The glass transition temperature of the CTBN phase in pre-crosslinked CTBN/epoxy blends increases slightly compared with the CTBN/epoxy system. The pre-crosslinking of rubber is a promising method for compatibilization and controlling the morphology of rubber-modified epoxy materials. PMID:28773762

Evaporation characteristics of ETBE-blended gasoline.

PubMed

Okamoto, Katsuhiro; Hiramatsu, Muneyuki; Hino, Tomonori; Otake, Takuma; Okamoto, Takashi; Miyamoto, Hiroki; Honma, Masakatsu; Watanabe, Norimichi

2015-04-28

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming, production of gasoline blended with ethyl tert-buthyl ether (ETBE) is increasing annually. The flash point of ETBE is higher than that of gasoline, and blending ETBE into gasoline will change the flash point and the vapor pressure. Therefore, it is expected that the fire hazard caused by ETBE-blended gasoline would differ from that caused by normal gasoline. The aim of this study was to acquire the knowledge required for estimating the fire hazard of ETBE-blended gasoline. Supposing that ETBE-blended gasoline was a two-component mixture of gasoline and ETBE, we developed a prediction model that describes the vapor pressure and flash point of ETBE-blended gasoline in an arbitrary ETBE blending ratio. We chose 8-component hydrocarbon mixture as a model gasoline, and defined the relation between molar mass of gasoline and mass loss fraction. We measured the changes in the vapor pressure and flash point of gasoline by blending ETBE and evaporation, and compared the predicted values with the measured values in order to verify the prediction model. The calculated values of vapor pressures and flash points corresponded well to the measured values. Thus, we confirmed that the change in the evaporation characteristics of ETBE-blended gasoline by evaporation could be predicted by the proposed model. Furthermore, the vapor pressure constants of ETBE-blended gasoline were obtained by the model, and then the distillation curves were developed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

7 CFR 989.16 - Blend.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 8 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Blend. 989.16 Section 989.16 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and... CALIFORNIA Order Regulating Handling Definitions § 989.16 Blend. Blend means to mix or commingle raisins. ...

7 CFR 989.16 - Blend.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 8 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Blend. 989.16 Section 989.16 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (Marketing Agreements and... CALIFORNIA Order Regulating Handling Definitions § 989.16 Blend. Blend means to mix or commingle raisins. ...

Origin of phase shift in atomic force microscopic investigation of the surface morphology of NR/NBR blend film.

PubMed

Thanawan, S; Radabutra, S; Thamasirianunt, P; Amornsakchai, T; Suchiva, K

2009-01-01

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the morphology and surface properties of NR/NBR blend. Blends at 1/3, 1/1 and 3/1 weight ratios were prepared in benzene and formed film by casting. AFM phase images of these blends in tapping mode displayed islands in the sea morphology or matrix-dispersed structures. For blend 1/3, NR formed dispersed phase while in blends 1/1 and 3/1 phase inversion was observed. NR showed higher phase shift angle in AFM phase imaging for all blends. This circumstance was governed by adhesion energy hysteresis between the device tip and the rubber surface rather than surface stiffness of the materials, as proved by force distance measurements in the AFM contact mode.

Contrasting performance of donor-acceptor copolymer pairs in ternary blend solar cells and two-acceptor copolymers in binary blend solar cells.

PubMed

Khlyabich, Petr P; Rudenko, Andrey E; Burkhart, Beate; Thompson, Barry C

2015-02-04

Here two contrasting approaches to polymer-fullerene solar cells are compared. In the first approach, two distinct semi-random donor-acceptor copolymers are blended with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) to form ternary blend solar cells. The two poly(3-hexylthiophene)-based polymers contain either the acceptor thienopyrroledione (TPD) or diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP). In the second approach, semi-random donor-acceptor copolymers containing both TPD and DPP acceptors in the same polymer backbone, termed two-acceptor polymers, are blended with PC61BM to give binary blend solar cells. The two approaches result in bulk heterojunction solar cells that have the same molecular active-layer components but differ in the manner in which these molecular components are mixed, either by physical mixing (ternary blend) or chemical "mixing" in the two-acceptor (binary blend) case. Optical properties and photon-to-electron conversion efficiencies of the binary and ternary blends were found to have similar features and were described as a linear combination of the individual components. At the same time, significant differences were observed in the open-circuit voltage (Voc) behaviors of binary and ternary blend solar cells. While in case of two-acceptor polymers, the Voc was found to be in the range of 0.495-0.552 V, ternary blend solar cells showed behavior inherent to organic alloy formation, displaying an intermediate, composition-dependent and tunable Voc in the range from 0.582 to 0.684 V, significantly exceeding the values achieved in the two-acceptor containing binary blend solar cells. Despite the differences between the physical and chemical mixing approaches, both pathways provided solar cells with similar power conversion efficiencies, highlighting the advantages of both pathways toward highly efficient organic solar cells.

Blended learning within an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory.

PubMed

Elmer, Steven J; Carter, Kathryn R; Armga, Austin J; Carter, Jason R

2016-03-01

In physiological education, blended course formats (integration of face-to-face and online instruction) can facilitate increased student learning, performance, and satisfaction in classroom settings. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of using blending course formats in laboratory settings. We evaluated the impact of blended learning on student performance and perceptions in an undergraduate exercise physiology laboratory. Using a randomized, crossover design, four laboratory topics were delivered in either a blended or traditional format. For blended laboratories, content was offloaded to self-paced video demonstrations (∼15 min). Laboratory section 1 (n = 16) completed blended laboratories for 1) neuromuscular power and 2) blood lactate, whereas section 2 (n = 17) completed blended laboratories for 1) maximal O2 consumption and 2) muscle electromyography. Both sections completed the same assignments (scored in a blinded manner using a standardized rubric) and practicum exams (evaluated by two independent investigators). Pre- and postcourse surveys were used to assess student perceptions. Most students (∼79%) watched videos for both blended laboratories. Assignment scores did not differ between blended and traditional laboratories (P = 0.62) or between sections (P = 0.91). Practicum scores did not differ between sections (both P > 0.05). At the end of the course, students' perceived value of the blended format increased (P < 0.01) and a greater percentage of students agreed that learning key foundational content through video demonstrations before class greatly enhanced their learning of course material compared with a preassigned reading (94% vs. 78%, P < 0.01). Blended exercise physiology laboratories provided an alternative method for delivering content that was favorably perceived by students and did not compromise student performance. Copyright © 2016 The American Physiological Society.

Effect of gamma ray on poly(lactic acid)/poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol) blends as biodegradable food packaging films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razavi, Seyed Mohammad; Dadbin, Susan; Frounchi, Masoud

2014-03-01

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol) [P(VAc-co-VA)] blends as new transparent film packaging materials were prepared at various blend compositions and different vinyl alcohol contents. The blends and pure PLA were irradiated by gamma rays to investigate the extent of changes in the packaging material during gamma ray sterilization process. The miscibility of the blends was dependent on the blend composition and vinyl alcohol content; gamma irradiation had little effect on the extent of miscibility. The glass transition temperature of pure PLA and PLA/P(VAc-co-VA) miscible blends reduced after irradiation. On the other hand in PLA/P(VAc-co-VA) immiscible blends, while the glass transition temperature of the PLA phase decreased; that of the copolymer phase slightly increased. The reduction in the glass transition was about 10 percent for samples irradiated with 50 kGy indicating dominance of chain scission of PLA molecules at high irradiation dose. The latter was verified by drop in mechanical properties of pure PLA after exposing to gamma irradiation at 50 kGy. Blending of PLA with the copolymer P(VAc-co-VA) compensated greatly the adverse effects of irradiation on PLA. The oxygen-barrier property of the blend was superior to the neat PLA and remained almost intact with irradiation. The un-irradiated and irradiated blends had excellent transparency. Gamma ray doses used for sterilization purposes are usually less than 20 kGy. It was shown that gamma irradiation at 20 kGy had no or little adverse effects on PLA/P(VAc-co-VA) blends mechanical and gas barrier properties.

An investigation into the effects of excipient particle size, blending techniques and processing parameters on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a blend containing low-dose model drug

PubMed Central

Alyami, Hamad; Dahmash, Eman; Bowen, James

2017-01-01

Powder blend homogeneity is a critical attribute in formulation development of low dose and potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) yet a complex process with multiple contributing factors. Excipient characteristics play key role in efficient blending process and final product quality. In this work the effect of excipient type and properties, blending technique and processing time on content uniformity was investigated. Powder characteristics for three commonly used excipients (starch, pregelatinised starch and microcrystalline cellulose) were initially explored using laser diffraction particle size analyser, angle of repose for flowability, followed by thorough evaluations of surface topography employing scanning electron microscopy and interferometry. Blend homogeneity was evaluated based on content uniformity analysis of the model API, ergocalciferol, using a validated analytical technique. Flowability of powders were directly related to particle size and shape, while surface topography results revealed the relationship between surface roughness and ability of excipient with high surface roughness to lodge fine API particles within surface groves resulting in superior uniformity of content. Of the two blending techniques, geometric blending confirmed the ability to produce homogeneous blends at low dilution when processed for longer durations, whereas manual ordered blending failed to achieve compendial requirement for content uniformity despite mixing for 32 minutes. Employing the novel dry powder hybrid mixer device, developed at Aston University laboratory, results revealed the superiority of the device and enabled the production of homogenous blend irrespective of excipient type and particle size. Lower dilutions of the API (1% and 0.5% w/w) were examined using non-sieved excipients and the dry powder hybrid mixing device enabled the development of successful blends within compendial requirements and low relative standard deviation. PMID:28609454

Compatibilization of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer/poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) blend: effect on morphology, interface, mechanical properties and hydrophilicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Tingting; Zhang, Jun

2018-04-01

The compatibilization of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS) and poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) (PETG) blends was first investigated. Styrene-acrylonitrile-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (SAG) and ABS grafted with maleic anhydride (ABS-g-MAH) were selected as reactive compatibilizers for the ABS/PETG blends. The compatibilization effect was assessed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical properties. And the effect of compatibilizers on the hydrophilicity of the blends was evaluated as well. SEM observation and DSC analysis confirmed that both SAG and ABS-g-MAH compatibilizers could improve the compatibility between ABS and PETG, leading to an improvement in toughness of the blend. The possible cause for the improvement of compatibility was the reaction between compatibilizers and PETG, which could in situ turn out compatibilizers that acted as interfacial agents to enhance the interfacial interaction in the blend. Especially, the addition of SAG significantly decreased the dispersion phase size and the interface voids almost disappeared. Since the in situ reactions between the epoxy groups of SAG and the end groups (sbnd COOH or sbnd OH) of PETG generated PETG-co-SAG copolymer at the blend interface, and the cross-linking reactions proposed to take place between SAG and the PETG-co-SAG copolymer, acting as compatibilizer, could significantly increase the interfacial interaction. The addition of SAG also enhanced the stiffness of the blends. Moreover, the addition of SAG made the blend more hydrophilic, whereas the addition of ABS-g-MAH made the blend more hydrophobic. Therefore, SAG was a good compatibilizer for the ABS/PETG blends and could simultaneously provide the blends with toughening, stiffening and hydrophilic effects.

An investigation into the effects of excipient particle size, blending techniques and processing parameters on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a blend containing low-dose model drug.

PubMed

Alyami, Hamad; Dahmash, Eman; Bowen, James; Mohammed, Afzal R

2017-01-01

Powder blend homogeneity is a critical attribute in formulation development of low dose and potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) yet a complex process with multiple contributing factors. Excipient characteristics play key role in efficient blending process and final product quality. In this work the effect of excipient type and properties, blending technique and processing time on content uniformity was investigated. Powder characteristics for three commonly used excipients (starch, pregelatinised starch and microcrystalline cellulose) were initially explored using laser diffraction particle size analyser, angle of repose for flowability, followed by thorough evaluations of surface topography employing scanning electron microscopy and interferometry. Blend homogeneity was evaluated based on content uniformity analysis of the model API, ergocalciferol, using a validated analytical technique. Flowability of powders were directly related to particle size and shape, while surface topography results revealed the relationship between surface roughness and ability of excipient with high surface roughness to lodge fine API particles within surface groves resulting in superior uniformity of content. Of the two blending techniques, geometric blending confirmed the ability to produce homogeneous blends at low dilution when processed for longer durations, whereas manual ordered blending failed to achieve compendial requirement for content uniformity despite mixing for 32 minutes. Employing the novel dry powder hybrid mixer device, developed at Aston University laboratory, results revealed the superiority of the device and enabled the production of homogenous blend irrespective of excipient type and particle size. Lower dilutions of the API (1% and 0.5% w/w) were examined using non-sieved excipients and the dry powder hybrid mixing device enabled the development of successful blends within compendial requirements and low relative standard deviation.

An Investigation into the Physico-chemical Properties of Transformer Oil Blends with Antioxidants extracted from Turmeric Powder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dukhi, Veresha; Bissessur, Ajay; Ngila, Catherine Jane; Ijumba, Nelson Mutatina

2013-07-01

The blending of transformer oil (used mainly as an insulating oil) with appropriate synthetic antioxidants, such as BHT (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) and DBP (2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) have been previously reported. This article is focused on the use of antioxidant extracts from turmeric (Curcuma longa), a natural source. Turmeric is well known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties owing to the active nature of its components. Extracts from powdered turmeric were subsequently blended into naphthenic-based uninhibited virgin transformer oil, hereinafter referred to as extract-oil blends (E-OB). Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of the oil blends revealed that five components extracted from turmeric powder were successfully blended into the oil. Subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis confirmed the presence of the compounds: curcumene, sesquiphellandrene, ar-turmerone, turmerone and curlone. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the extract-oil blends, containing various levels of extracts, revealed an average temperature shift of ˜8.21°C in the initial onset of degradation in comparison to virgin non-blended oil. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed that an increase in the mass aliquot of turmeric extracts in the transformer oil increased the free radical scavenging activity of the oil. Electrical properties of the oil investigated showed that the dissipation factor in the blended oil was found to be lower than that of virgin transformer oil. Evidently, a lower dissipation value renders the oil blend as a superior insulator over normal virgin non-blended oil. This investigation elucidated improved physico-chemical properties of transformer oil blended with turmeric antioxidant extracts.

Generator Set Durability Testing Using 25% ATJ Fuel Blend

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-01

Table Page Table 1. Chemical & Physical Properties of Evaluated 25% ATJ Blend .................................................... 3 Table 2... Chemical & Physical Properties of Evaluated 25% ATJ Blend .................................................... 4 Table 3. Chemical & Physical...Properties of Evaluated 25% ATJ Blend .................................................... 5 Table 4. Chemical & Physical Properties of Evaluated 25

16 CFR 306.0 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...; (vi) Biodiesel; (vii) Biomass-based diesel; (viii) Biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel by volume; and (ix) Biomass-based diesel blends containing more than 5 percent biomass-based diesel by volume. (3) Biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends that contain less than or equal to...

16 CFR 306.0 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...; (vi) Biodiesel; (vii) Biomass-based diesel; (viii) Biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel by volume; and (ix) Biomass-based diesel blends containing more than 5 percent biomass-based diesel by volume. (3) Biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends that contain less than or equal to...

16 CFR 306.0 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...; (vi) Biodiesel; (vii) Biomass-based diesel; (viii) Biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel by volume; and (ix) Biomass-based diesel blends containing more than 5 percent biomass-based diesel by volume. (3) Biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends that contain less than or equal to...

16 CFR 306.0 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...; (vi) Biodiesel; (vii) Biomass-based diesel; (viii) Biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel by volume; and (ix) Biomass-based diesel blends containing more than 5 percent biomass-based diesel by volume. (3) Biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends that contain less than or equal to...

16 CFR 306.0 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...; (vi) Biodiesel; (vii) Biomass-based diesel; (viii) Biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent biodiesel by volume; and (ix) Biomass-based diesel blends containing more than 5 percent biomass-based diesel by volume. (3) Biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends that contain less than or equal to...

Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)—corn starch blend for use as chemical sand-fixing materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang, Xugang; Chen, Hui; Shan, Zhihua

2017-07-01

One chemical sand-fixing materials based on poly(acrylic acid)-corn starch (PACS) blend was studied in this work. The PACS blend was prepared by solution mixing method between PA and CS. In order to prepare sand-fixing materials for environmental applications using the well-established method of spraying evenly PACS blend solution on the surfaces of fine sand. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed the existence of the intermolecular interactions between the blend components. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed a continuous phase of blend, and it also showed the good sand-fixing capacity. The test results of hygroscopicity and water retention experiments indicated that the blends had excellent water-absorbing and water-retention capacity. The results of contact angle measurements between the PACS solutions and fine sand showed that the PACS blend has a satisfactory effect on fine sand wetting. And the PACS, as a sand-fixation material, has excellent sand-fixation rate up to 99.5%.

A robust quantitative near infrared modeling approach for blend monitoring.

PubMed

Mohan, Shikhar; Momose, Wataru; Katz, Jeffrey M; Hossain, Md Nayeem; Velez, Natasha; Drennen, James K; Anderson, Carl A

2018-01-30

This study demonstrates a material sparing Near-Infrared modeling approach for powder blend monitoring. In this new approach, gram scale powder mixtures are subjected to compression loads to simulate the effect of scale using an Instron universal testing system. Models prepared by the new method development approach (small-scale method) and by a traditional method development (blender-scale method) were compared by simultaneously monitoring a 1kg batch size blend run. Both models demonstrated similar model performance. The small-scale method strategy significantly reduces the total resources expended to develop Near-Infrared calibration models for on-line blend monitoring. Further, this development approach does not require the actual equipment (i.e., blender) to which the method will be applied, only a similar optical interface. Thus, a robust on-line blend monitoring method can be fully developed before any large-scale blending experiment is viable, allowing the blend method to be used during scale-up and blend development trials. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Determination of Component Contents of Blend Oil Based on Characteristics Peak Value Integration.

PubMed

Xu, Jing; Hou, Pei-guo; Wang, Yu-tian; Pan, Zhao

2016-01-01

Edible blend oil market is confused at present. It has some problems such as confusing concepts, randomly named, shoddy and especially the fuzzy standard of compositions and ratios in blend oil. The national standard fails to come on time after eight years. The basic reason is the lack of qualitative and quantitative detection of vegetable oils in blend oil. Edible blend oil is mixed by different vegetable oils according to a certain proportion. Its nutrition is rich. Blend oil is eaten frequently in daily life. Different vegetable oil contains a certain components. The mixed vegetable oil can make full use of their nutrients and make the nutrients more balanced in blend oil. It is conducive to people's health. It is an effectively way to monitor blend oil market by the accurate determination of single vegetable oil content in blend oil. The types of blend oil are known, so we only need for accurate determination of its content. Three dimensional fluorescence spectra are used for the contents in blend oil. A new method of data processing is proposed with calculation of characteristics peak value integration in chosen characteristic area based on Quasi-Monte Carlo method, combined with Neural network method to solve nonlinear equations to obtain single vegetable oil content in blend oil. Peanut oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil are used as research object to reconcile into edible blend oil, with single oil regarded whole, not considered each oil's components. Recovery rates of 10 configurations of edible harmonic oil is measured to verify the validity of the method of characteristics peak value integration. An effective method is provided to detect components content of complex mixture in high sensitivity. Accuracy of recovery rats is increased, compared the common method of solution of linear equations used to detect components content of mixture. It can be used in the testing of kinds and content of edible vegetable oil in blend oil for the food quality detection, and provide an effective reference for the creation of national standards.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mascarenhas, N. P., E-mail: naveenmascarenhas@gmail.com; Crasta, V.; Gonsalves, R. A.

To enhance the physical and mechanical properties of Chitosan (CS) and to improve the functionality of CS towards some specific applications, we have blended CS with polystyrene (PS) to form blended films. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) has been performed on the prepared films to confirm functional groups and formation of the blends. Thermal analysis (TGA and DSC) is carried out to study thermal stability of the blended films. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, the material reveals amorphous nature and hence it may be used for adsorption process. The versatility of the blends, such as film-forming ability, hydrophilicity, biodegradabilitymore » and biocompatibility are comparable with the existing blends.« less

Preparation and Characterization of Blended Films from Quaternized Hemicelluloses and Carboxymethyl Cellulose

PubMed Central

Qi, Xian-Ming; Liu, Shi-Yun; Chu, Fang-Bing; Pang, Shuai; Liang, Yan-Ru; Guan, Ying; Peng, Feng; Sun, Run-Cang

2015-01-01

Utilization of hemicelluloses from biomass energy is an important approach to explore renewable resources. A convenient, quick, and inexpensive method for the preparation of blended films from quaternized hemicelluloses (QH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was introduced into this study. QH and CMC solution were first mixed to form homogeneous suspension, and then were dried under vacuum to fabricate the blended films. The FT-IR and XRD results indicated that the linkage between QH and CMC was due to the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. From the results of mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP), the tensile strength of the blended films increased with the QH/CMC content ratio increasing in appropriate range, and the WVP of the blended films decreased. The maximum value of tensile strength of blend film achieved was 27.4 MPa. In addition, the transmittances of the blended films increased with the decreasing of QH/CMC content ratio. When the weight ratio (QH: CMC) was 1:1.5, the blend film showed the best light transmittance (45%). All the results suggested that the blended films could be used in areas of application in the coating and packaging fields from the good tensile strength, transmittance, and low WVP. PMID:28787804

Preparation and Characterization of Blended Films from Quaternized Hemicelluloses and Carboxymethyl Cellulose.

PubMed

Qi, Xian-Ming; Liu, Shi-Yun; Chu, Fang-Bing; Pang, Shuai; Liang, Yan-Ru; Guan, Ying; Peng, Feng; Sun, Run-Cang

2015-12-23

Utilization of hemicelluloses from biomass energy is an important approach to explore renewable resources. A convenient, quick, and inexpensive method for the preparation of blended films from quaternized hemicelluloses (QH) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was introduced into this study. QH and CMC solution were first mixed to form homogeneous suspension, and then were dried under vacuum to fabricate the blended films. The FT-IR and XRD results indicated that the linkage between QH and CMC was due to the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. From the results of mechanical properties and water vapor permeability (WVP), the tensile strength of the blended films increased with the QH/CMC content ratio increasing in appropriate range, and the WVP of the blended films decreased. The maximum value of tensile strength of blend film achieved was 27.4 MPa. In addition, the transmittances of the blended films increased with the decreasing of QH/CMC content ratio. When the weight ratio (QH: CMC) was 1:1.5, the blend film showed the best light transmittance (45%). All the results suggested that the blended films could be used in areas of application in the coating and packaging fields from the good tensile strength, transmittance, and low WVP.

Physicochemical and toxicological characteristics of particulate matter emitted from a non-road diesel engine: comparative evaluation of biodiesel-diesel and butanol-diesel blends.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhi-Hui; Balasubramanian, Rajasekhar

2014-01-15

Combustion experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of using blends of ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD) with biodiesel or n-butanol on physicochemical and toxicological characteristics of particulate emissions from a non-road diesel engine. The results indicated that compared to ULSD, both the blended fuels could effectively reduce the particulate mass and elemental carbon emissions, with butanol being more effective than biodiesel. The proportion of organic carbon and volatile organic compounds in particles increased for both blended fuels. However, biodiesel blended fuels showed lower total particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emissions. The total number emissions of particles ≤560nm in diameter decreased gradually for the butanol blended fuels, but increased significantly for the biodiesel blended fuels. Both the blended fuels indicated lower soot ignition temperature and activation energy. All the particle extracts showed a decline in cell viability with the increased dose. However, the change in cell viability among test fuels is not statistically significant different with the exception of DB-4 (biodiesel-diesel blend containing 4% oxygen) used at 75% engine load. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Film-forming properties of castor oil polyol ester blends in elastohydrodynamic conditions

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The viscosities and elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness properties of binary blends of castor oil with polyol esters were determined experimentally. Predicted blend viscosity was calculated from the viscosity of the pure blend components. Measured viscosity values were closer to the values pre...

21 CFR 133.167 - Pasteurized blended cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Pasteurized blended cheese. 133.167 Section 133...) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Cheese and Related Products § 133.167 Pasteurized blended cheese. Pasteurized blended cheese conforms to...

21 CFR 133.167 - Pasteurized blended cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Pasteurized blended cheese. 133.167 Section 133...) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Cheese and Related Products § 133.167 Pasteurized blended cheese. Pasteurized blended cheese conforms to...

Blended Learning within an Undergraduate Exercise Physiology Laboratory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elmer, Steven J.; Carter, Kathryn R.; Armga, Austin J.; Carter, Jason R.

2016-01-01

In physiological education, blended course formats (integration of face-to-face and online instruction) can facilitate increased student learning, performance, and satisfaction in classroom settings. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of using blending course formats in laboratory settings. We evaluated the impact of blended learning…

Presence and Perceived Learning in Different Higher Education Blended Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khodabandelou, Rouhollah; Jalil, Habibah Ab; Ali, Wan Zah Wan; Daud, Shaffe Mohd

2015-01-01

Blended learning as "third generation" of distance learning has the potential to offer multimethod instruction through the blend, to leverage the strengths of current online and traditional instructions. Therefore, higher education institutions having recognized the fact that blended learning is beneficial, adopted this alternative…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shivananda, C. S.; Rao, B. Lakshmeesha; Madhukumar, R.

In this work silk fibroin/pullulan blend films have been prepared by solution casting method. The blend films were examined for structural, and thermal properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimatric (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The XRD results indicate that with the introduction of pullulan, the interaction between SF and pullulan in the blend films induced the conformation transition of SF films and amorphous phase increases with increasing pullulan ratio. The thermal properties of the blend films were improved significantly in the blend films.

The Blended Finite Element Method for Multi-fluid Plasma Modeling

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

Briefing Charts 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 07 June 2016 - 01 July 2016 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE The Blended Finite Element Method for Multi-fluid Plasma...BLENDED FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR MULTI-FLUID PLASMA MODELING Éder M. Sousa1, Uri Shumlak2 1ERC INC., IN-SPACE PROPULSION BRANCH (RQRS) AIR FORCE RESEARCH...MULTI-FLUID PLASMA MODEL 2 BLENDED FINITE ELEMENT METHOD Blended Finite Element Method Nodal Continuous Galerkin Modal Discontinuous Galerkin Model

Nutrient composition, functional, and pasting properties of unripe cooking banana, pigeon pea, and sweetpotato flour blends.

PubMed

Ohizua, Ehimen R; Adeola, Abiodun A; Idowu, Micheal A; Sobukola, Olajide P; Afolabi, T Adeniyi; Ishola, Raphael O; Ayansina, Simeon O; Oyekale, Tolulope O; Falomo, Ayorinde

2017-05-01

This study investigated some quality attributes of unripe cooking banana (UBF), pigeon pea (PPF), and sweetpotato (SPF) flour blends. Simplex centroid mixture design was used to obtain 17 blends from the flours. The nutrient composition, color, and functional properties of the blends were evaluated using standard methods. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test at 5% probability level. There were significant ( p  < .05) differences in the nutrient composition, and functional and pasting properties of the blends. The crude protein, crude fiber, ash, foaming capacity, emulsion capacity, and least gelation capacity of the blends increased as the PPF level increased. The blends had Na/K ratio of <1.0. The dispersibility, bulk density, water, and oil absorption capacities of the blends increased as SPF and UBF increased. The peak, setback, and final viscosities increased as UBF and SPF inclusion increased,whereas pasting temperature and time increased as the PPF level increased. The L*, a*, and b* values of the flour blends which were significantly ( p  < .05) different ranged from 79.58 to 102.71, -0.15 to 2.79, and 13.82 to 23.69, respectively. Cooking banana-pigeon pea-sweetpotato flour blends are desirable for alleviating malnutrition in Nigeria and developing new food formulations.

Effect of incorporation of corn byproducts on quality of baked and extruded products from wheat flour and semolina.

PubMed

Sharma, Savita; Gupta, Jatinder Pal; Nagi, H P S; Kumar, Rakesh

2012-10-01

The effect of blending level (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of corn bran, defatted germ and gluten with wheat flour on the physico-chemical properties (protein, crude fiber, phosphorus, iron and calcium), baking properties of bread, muffins and cookies, and extrusion properties of noodles and extruded snacks prepared from semolina were examined. Blending of wheat flour and corn byproducts significantly increased the protein, crude fiber, phosphorus, iron and calcium contents. Breads from gluten blends had higher loaf volume as compared to bran and germ breads. Among corn byproducts, gluten cookies were rated superior with respect to top grain. Muffins from germ blends and gluten blends had higher acceptability scores than the bran muffins. Blending of corn bran, defatted germ and gluten at 5 and 10% with wheat flour resulted in satisfactory bread, cookie, and muffin score. Quality of noodles was significantly influenced by addition of corn byproducts and their levels. Corn byproducts blending had significant influence on cooking time, however, gruel solid loss affected non-significantly in case of noodles. Expansion ratio and density of extruded snacks was affected non significantly by blending source and blending level. However, significant effect was observed on amperage, pressure, yield and overall acceptability of extruded snacks. Acceptable extruded products (noodles and extruded snacks) could be produced by blending corn byproducts with semolina upto 10% level.

Thermal and mechanical properties of gamma-irradiated prevulcanized natural rubber latex/low nitrosamines latex blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Pairu; Daik, Rusli; Wan Zin, Wan Manshol

2016-12-01

Thermal and mechanical properties of blended radiation prevulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) and low nitrosamines latex (LNL) were studied. RVNRL was blended with LNL at various composition ratios. From the tensile test, it was found that the optimum tensile value was attained at a total blending ratio of 70% RVNRL and 30% LNL. Latex blending with optimum tensile strength was then subjected to gamma irradiation at various doses with the presence and absence of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 10 pphr. It was found that the gamma irradiation of latex blend with the presence of MMA could help increase further the tensile value. Composition of blending at a specific ratio and gamma irradiation at a specific dose has led to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the latex blend. The formation of grafting in the latex blend was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that MMA could be grafted onto blended latex effectively under appropriate irradiation conditions. Two new peaks at 1731 and 1149 cm-1 were observed after irradiation, indicating the presence of an ester group from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which was grafted onto rubber chains. This finding was proved by the presence of new Tg in DSC analysis. The increase in new Tg indicates the movement of grafting chains, which are tightly bound onto rubber chains.

Assessment of n-pentanol/Calophyllum inophyllum/diesel blends on the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a constant-speed variable compression ratio direct injection diesel engine.

PubMed

Ramakrishnan, Purnachandran; Kasimani, Ramesh; Peer, Mohamed Shameer; Rajamohan, Sakthivel

2018-05-01

Alcohol is used as an additive for a long time with the petroleum-based fuels. In this study, the higher alcohol, n-pentanol, was used as an additive to Calophyllum inophyllum (CI) biodiesel/diesel blends at 10, 15, and 20% by volume. In all blends, the ratio of CI was maintained at 20% by volume. The engine characteristics of the pentanol fuel blends were compared with the diesel and CI20 (Calophyllum inophyllum 20% and diesel 80%) biodiesel blend. The nitrogen oxide (NO) emission of the pentanol fuel blends showed an increased value than CI20 and neat diesel fuel. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) also increased with increase in pentanol addition with the fuel blends than CI20 fuel blend and diesel. The carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were decreased with increase in pentanol proportion in the blend than the CI20 fuel and diesel. The smoke emission was reduced and the combustion characteristics of the engine were also improved by using pentanol blended fuels. From this investigation, it is suggested that 20% pentanol addition with the biodiesel/diesel fuel is suitable for improved performance and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine without any engine modifications, whereas CO 2 and NO emissions increased with addition of pentanol due to effective combustion.

Task Space Angular Velocity Blending for Real-Time Trajectory Generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volpe, Richard A. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

The invention is embodied in a method of controlling a robot manipulator moving toward a target frame F(sub 0) with a target velocity v(sub 0) including a linear target velocity v and an angular target velocity omega(sub 0) to smoothly and continuously divert the robot manipulator to a subsequent frame F(sub 1) by determining a global transition velocity v(sub 1), the global transition velocity including a linear transition velocity v(sub 1) and an angular transition velocity omega(sub 1), defining a blend time interval 2(tau)(sub 0) within which the global velocity of the robot manipulator is to be changed from a global target velocity v(sub 0) to the global transition velocity v(sub 1) and dividing the blend time interval 2(tau)(sub 0) into discrete time segments (delta)t. During each one of the discrete time segments delta t of the blend interval 2(tau)(sub 0), a blended global velocity v of the manipulator is computed as a blend of the global target velocity v(sub 0) and the global transition velocity v(sub 1), the blended global velocity v including a blended angular velocity omega and a blended linear velocity v, and then, the manipulator is rotated by an incremental rotation corresponding to an integration of the blended angular velocity omega over one discrete time segment (delta)t.

Preferential Stereocomplex Crystallization in Enantiomeric Blends of Cellulose Acetate-g-Poly(lactic acid)s with Comblike Topology.

PubMed

Bao, Jianna; Han, Lili; Shan, Guorong; Bao, Yongzhong; Pan, Pengju

2015-10-01

Although stereocomplex (sc) crystallization is highly effective for improving the thermal resistance of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), it is much less predominant than homocrystallization in high-molecular-weight (HMW) poly(l-lactic acid)/ poly(d-lactic acid) (PLLA/PDLA) racemic blends. In this contribution, the sc crystallization of HMW PLLA/PDLA racemic blends was facilitated by using comblike PLAs with cellulose acetate as the backbone. Competing crystallization kinetics, polymorphic crystalline structure, and structural transition of comblike PLLA/PDLA blends with a wide range of MWs were investigated and compared with the corresponding linear/comblike and linear blends. The HMW comblike blend is preferentially crystallized in sc polymorphs and exhibits a faster crystallization rate than does the corresponding linear blend. The sc crystallites are predominantly formed in nonisothermal cold crystallization and isothermal crystallization at temperatures above 120 °C for the comblike blends. Except for the facilitated sc formation in primary crystallization, synchrotron radiation WAXD analysis indicates that the presence of a comblike component also facilitates the transition or recrystallization from homocrystallite (hc) to sc crystallite upon heating. Preferential sc formation of comblike blends is probably attributable to the favorable interdigitation between enantiomeric branches and the increased mobility of polymer segments. After crystallization under the same temperature, the comblike blends, which mainly contain sc crystallites, show smaller long periods and thinner crystalline lamellae than do the corresponding PLLA with homocrystalline structures.

Impact of biodiesel and renewable diesel on emissions of regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases on a 2000 heavy duty diesel truck

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Kwangsam; Biswas, Subhasis; Robertson, William; Sahay, Keshav; Okamoto, Robert; Mitchell, Alexander; Lemieux, Sharon

2015-04-01

As part of a broad evaluation of the environmental impacts of biodiesel and renewable diesel as alternative motor fuels and fuel blends in California, the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Heavy-duty Diesel Emission Testing Laboratory conducted chassis dynamometer exhaust emission measurements on in-use heavy-heavy-duty diesel trucks (HHDDT). The results presented here detail the impact of biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels and fuel blends as compared to CARB ULSD on particulate matter (PM), regulated gases, and two greenhouse gases emissions from a HHDDT with a 2000 C15 Caterpillar engine with no exhaust after treatment devices. This vehicle was tested over the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and the cruise portion of the California HHDDT driving schedule. Three neat blend stocks (soy-based and animal-based fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesels, and a renewable diesel) and CARB-certified ultra-low sulfur diesel (CARB ULSD) along with their 20% and 50% blends (blended with CARB ULSD) were tested. The effects of blend level on emission characteristics were discussed on g·km-1 basis. The results showed that PM, total hydrocarbon (THC), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were dependent on driving cycles, showing higher emissions for the UDDS cycles with medium load than the highway cruise cycle with high load on per km basis. When comparing CARB ULSD to biodiesels and renewable diesel blends, it was observed that the PM, THC, and CO emissions decreased with increasing blend levels regardless of the driving cycles. Note that biodiesel blends showed higher degree of emission reductions for PM, THC, and CO than renewable diesel blends. Both biodiesels and renewable diesel blends effectively reduced PM emissions, mainly due to reduction in elemental carbon emissions (EC), however no readily apparent reductions in organic carbon (OC) emissions were observed. When compared to CARB ULSD, soy- and animal-based biodiesel blends showed statistically significant increases in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for 50% or higher biodiesel blends. The 20% blends of the biodiesels showed no statistically significant effect on NOx emissions on any cycle. In contrast, renewable diesel slightly decreased NOx emissions and the degree of reduction was statistically significant for 50% or higher blends over the UDDS cycle, but not at the 20% blends. The highway cruise cycles did not show a statistically strong NOx emission trend with increasing blend level of renewable diesel. Biodiesel and renewable fuel impacts on two greenhouse gases, CO2 and N2O emissions were of lower magnitude when compared to other regulated pollutants emissions, showing a change in their emissions within approximately ±3% from the CARB ULSD.

Reducing friction and miscibility studies of FEP dispersion/ PDMS fluid blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buapool, S.; Thavarungkul, N.; Srisukhumbowornchai, N.

2017-04-01

To develop new polymer blends having reduced friction force of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) dispersion and improved adhesion of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fluid, FEP dispersion was blended with PDMS fluids at different viscosities of 20 cSt and 100 cSt by using solution mixing method. The FEP/PDMS blends were coated on short hollow tubes and examined by penetrating the tubes into the rubber stoppers. It was found that the tubes coated with the blends showed reduced penetration and friction forces and improved adhesion. The tubes coated with the 100 cSt-PDMS blend in the ratio of 5:1.5 demonstrated the penetration and average friction forces as low as 3828 mN and 1524 mN, respectively. The formation of physical blends was characterized and confirmed by FTIR and DSC analyses.

Preparation and antibacterial activities of chitosan-gallic acid/polyvinyl alcohol blend film by LED-UV irradiation.

PubMed

Yoon, Soon-Do; Kim, Young-Mog; Kim, Boo Il; Je, Jae-Young

2017-11-01

Active blend films from chitosan-gallic acid (CGA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared via a simple mixing and casting method through the addition of citric acid as a plasticizer. The CGA/PVA blend films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The mechanical properties including tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (%E), degree of solubility (S) and swelling behavior (DS), water vapor adsorption, and antimicrobial activities of the CGA/PVA blend films with and without LED (light emitting diode)-UV irradiation were also investigated. The CGA/PVA blend films exposed to UV irradiation exerted a higher TS (43.5MPa) and lower %E (50.40), S (0.38) and DS (2.73) compared to the CGA/PVA blend films (TS=41.7MPa, %E=55.40, S=0.42, and DS=3.16) not exposed LED-UV irradiation, indicating that the cross-linkage between CGA and PVA had been strengthened by LED-UV irradiation. However, the water vapor adsorption in the CGA/PVA blend films increased due to the changes of surface roughness and pore volume after LED-UV irradiation, and all values increased by increasing the CGA concentrations in the CGA/PVA blend films. The antimicrobial activities of the CGA/PVA blend films showed that the efficient concentration of CGA in the CGA/PVA blend films was over 1.0%. Taken together, the CGA/PVA blend films have potential for use as food packing materials. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

E-beam sterilizable thermoplastics elastomers for healthcare devices: Mechanical, morphology, and in vivo studies.

PubMed

Balaji, Ananad Bellam; Ratnam, Chantara Thevy; Khalid, Mohammad; Walvekar, Rashmi

2018-03-01

The effect of electron beam radiation on ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer/polypropylene blends is studied as an attempt to develop radiation sterilizable polypropylene/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer blends suitable for medical devices. The polypropylene/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer blends with mixing ratios of 80/20, 50/50, 20/80 were prepared in an internal mixer at 165°C and a rotor speed of 50 rpm/min followed by compression molding. The blends and the individual components were radiated using 3.0 MeV electron beam accelerator at doses ranging from 0 to 100 kGy in air and room temperature. All the samples were tested for tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, impact strength, and morphological properties. After exposing to 25 and 100 kGy radiation doses, 50% PP blend was selected for in vivo studies. Results revealed that radiation-induced crosslinking is dominating in EPDM dominant blends, while radiation-induced degradation is prevailing in PP dominant blends. The 20% PP blend was found to be most compatible for 20-60 kGy radiation sterilization. The retention in impact strength with enhanced tensile strength of 20% PP blend at 20-60 kGy believed to be associated with increased compatibility between PP and EPDM along with the radiation-induced crosslinking. The scanning electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces of the PP/EPDM blends showed evidences consistent with the above contentation. The in vivo studies provide an instinct that the radiated blends are safe to be used for healthcare devices.

Approach for achieving flame retardancy while retaining physical properties in a compatible polymer matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Martha K. (Inventor); Smith, Trent M. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

The invention provides polymer blends containing polyhydroxyamide and one or more flammable polymers. The polymer blends are flame retardant and have improved durability and heat stability compared to the flammable polymer portion of the blends. Articles containing the polymer blends are also provided.

Approach for achieving flame retardancy while retaining physical properties in a compatible polymer matrix

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Trent M. (Inventor); Williams, Martha K. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

The invention provides polymer blends containing polyhydroxyamide and one or more flammable polymers. The polymer blends are flame retardant and have improved durability and heat stability compared to the flammable polymer portion of the blends. Articles containing the polymer blends are also provided.

Blended Course Design: A Synthesis of Best Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGee, Patricia; Reis, Abby

2012-01-01

Blended or hybrid course offerings in higher education are commonplace and much has been written about how to design a blended course effectively. This study examines publically available guides, documents, and books that espouse best or effective practices in blended course design to determine commonalities among such practices. A qualitative…

40 CFR 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... that requires a blend of gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol... measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix...

40 CFR 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... that requires a blend of gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol... measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix...

40 CFR 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... that requires a blend of gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol... measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix...

40 CFR 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... that requires a blend of gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol... measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix...

40 CFR 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... that requires a blend of gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol... measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix...

40 CFR 418.70 - Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. 418.70 Section 418.70 Protection of Environment... SOURCE CATEGORY Mixed and Blend Fertilizer Production Subcategory § 418.70 Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are applicable...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

This document provides information on ethanol fuel properties, standards, codes, best practices, and equipment information for those who blend, distribute, store, sell, or use E15 (gasoline blended with 10.5 percent - 15 percent ethanol), E85 (marketing term for ethanol-gasoline blends containing 51 percent - 83 percent ethanol, depending on geography and season), and other ethanol blends.

40 CFR 60.583 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... must be used in combination with plant blending records (if plant blending is done) or inventory... the inks, standard gas chromatographic techniques may be used to identify and quantify these solvents...' formulation data along with plant blending records (if plant blending is done) may be used to determine VOC...

21 CFR 133.167 - Pasteurized blended cheese.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Pasteurized blended cheese. 133.167 Section 133... Cheese and Related Products § 133.167 Pasteurized blended cheese. Pasteurized blended cheese conforms to... ingredients, prescribed for pasteurized process cheese by § 133.169, except that: (a) In mixtures of two or...

Blended Learning in Education, Training, and Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duhaney, Devon C.

2004-01-01

The term "blended learning" has been growing in popularity, particularly in training and development arenas. Blended learning can be described as the use of synchronous or asynchronous technologies and traditional face-to-face instruction, in different forms or combinations, so as to facilitate teaching and learning. This mixture or blending of…

"Comfort" as a Critical Success Factor in Blended Learning Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Futch, Linda S.; deNoyelles, Aimee; Thompson, Kelvin; Howard, Wendy

2016-01-01

There are substantial quantitative research and anecdotal reports on blended learning and blended learning courses. However, few research studies focus on what happens at the classroom level. This research study aims to consider the highly contextual environment of effective blended learning courses by identifying the strategies instructors use to…

Development of high-performance blended cements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zichao

2000-10-01

This thesis presents the development of high-performance blended cements from industrial by-products. To overcome the low-early strength of blended cements, several chemicals were studied as the activators for cement hydration. Sodium sulfate was discovered as the best activator. The blending proportions were optimized by Taguchi experimental design. The optimized blended cements containing up to 80% fly ash performed better than Type I cement in strength development and durability. Maintaining a constant cement content, concrete produced from the optimized blended cements had equal or higher strength and higher durability than that produced from Type I cement alone. The key for the activation mechanism was the reaction between added SO4 2- and Ca2+ dissolved from cement hydration products.

Ethanol-diesel fuel blends -- a review.

PubMed

Hansen, Alan C; Zhang, Qin; Lyne, Peter W L

2005-02-01

Ethanol is an attractive alternative fuel because it is a renewable bio-based resource and it is oxygenated, thereby providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in compression-ignition engines. In this review the properties and specifications of ethanol blended with diesel fuel are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the factors critical to the potential commercial use of these blends. These factors include blend properties such as stability, viscosity and lubricity, safety and materials compatibility. The effect of the fuel on engine performance, durability and emissions is also considered. The formulation of additives to correct certain key properties and maintain blend stability is suggested as a critical factor in ensuring fuel compatibility with engines. However, maintaining vehicle safety with these blends may entail fuel tank modifications. Further work is required in specifying acceptable fuel characteristics, confirming the long-term effects on engine durability, and ensuring safety in handling and storing ethanol-diesel blends.

Crystallinity properties and crystallization behavior of chocolate fat blends.

PubMed

da Silva, Thais Lomonaco Teodoro; Grimaldi, Renato; Calligaris, Guilherme Andrade; Cardoso, Lisandro Pavie; Gonçalves, Lireny Aparecida Guaraldo

2017-06-01

Cocoa butter (CB) provides unique crystallization characteristics to chocolates and confectionary products; hence, it is an important value-add product. However, other alternative fats that minimally affect the crystallization behaviour of chocolates and confectionary products are now being increasingly used. This study analyzed the crystallization behaviour of CB, cocoa butter substitutes (CBSs), and their blends. Blends were prepared using CBS concentrations: 5, 10, 15, 20 and 37.5%. CB, CBS, and their blends were evaluated by following analysis: solid fat content, isothermal analysis, polarized light microscopic, thermal behaviour, X-ray diffraction and consistency. Crystallization analysis showed an incompatibility between the 2 fats, with a reduction in the crystallinity and increase in liquid content in all the blends. Eutectic crystallization at 20 °C was only observed for the blend containing 20% CBSs. This was considered as a positive result because previous studies have indicated that CBS concentration in CB blends should not be more than 5%.

40 CFR 417.170 - Applicability; description of the manufacture of detergents by dry blending subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... manufacture of detergents by dry blending subcategory. 417.170 Section 417.170 Protection of Environment... POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Manufacture of Detergents by Dry Blending Subcategory § 417.170 Applicability; description of the manufacture of detergents by dry blending subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are...

Effective Blended Learning Practices: Evidence-Based Perspectives in ICT-Facilitated Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stacey, Elizabeth, Ed.; Gerbic, Philippa, Ed.

2009-01-01

New innovations of online learning within blended environments create a need within academia for research on best practices in teaching. This book provides insight into the practice of blended learning in higher education. This unique book collects new international research into many aspects of blended learning from the perspectives of learners,…

Evaluating Student Satisfaction with Blended Learning in a Gender-Segregated Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Naaj, Mahmoud Abou; Nachouki, Mirna; Ankit, Ahmed

2012-01-01

Blended learning combines multiple delivery media that are designed to complement each other and promote learning and application-learned behavior (Smith & Dillon, 1999). This article reports on a study conducted in the College of Information Technology to evaluate levels of student' satisfaction with blended learning. The particular blend of…

40 CFR 1065.725 - High-level ethanol-gasoline blends.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false High-level ethanol-gasoline blends... Calibration Standards § 1065.725 High-level ethanol-gasoline blends. For testing vehicles capable of operating on a high-level ethanol-gasoline blend, create a test fuel as follows: (a) Add ethanol to an E10 fuel...

The Optimum Blend: Affordances and Challenges of Blended Learning for Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gedik, Nuray; Kiraz, Ercan; Ozden, M. Yasar

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to elicit students' perceptions regarding the most facilitative and most challenging features (affordances and barriers) in a blended course design. Following the phenomenological approach of qualitative inquiry, data were collected from ten undergraduate students who had experiences in a blended learning environment.…

Transitioning an Adult-Serving University to a Blended Learning Model

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Korr, Jeremy; Derwin, Ellen Baker; Greene, Kimberly; Sokoloff, William

2012-01-01

While many institutions deliver some classes in blended format, Brandman University transitioned all of its face-to-face classes to blended delivery, using a model tailored to the needs of adult learners. This article provides research supporting the ways that blended learning principles align with key principles of andragogy. The article provides…

Blended Online Learning in Initial Teacher Education: A Professional Inquiry into Pre-Service Teachers' Inquiry Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hunt, Anne-Marie

2015-01-01

Online and blended learning bring opportunities and challenges, including more opportunities for authentic activities (Gikandi, Morrow, & Davis, 2011). Blended online environments are now a common mode for pre-service teacher education, providing interesting opportunities to develop and showcase alternative approaches that blend with practice…

Sociotechnical Systems Approach: An Internal Assessment of a Blended Doctoral Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erichsen, Elizabeth Anne; DeLorme, Lyn; Connelley, Rosalinda; Okurut-Ibore, Christine; McNamara, Lisa; Aljohani, Obaidalah

2013-01-01

An internal assessment was conducted utilizing a sociotechnical systems approach and cultural lens as a means of exploring the dynamics of a blended doctoral program. Blended learning environments were conceived of as sociotechnical systems, and blended programs were defined as programs that utilize multimodal means for the mediation of…

A Blended and Face-to-Face Comparison of Teacher Professional Development: What's the Impact?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leake, Stephanie

2014-01-01

The availability and subsequent expansion in the use of online learning environments has provided a new avenue for teacher professional development: blended learning. While blended learning environments may provide attractive benefits to teachers and school administration, the impact of blended teacher professional development has been largely…

Enacting Conceptual Metaphor through Blending: Learning Activities Embodying the Substance Metaphor for Energy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Close, Hunter G.; Scherr, Rachel E.

2015-01-01

We demonstrate that a particular blended learning space is especially productive in developing understanding of energy transfers and transformations. In this blended space, naturally occurring learner interactions like body movement, gesture, and metaphorical speech are blended with a conceptual metaphor of energy as a substance in a class of…

Educator Experiences Transitioning to Blended Learning Environment in K-6 Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Somera, Sandra Lopez

2018-01-01

Enrollments in blended learning programs are growing, creating a challenge to find educators who understand blended learning pedagogy. The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the challenges and pedagogical transformations of elementary educators who recently adopted blended learning. The concerns-based adoption model provided a…

Blended Learning in Vocational Education: Teachers' Conceptions of Blended Learning and Their Approaches to Teaching and Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bliuc, Ana-Maria; Casey, Grant; Bachfischer, Agnieszka; Goodyear, Peter; Ellis, Robert A.

2012-01-01

This paper presents research exploring teachers' experiences of using blended learning in vocational education. Teachers involved in designing and teaching using blended learning from a major Australian vocational education provider participated in the study. They received open-ended questionnaires asking to describe their conceptions of blended…

Blended Learning and Student Engagement in an Urban High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Courtney

2017-01-01

A metropolitan school district wanted to understand blended learning as it existed in one of their high schools. Blended learning had been school-wide for four years, and district administrators wanted to know how students, teachers, and school administrators perceived blended learning and its impact on student engagement. This was a…

Transitioning to Blended Learning: Understanding Student and Faculty Perceptions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Napier, Nannette P.; Dekhane, Sonal; Smith, Stella

2011-01-01

This paper describes the conversion of an introductory computing course to the blended learning model at a small, public liberal arts college. Blended learning significantly reduces face-to-face instruction by incorporating rich, online learning experiences. To assess the impact of blended learning on students, survey data was collected at the…

In Search of Attributes That Support Self-Regulation in Blended Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Laer, Stijn; Elen, Jan

2017-01-01

Blended forms of learning have become increasingly popular. Learning activities within these environments are supported by a large variety of online and face-to-face interventions. However, it remains unclear whether these blended environments are successful, and if they are, what makes them successful. Studies suggest that blended learning…

The Impact of Leadership Support for Blended Learning on Teachers and Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bodden-White, Michelle Marie

2015-01-01

This quantitative study examined the relationship between teachers' perceptions of leadership support for their use of a blended learning approach to teach math in fourth or fifth grade and their use of blended learning. The study also examined teachers' perceptions of leadership support for incorporating blended learning and student engagement.…

Global Blended Learning Practices for Teaching and Learning, Leadership and Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hilliard, Ann Toler

2015-01-01

Blended learning is a combination of online and face-to-face activities for classroom instruction or other training modalities to help develop new knowledge and skills that can be transferred to the workplace environment. The use of blended learning is expanding globally (Vaughn, 2007). Blended learning is evident in professional development…

Blended Learning over Two Decades

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhonggen, Yu; Yuexiu, Zhejiang

2015-01-01

The 21st century has witnessed vast amounts of research into blended learning since the conception of online learning formed the possibility of blended learning in the early 1990s. The theme of this paper is blended learning in mainstream disciplinary communities. In particular, the paper reports on findings from the last two decades which looked…

Development and Validation of the Blended Learning Environment Instrument (BLEI) in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aljahni, Areej; Al-Begain, Khalid; Skinner, Heather

2014-01-01

Part of ongoing research into the efficacy of blended learning in higher education within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The need for, and development of, a Blended Learning Environment Instrument (BLEI) are explained. This new instrument assesses student perceptions across five core aspects of blended learning environments: Infrastructure,…

Production of silk sericin/silk fibroin blend nanofibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xianhua; Tsukada, Masuhiro; Morikawa, Hideaki; Aojima, Kazuki; Zhang, Guangyu; Miura, Mikihiko

2011-08-01

Silk sericin (SS)/silk fibroin (SF) blend nanofibers have been produced by electrospinning in a binary SS/SF trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution system, which was prepared by mixing 20 wt.% SS TFA solution and 10 wt.% SF TFA solution to give different compositions. The diameters of the SS/SF nanofibers ranged from 33 to 837 nm, and they showed a round cross section. The surface of the SS/SF nanofibers was smooth, and the fibers possessed a bead-free structure. The average diameters of the SS/SF (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75) blend nanofibers were much thicker than that of SS and SF nanofibers. The SS/SF (100/0, 75/25, and 50/50) blend nanofibers were easily dissolved in water, while the SS/SF (25/75 and 0/100) blend nanofibers could not be completely dissolved in water. The SS/SF blend nanofibers could not be completely dissolved in methanol. The SS/SF blend nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and differential thermal analysis. FTIR showed that the SS/SF blend nanofibers possessed a random coil conformation and ß-sheet structure.

NR/EPDM elastomeric rubber blend miscibility evaluation by two-level fractional factorial design of experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razak, Jeefferie Abd; Ahmad, Sahrim Haji; Ratnam, Chantara Thevy; Mahamood, Mazlin Aida; Yaakub, Juliana; Mohamad, Noraiham

2014-09-01

Fractional 25 two-level factorial design of experiment (DOE) was applied to systematically prepare the NR/EPDM blend using Haake internal mixer set-up. The process model of rubber blend preparation that correlates the relationships between the mixer process input parameters and the output response of blend compatibility was developed. Model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and model fitting through curve evaluation finalized the R2 of 99.60% with proposed parametric combination of A = 30/70 NR/EPDM blend ratio; B = 70°C mixing temperature; C = 70 rpm of rotor speed; D = 5 minutes of mixing period and E = 1.30 phr EPDM-g-MAH compatibilizer addition, with overall 0.966 desirability. Model validation with small deviation at +2.09% confirmed the repeatability of the mixing strategy with valid maximum tensile strength output representing the blend miscibility. Theoretical calculation of NR/EPDM blend compatibility is also included and compared. In short, this study provides a brief insight on the utilization of DOE for experimental simplification and parameter inter-correlation studies, especially when dealing with multiple variables during elastomeric rubber blend preparation.

Dynamic rheological, microstructural and physicochemical properties of blend fish protein recovered from kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) by the pH-shift process or washing-based technology.

PubMed

Abdollahi, Mehdi; Rezaei, Masoud; Jafarpour, Ali; Undeland, Ingrid

2017-08-15

This study aimed to evaluate how blending pH-shift produced protein isolates from gutted kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) affected dynamic rheological and chemical properties of the proteins as well as microstructural and physico-mechanical properties of produced gels. Studied variables were protein solubilization pH (acid vs. alkaline) and blending step (before or after protein precipitation). Comparisons were made with conventionally washed minces from kilka and silver carp fillets; either alone or after blending. Rheological studies revealed that blending alkali-produced protein isolates before precipitation resulted in rapid increase of G' reflecting the formation of intermolecular protein-protein interactions with higher rate. Furthermore, blending of alkali-produced protein isolates and washed minces, respectively, of kilka and silver carp improved physico-mechanical properties of the resultant gels compared to pure kilka proteins. However, the pH-shift method showed higher efficacy in development of blend surimi at the same blending ratio compared to the conventional washing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polypropylene fumarate/phloroglucinol triglycidyl methacrylate blend for use as partially biodegradable orthopaedic cement.

PubMed

Jayabalan, M; Thomas, V; Rajesh, P N

2001-10-01

Polypropylene fumarate/phloroglucinol triglycidyl methacrylate oligomeric blend-based bone cement was studied. Higher the percentage of phloroglucinol triglycidyl methacrylate, lesser the setting time. An optimum setting time could be arrived with 50:50 blend composition of the two oligomers. Composite cement of 50:50 blend prepared with hydroxyapatite granules of particle size 125 microm binds bovine rib bones. The tensile strength of this adhesive bond was found to be 1.11 kPa. The thermal studies suggest the onset of cross-linking reaction in the cured blend if the blend is heated. The absence of softening endotherm in the cured blend shows the thermosetting-like amorphous nature of blend system, which may restrict the changes in creep properties. The in vitro biodegradation studies reveal possible association of calcium ions with negatively charged units of degrading polymer chain resulting in slow down of degradation. Relatively slow degradation was observed in Ringer's solution. The study reveals the potential use of polypropylene fumarate/phloroglucinol triglycidyl methacrylate as partially degradable polymeric cement for orthopaedic applications.

The effects of neat biodiesel and biodiesel and HVO blends in diesel fuel on exhaust emissions from a light duty vehicle with a diesel engine.

PubMed

Prokopowicz, Adam; Zaciera, Marzena; Sobczak, Andrzej; Bielaczyc, Piotr; Woodburn, Joseph

2015-06-16

The influence of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel blends on the exhaust emissions from a passenger car was examined. The impact of FAME for the cold urban phase (UDC) was increased CO and HC emissions, probably due to blend physical properties promoting incomplete combustion. The HVO blend caused the lowest CO and HC emissions for the UDC. NOx emissions did not change significantly with the fuel used, however the UDC was characterized by lower NOx emission for FAME blends. Particle emissions were highest with standard diesel. Emissions of carbonyl compounds increased as fuel biodiesel content increased, especially during the UDC. HVO in diesel fuel decreased carbonyl emissions. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the most abundant carbonyl compounds in the exhaust gas. Total particle-bound PAH emissions were variable, the emission of heavier PAHs increased with blend biodiesel content. The HVO blend increased emission of lighter PAHs. Nitro-PAHs were identified only during the UDC and not for all blends; the highest emissions were measured for pure diesel. The results showed that emission of nitro-PAHs may be decreased to a greater extent by using biodiesel than using a HVO blend.

Enhancing the Compatibility of Poly (1,4-butylene adipate) and Phenoxy Resin in Blends

PubMed Central

Yang, Cheng-Fu; Wang, Hsiang-Ching; Su, Chean-Cheng

2017-01-01

This work concerns the enhancement in the compatibility of blends of poly (1,4-butylene adipate) (PBA) with poly (hydroxy ether of bisphenol-A) (phenoxy) via alcoholytic exchange. Results on the thermal behavior and morphology show that the blended PBA/phenoxy system exhibits a homogeneous phase and a composition-dependent glass transition temperature (Tg). The interaction parameter (χ12) of PBA/phenoxy blends was calculated using the melting point depression method and was found to be −0.336. However, the compatibilization of PBA/phenoxy blends can be enhanced by chemical exchange reactions between PBA and phenoxy upon annealing. Annealed PBA/phenoxy blends were found to have a homogeneous phase with a higher Tg than that of the blended samples, and a smooth surface topography that could be improved by annealing at high temperature. The results of this investigation demonstrate that promotional phase compatibilization in the PBA/phenoxy blend can only be obtained upon thermal annealing, thus causing transreactions to occur between the dangling –OH of the phenoxy and the ester functional groups in PBA. Extensive transreactions cause alcoholytic exchange between the PBA and phenoxy to form a network, thus reducing the mobility of the polymer chain. Finally, the crystallinity of PBA decreased as the degree of transreaction in the blends increased. PMID:28773050

Synergistic effect of nano calcium carbonate (NCC)/carbon black (CB) on the cure characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of NR/SBR blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamauod, Siti Nur Liyana; Romli, Ahmad Zafir; Rizuan, Mohd Ismail Rifdi

2017-09-01

This research was carried out as to develop hybrid filler reinforced into the blend of natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). The NR/SBR blend was reinforced using carbon black (CB) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC). The NCC content varied from 2-10 phr which was incorporated into the NR/SBR blend filled with fixed 50 phr of CB. The main aim of this project was to study the synergistic effect of NCC and CB reinforced NR/SBR blends towards the curing characteristics using cure rheometer, the viscosity of uncured NR/SBR compounds, physical and mechanical property blends. From the results obtained, the optimum ratio of blending was identified at 4 phr of NCC loading. Tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus and hardness increased progressively with increasing the NCC loading from 0 phr up to a maximum value at 4 phr. This increment occurs due to consolidation of the network structure of the polymer chains with the increasing NCC content. Up to the optimum amount of NCC, the tendency for NCC particles to form aggregate was very high and hence reduces the properties of rubber blends. It proved that NCC acts as a co-reinforcing agent for CB to improve the performance in the NR/SBR blends.

A drop penetration method to measure powder blend wettability.

PubMed

Wang, Yifan; Liu, Zhanjie; Muzzio, Fernando; Drazer, German; Callegari, Gerardo

2018-03-01

Water wettability of pharmaceutical blends affects important quality attributes of final products. We investigate the wetting properties of a pharmaceutical blend lubricated with Magnesium Stearate (MgSt) as a function of the mechanical shear strain applied to the blend. We measure the penetration dynamics of sessile drops deposited on slightly compressed powder beds. We consider a blend composed of 9% Acetaminophen 90% Lactose and 1% MgSt by weight. Comparing the penetration time of water and a reference liquid Polydimethylsiloxane (silicon oil) we obtain an effective cosine of the contact angle with water, based on a recently developed drop penetration method. We repeat the experiments for blends exposed to increasing levels of shear strain and demonstrate a significant decrease in water wettability (decrease in the cosine of the contact angle). The results are consistent with the development of a hydrophobic film coating the powder particles as a result of the increased shear strain. Finally, we show that, as expected dissolution times increase with the level of shear strain. Therefore, the proposed drop penetration method could be used to directly assess the state of lubrication of a pharmaceutical blend and act as a quality control on powder blend attributes before the blend is tableted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cognitive Advantages of Blending with Material Anchors in Energy Instruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Close, Hunter; Close, Eleanor; Scherr, Rachel; McKagan, Sarah

2012-03-01

Conceptual blending theory [1] explains how the human imagination creates unreal situations that help us think about reality. In these imaginary blended situations, we establish new correspondences, interactions, and dynamics, and the outcomes of the dynamics lend insight to the nature of various real situations that were used to compose the blend. Blends are not just in the head, however; in some cases, a material system participates in the blend by lending its material structure as conceptual structure [2]. In the instructional activity Energy Theater [3], people represent units of energy and move around in order to solve puzzles of energy transfer and transformation. We use the ideas of blending and material anchors to understand how learners are able to use the representation to their cognitive advantage. [4pt] [1] Fauconnier, G. & Turner, M. (2002). The Way We Think: Conceptual Blending and the Mind's Hidden Complexities. New York: Basic Books.[0pt] [2] Hutchins, E. (2005) Material anchors for conceptual blends. Journal of Pragmatics 37, 1555-1577.[0pt] [3] Scherr, R. E., Close, H. G., McKagan, S. B., & Close, E. W. (2010) ``Energy Theater'': Using the body symbolically to understand energy. In C. Singh, M. Sabella, & S. Rebello (Eds.) 2010 PERC Proceedings. Melville, NY: AIP Press.

Microwave irradiation induced modifications on the interfaces in SAN/EVA/PVC and PVAc/BPA/PVP ternary polymer blends: Positron lifetime study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinesh, Meghala; Chikkakuntappa, Ranganathaiah

2013-09-01

Ternary polymer blends of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)/poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate)/poly(vinyl chloride) (SAN/EVA/PVC) and poly(vinyl acetate)/bisphenol A/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVAc/BPA/PVP) with different compositions have been prepared by solvent casting method and characterized by positron lifetime spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry DSC. Phase modifications have been induced by irradiating the blends with microwave radiation. These changes have been monitored by measuring the free-volume content in the blends. The results clearly show improved interactions between the constituent polymers of the blends upon microwave irradiation. However, the free-volume data and DSC measurements are found to be inadequate to reveal the changes at the interfaces and the interfaces determine the final properties of the blend. For this we have used hydrodynamic interaction (αij) approach developed by us to measure strength of hydrodynamic interaction at the interfaces. These results show that microwave irradiation stabilizes the interfaces if the blend contains strong polar groups. SAN/EVA/PVC blend shows an increased effective hydrodynamic interaction from -3.18 to -4.85 at composition 50/35/15 upon microwave irradiation and PVAc/BPA/PVP blend shows an increased effective hydrodynamic interaction from -3.81 to -7.57 at composition 20/50/30 after irradiation.

Preparation and Effect of Gamma Radiation on The Properties and Biodegradability of Poly(Styrene/Starch) Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, H. E.; Abdel Ghaffar, A. M.

2017-01-01

Biodegradable blends based on Poly(styrene/starch) Poly(Sty/Starch) were prepared by the casting method using different contents of starch in the range of 0-20 wt% aiming at preparing disposable packaging materials. The prepared bio-blends were Characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), swelling behavior, mechanical properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the swelling behavior slightly increased with increasing starch content and not exceeding 7.5%. The results showed that by increasing irradiation dose up to 5 kGy, the mechanical properties of the prepared PSty/10 wt% Starch blend film modified than other blend films, and hence it is selected. Also the water resistant increased, by irradiation of the selected PSty/10 wt% Starch blend film. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between Starch and PSty of the PSty/10 wt% Starch blend film promote a more homogenous blend film as shown in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The prepared Poly(Sty/Starch) blends with different compositions and the selected irradiated PSty/10 wt% Starch blend were subjected to biodegradation in soil burial tests for 6 months using two different types of soils; agricultural and desert soils, then analyzed gravimetrically and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results suggested that there is a possibility of using irradiated PSty/10 wt% Starch at a dose of 5 kGy as a potential candidate for packaging material.

Rheological and thermal properties of polylactide/silicate nanocomposites films.

PubMed

Ahmed, Jasim; Varshney, Sunil K; Auras, Rafeal

2010-03-01

Polylactide (DL)/polyethylene glycol/silicate nanocomposite blended biodegradable films have been prepared by solvent casting method. Rheological and thermal properties were investigated for both neat amorphous polylactide (PLA-DL form) and blend of montmorillonite (clay) and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG). Melt rheology of the PLA individually and blends (PLA/clay; PLA/PEG; PLA/PEG/clay) were performed by small amplitude oscillation shear (SAOS) measurement. Individually, PLA showed an improvement in the viscoelastic properties in the temperature range from 180 to 190 degrees C. Incorporation of nanoclay (3% to 9% wt) was attributed by significant improvements in the elastic modulus (G') of PLA/clay blend due to intercalation at higher temperature. Both dynamic modulii of PLA/PEG blend were significantly reduced with addition of 10% PEG. Rheometric measurement could not be conducted while PLA/PEG blends containing 25% PEG. A blend of PLA/PEG/clay (68/23/9) showed liquid-like properties with excellent flexibility. Thermal analysis of different clay loading films indicated that the glass transition temperatures (T(g)) remained unaffected irrespective of clay concentration due to immobilization of polymer chain in the clay nanocomposite. PEG incorporation reduced the T(g) of the blend (PLA/PEG and PLA/PEG/clay) significantly. Both rheological and thermal analysis data supported plasticization and flexibility of the blended films. It is also interesting to study competition between PLA and PEG for the intercalation into the interlayer spacing of the clay. This study indicates that PLA/montmorillonite blend could serve as effective nano-composite for packaging and other applications.

Key fuel properties and engine performances of diesel-ethanol blends, using tetrahydrofuran as surfactant additive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molea, A.; Visuian, P.; Barabás, I.; Suciu, R. C.; Burnete, N. V.

2017-10-01

In this paper there were presented researches related to preparation and characterization of physicochemical properties of diesel-ethanol blends stabilized with tetrahydrofuran as surfactant, in order to be used as fuels in compression ignition engines. The main spray characteristics and engine performances of these blends were evaluated by using AVL Fire software. In the first stage of the studies, commercial diesel was mixed with ethanol, in different concentrations (between 2% and 15% v/v), followed by the addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) until the blends were miscible, i.e. the blends were stabilized. The experiments were done at room temperature (22 °C). The obtained blends were characterized in order to determine the chemical composition and physicochemical properties, i.e. density, kinematic viscosity, surface tension. UV-Vis spectroscopy was utilized in order to determine a semi-quantitative evaluation regarding the chemical composition of the prepared blends and chemical interaction between diesel, ethanol and THF. Based on the determined properties, the fuel spray characteristics, engine performances and emission characteristics were evaluated by simulation using the AVL Fire software. The obtained results regarding physicochemical properties of blends were compared with diesel. Some improvements were observed when operating with the prepared blends compared to diesel with respect to engine performances and emission characteristics. Based on physicochemical evaluation and computer simulation, it was demonstrated that diesel-ethanol-tetrahydrofuran blends can be used as alternative fuel in compression ignition engines.

Synthesis of geopolymer from biomass-coal ash blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samadhi, Tjokorde Walmiki; Wulandari, Winny; Prasetyo, Muhammad Iqbal; Fernando, Muhammad Rizki; Purbasari, Aprilina

2017-09-01

Geopolymer is an environmentally attractive Portland cement substitute, owing to its lower carbon footprint and its ability to consume various aluminosilicate waste materials as its precursors. This work describes the development of geopolymer formulation based on biomass-coal ash blends, which is predicted to be the prevalent type of waste when biomass-based thermal energy production becomes mainstream in Indonesia. The ash blends contain an ASTM Class F coal fly ash (FA), rice husk ash (RHA), and coconut shell ash (CSA). A mixture of Na2SiO3 and concentrated KOH is used as the activator solution. A preliminary experiment identified the appropriate activator/ash mass ratio to be 2.0, while the activator Na2SiO3/KOH ratio varies from 0.8 to 2.0 with increasing ash blend Si/Al ratio. Both non-blended FA and CSA are able to produce geopolymer mortars with 7-day compressive strength exceeding the Indonesian national SNI 15-2049-2004 standard minimum value of 2.0 MPa stipulated for Portland cement mortars. Ash blends have to be formulated with a maximum RHA content of approximately 50 %-mass to yield satisfactory 7-day strength. No optimum ash blend composition is identified within the simplex ternary ash blend compositional region. The strength decreases with Si/Al ratio of the ash blends due to increasing amount of unreacted silicate raw materials at the end of the geopolymer hardening period. Overall, it is confirmed that CSA and blended RHA are feasible raw materials for geopolymer production..

Physicochemical properties and potential food applications of Moringa oleifera seed oil blended with other vegetable oils.

PubMed

Dollah, Sarafhana; Abdulkarim, Sabo Muhammad; Ahmad, Siti Hajar; Khoramnia, Anahita; Ghazali, Hasanah Mohd

2014-01-01

Blends (30:70, 50:50 and 70:30 w/w) of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MoO) with palm olein (PO), palm stearin (PS), palm kernel oil (PKO) and virgin coconut oil (VCO) were prepared. To determine the physicochemical properties of the blends, the iodine value (IV), saponication value (SV), fatty acid (FA) composition, triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, thermal behaviour (DSC) and solid fat content (SFC) tests were analysed. The incorporation of high oleic acid (81.73%) MoO into the blends resulted in the reduction of palmitic acid content of PO and PS from 36.38% to 17.17% and 54.66% to 14.39% and lauric acid content of PKO and VCO from 50.63% to 17.70% and 51.26% to 26.05% respectively while oleic acid and degree of unsaturation were increased in all blends. Changes in the FA composition and TAG profile have significantly affected the thermal behavior and solid fat content of the oil blends. In MoO/PO blends the melting temperature of MoO decreased while, in MoO/PS, MoO/PKO and MoO/VCO blends, it increased indicating produce of zero-trans harder oil blends without use of partial hydrogenation. The spreadability of PS, PKO and VCO in low temperatures was also increased due to incorporation of MoO. The melting point of PS significantly decreased in MoO/PS blends which proved to be suitable for high oleic bakery shortening and confectionary shortening formulation. The finding appears that blending of MoO with other vegetable oils would enable the initial properties of the oils to be modified or altered and provide functional and nutritional attributes for usage in various food applications, increasing the possibilities for the commercial use of these oils.

Compatibility Studies Of Blends Of PPG 4000 And PEG 4000 Using Viscosity Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkatramanan, K.; Arumugam, V.

2010-06-01

Certain properties of polymers can be enhanced by mixing it with another polymer. When two or more polymers are intimately mixed in a single continuous solid product, the composition is generally referred to as a polymer blend or polyblend. Depending upon the degree of miscibility or immiscibility, such a polyblend may resemble a random copolymer or a block or graft copolymer or it may show micro or macro heterogeneous separation into a multiphase system. Viscosity method is simple and it offers very useful information about the relationship between dilute solution properties and bulk structure of the polymer blend. The basic idea of using viscosity as a parameter for compatibility determination of polymer blends lies in the fact that in solution the repulsive interaction may cause shrinkage of polymer coils resulting in a viscosity of the polymer mixture that is lower than the value calculated from viscosities of the pure components on the assumption of the additive law. In the present study, an attempt has been made to blend PPG 4000 with PEG 4000 in 1,4 -Dioxane at 303K at 1% concentration. The blend compositions were formed in the ratio 0:1, 0.2:0.8, 0.4:0.6, 0.5:0.5, 0.6:0.4, 0.8:0.2, 1:0. Relative viscosity of the blend compositions was determined and the values are nonlinear which showed incompatibility. Miscibility nature of the blends were determined further using additive law, log additive law and free volume additive law and the experimental values in all the cases showed negative deviation which is a characteristic of immiscible blend. The miscibility nature of the blend was further confirmed through density, ultrasonic velocity, refractive index and other techniques. The blend showed immiscibility.

A soy, whey and caseinate blend extends postprandial skeletal muscle protein synthesis in rats.

PubMed

Butteiger, D N; Cope, M; Liu, P; Mukherjea, R; Volpi, E; Rasmussen, B B; Krul, E S

2013-08-01

Blends of dairy and soy protein are used in commercial sports nutrition products; however, no studies have systematically compared blends to isolated protein sources and their effects on muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Dairy whey protein (WP), soy protein isolate (SP), and two blends (Blend 1 and Blend 2) consisting of ratios of 50:25:25 and 25:50:25 for whey:caseinate:soy, respectively, were evaluated for their ability to affect MPS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to eat 3 meals/day: a 4 g meal at 0700-0720 hours followed by ad lib feeding at 1300-1400 hours and 1800-1900 hours. After ~5 days of training, fasted rats were administered their respective 4 g meal at 0700-0720 hours and an intravenous flooding dose of (2)H5-phenylalanine 10 min prior to euthanasia. Individual rats were euthanized at designated postprandial time points. Blood and gastrocnemius samples were collected and the latter was used to measure mixed muscle protein fractional synthetic rates (FSR). Plasma leucine concentrations peaked in all groups at 90 min and were still above baseline at 300 min post-meal. FSR tended to increase in all groups post-meal but initial peaks of FSR were different times (45, 90 and 135 min for WP or SP, Blend 1 and Blend 2, respectively). Blend 2 had a significantly higher FSR compared to WP alone at 135 min (P < 0.05). Single source proteins and protein blends all enhance skeletal MPS after a meal, however, Blend 2 had a delayed FSR peak which was significantly higher than whey protein at 135 min. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Carbon-Type Analysis and Comparison of Original and Reblended FACE Diesel Fuels (FACE 2, FACE 4, and FACE 7)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bays, J. Timothy; King, David L.; O'Hagan, Molly J.

This report summarizes the carbon-type analysis from 1H and 13C{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) of Fuels for Advanced Combustion Engines (FACE) diesel blends, FD-2B, FD 4B, and FD-7B, and makes comparison of the new blends with the original FACE diesel blends, FD 2A, FD 4A, and FD-7A, respectively. Generally, FD-2A and FD-2B are more similar than the A and B blends of FD-4 and FD-7. The aromatic carbon content is roughly equivalent, although the new FACE blends have decreased monoaromatic content and increased di- and tri-cycloaromatic content, as well as a higher overall aromatic content, than the original FACEmore » blends. The aromatic components of the new FACE blends generally have a higher alkyl substitution with longer alkyl substituents. The naphthenic and paraffinic contents remained relatively consistent. Based on aliphatic methyl and methylene carbon ratios, cetane numbers for FD-2A and -2B, and FD-7A and -7B are predicted to be consistent, while the cetane number for FD-4B is predicted to be higher than FD-4A. Overall, the new FACE fuel blends are fairly consistent with the original FACE fuel blends, but there are observable differences. In addition to providing important comparative compositional information on reformulated FACE diesel blends, this report also provides important information about the capabilities of the team at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the use of NMR spectroscopy for the detailed characterization and comparison of fuels and fuel blends.« less

Aerosols and criteria gases in an underground mine that uses FAME biodiesel blends.

PubMed

Bugarski, Aleksandar D; Janisko, Samuel J; Cauda, Emanuele G; Patts, Larry D; Hummer, Jon A; Westover, Charles; Terrillion, Troy

2014-10-01

The contribution of heavy-duty haulage trucks to the concentrations of aerosols and criteria gases in underground mine air and the physical properties of those aerosols were assessed for three fuel blends made with fatty acid methyl esters biodiesel and petroleum-based ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). The contributions of blends with 20, 50, and 57% of biodiesel as well as neat ULSD were assessed using a 30-ton truck operated over a simulated production cycle in an isolated zone of an operating underground metal mine. When fueled with the B20 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 20% of biodiesel content), B50 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 50% of biodiesel content), and B57 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 57% of biodiesel content) blends in place of ULSD, the truck's contribution to mass concentrations of elemental and total carbon was reduced by 20, 50, and 61%, respectively. Size distribution measurements showed that the aerosols produced by the engine fueled with these blends were characterized by smaller median electrical mobility diameter and lower peak concentrations than the aerosols produced by the same engine fueled with ULSD. The use of the blends resulted in number concentrations of aerosols that were 13-29% lower than those when ULSD was used. Depending on the content of biodiesel in the blends, the average reductions in the surface area concentrations of aerosol which could be deposited in the alveolar region of the lung (as measured by a nanoparticle surface area monitor) ranged between 6 and 37%. The use of blends also resulted in slight but measurable reductions in CO emissions, as well as an increase in NOX emissions. All of the above changes in concentrations and physical properties were found to be correlated with the proportion of biodiesel in the blends. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society 2014.

Influence of non-covalent modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization behaviour of binary blends of polypropylene and polyamide 6.

PubMed

Mukhopadhyay, Nabaneeta; Panwar, Ajay S; Kumar, Gulshan; Samajdar, I; Bhattacharyya, Arup R

2015-02-14

Blends of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared using different processing strategies in a twin-screw micro-compounder. The effect of MWNTs on the crystallization behaviour of the PP phase and the PA6 phase of the blend has been investigated through non-isothermal crystallization studies by differential scanning calorimetric analysis. Furthermore, the effect of the addition of the compatibilizer (PP-g-MA) and the modification of MWNTs (m-MWNTs) with a non-covalent organic modifier (Li-salt of 6 amino hexanoic acid, Li-AHA) has also been studied in context to the crystallization behaviour of the PP and PA6 phase in the blend. The crystallization studies have indicated a significant increase in bulk crystallization temperature of the PP phase in the blend in the presence of MWNTs. Moreover, the formation of 'trans-lamellar crystalline' structure consisting of PA6 'trans-crystalline lamellae' on MWNTs surface was facilitated in the case of blends prepared via 'protocol 2' as compared to the corresponding blends prepared via 'protocol 1'. Wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis has showed the existence of a β-polymorph of the PP phase due to incorporation of the PA6 phase in the blend. Addition of MWNTs in the blends has facilitated further β-crystalline structure formation of the PP phase. In the presence of m-MWNTs, a higher β-fraction was observed in the PP phase as compared to the blend with pristine MWNTs. Addition of PP-g-MA has suppressed the β-phase formation in the PP phase in the blend. X-ray bulk texture analysis revealed that incorporation of PA6 as well as pristine/modified MWNTs has influenced the extent of orientation of the PP chains towards specific crystalline planes in various blend compositions of PP and PA6.

A blend of sesame oil and rice bran oil lowers blood pressure and improves the lipid profile in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients.

PubMed

Devarajan, Sankar; Singh, Ravinder; Chatterjee, Biprabuddha; Zhang, Bo; Ali, Amanat

2016-01-01

Sesame oil and rice bran oil are known for their unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants contents and have been reported to reduce the cardiovascular risk. To determine the effect of a blend of 20% unrefined cold-pressed lignans-rich sesame oil and 80% physically refined γ-oryzanol-rich rice bran oil (Vivo) as cooking oil in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients. In this prospective, open-label dietary approach, 300 hypertensive patients and 100 normotensives were divided into groups as: (1) normotensives treated with sesame oil blend, (2) hypertensives treated with sesame oil blend, (3) hypertensives treated with nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker (20 mg/d), and (4) hypertensives receiving the combination of sesame oil blend and nifedipine (20 mg/d). Sesame oil blend was supplied to respective groups, and they were instructed to use it as the only cooking oil for 60 days. Resting blood pressure was measured at days 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60, whereas the fasting lipid profile was measured at days 0 and 60. Significant reduction in blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial) from days 0 to 15, 30, 45, and 60 were observed in hypertensives treated with sesame oil blend alone (P < .001), nifedipine alone (P < .001), and combination of sesame oil blend and nifedipine (P < .001). Sesame oil blend with nifedipine-treated group showed greatest reduction in blood pressure. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels reduced, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly only in hypertensives treated with sesame oil blend alone and the combination of sesame oil blend and nifedipine (P < .001). We demonstrate for the first time that using a blend of sesame oil and rice bran oil as cooking oil showed a significant antihypertensive and lipid-lowering action and had noteworthy additive effect with antihypertensive medication. Copyright © 2016 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aerosols and Criteria Gases in an Underground Mine That Uses FAME Biodiesel Blends

PubMed Central

Bugarski, Aleksandar D.; Janisko, Samuel J.; Cauda, Emanuele G.; Patts, Larry D.; Hummer, Jon A.; Westover, Charles; Terrillion, Troy

2015-01-01

The contribution of heavy-duty haulage trucks to the concentrations of aerosols and criteria gases in underground mine air and the physical properties of those aerosols were assessed for three fuel blends made with fatty acid methyl esters biodiesel and petroleum-based ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). The contributions of blends with 20, 50, and 57% of biodiesel as well as neat ULSD were assessed using a 30-ton truck operated over a simulated production cycle in an isolated zone of an operating underground metal mine. When fueled with the B20 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 20% of biodiesel content), B50 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 50% of biodiesel content), and B57 (blend of biodiesel with ULSD with 57% of biodiesel content) blends in place of ULSD, the truck’s contribution to mass concentrations of elemental and total carbon was reduced by 20, 50, and 61%, respectively. Size distribution measurements showed that the aerosols produced by the engine fueled with these blends were characterized by smaller median electrical mobility diameter and lower peak concentrations than the aerosols produced by the same engine fueled with ULSD. The use of the blends resulted in number concentrations of aerosols that were 13–29% lower than those when ULSD was used. Depending on the content of biodiesel in the blends, the average reductions in the surface area concentrations of aerosol which could be deposited in the alveolar region of the lung (as measured by a nanoparticle surface area monitor) ranged between 6 and 37%. The use of blends also resulted in slight but measurable reductions in CO emissions, as well as an increase in NOX emissions. All of the above changes in concentrations and physical properties were found to be correlated with the proportion of biodiesel in the blends. PMID:25060241

Evaluation of ternary blended cements for use in transportation concrete structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilliland, Amanda Louise

This thesis investigates the use of ternary blended cement concrete mixtures for transportation structures. The study documents technical properties of three concrete mixtures used in federally funded transportation projects in Utah, Kansas, and Michigan that used ternary blended cement concrete mixtures. Data were also collected from laboratory trial batches of ternary blended cement concrete mixtures with mixture designs similar to those of the field projects. The study presents the technical, economic, and environmental advantages of ternary blended cement mixtures. Different barriers of implementation for using ternary blended cement concrete mixtures in transportation projects are addressed. It was concluded that there are no technical, economic, or environmental barriers that exist when using most ternary blended cement concrete mixtures. The technical performance of the ternary blended concrete mixtures that were studied was always better than ordinary portland cement concrete mixtures. The ternary blended cements showed increased durability against chloride ion penetration, alkali silica reaction, and reaction to sulfates. These blends also had less linear shrinkage than ordinary portland cement concrete and met all strength requirements. The increased durability would likely reduce life cycle costs associated with concrete pavement and concrete bridge decks. The initial cost of ternary mixtures can be higher or lower than ordinary portland cement, depending on the supplementary cementitious materials used. Ternary blended cement concrete mixtures produce less carbon dioxide emissions than ordinary portland cement mixtures. This reduces the carbon footprint of construction projects. The barriers associated with implementing ternary blended cement concrete for transportation projects are not significant. Supplying fly ash returns any investment costs for the ready mix plant, including silos and other associated equipment. State specifications can make designing ternary blended cements more acceptable by eliminating arbitrary limitations for supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) use and changing to performance-based standards. Performance-based standards require trial batching of concrete mixture designs, which can be used to optimize ternary combinations of portland cement and SCMs. States should be aware of various SCMs that are appropriate for the project type and its environment.

Poly(hydroxybutyrate)/cellulose acetate blend nanofiber scaffolds: Preparation, characterization and cytocompatibility.

PubMed

Zhijiang, Cai; Yi, Xu; Haizheng, Yang; Jia, Jianru; Liu, Yuanpei

2016-01-01

Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/cellulose acetate (CA) blend nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning using the blends of chloroform and DMF as solvent. The blend nanofiber scaffolds were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, DSC, contact angle and tensile test. The blend nanofibers exhibited cylindrical, uniform, bead-free and random orientation with the diameter ranged from 80-680 nm. The scaffolds had very well interconnected porous fibrous network structure and large aspect surface areas. It was found that the presence of CA affected the crystallization of PHB due to formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which restricted the preferential orientation of PHB molecules. The DSC result showed that the PHB and CA were miscible in the blend nanofiber. An increase in the glass transition temperature was observed with increasing CA content. Additionally, the mechanical properties of blend nanofiber scaffolds were largely influenced by the weight ratio of PHB/CA. The tensile strength, yield strength and elongation at break of the blend nanofiber scaffolds increased from 3.3 ± 0.35 MPa, 2.8 ± 0.26 MPa, and 8 ± 0.77% to 5.05 ± 0.52 MPa, 4.6 ± 0.82 MPa, and 17.6 ± 1.24% by increasing PHB content from 60% to 90%, respectively. The water contact angle of blend nanofiber scaffolds decreased about 50% from 112 ± 2.1° to 60 ± 0.75°. The biodegradability was evaluated by in vitro degradation test and the results revealed that the blend nanofiber scaffolds showed much higher degradation rates than the neat PHB. The cytocompatibility of the blend nanofiber scaffolds was preliminarily evaluated by cell adhesion studies. The cells incubated with PHB/CA blend nanofiber scaffold for 48 h were capable of forming cell adhesion and proliferation. It showed much better biocompatibility than pure PHB film. Thus, the prepared PHB/CA blend nanofiber scaffolds are bioactive and may be more suitable for cell proliferation suggesting that these scaffolds can be used for wound dressing or tissue-engineering scaffolds. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessment of powder blend uniformity: Comparison of real-time NIR blend monitoring with stratified sampling in combination with HPLC and at-line NIR Chemical Imaging.

PubMed

Bakri, Barbara; Weimer, Marco; Hauck, Gerrit; Reich, Gabriele

2015-11-01

Scope of the study was (1) to develop a lean quantitative calibration for real-time near-infrared (NIR) blend monitoring, which meets the requirements in early development of pharmaceutical products and (2) to compare the prediction performance of this approach with the results obtained from stratified sampling using a sample thief in combination with off-line high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and at-line near-infrared chemical imaging (NIRCI). Tablets were manufactured from powder blends and analyzed with NIRCI and HPLC to verify the real-time results. The model formulation contained 25% w/w naproxen as a cohesive active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), microcrystalline cellulose and croscarmellose sodium as cohesive excipients and free-flowing mannitol. Five in-line NIR calibration approaches, all using the spectra from the end of the blending process as reference for PLS modeling, were compared in terms of selectivity, precision, prediction accuracy and robustness. High selectivity could be achieved with a "reduced" approach i.e. API and time saving approach (35% reduction of API amount) based on six concentration levels of the API with three levels realized by three independent powder blends and the additional levels obtained by simply increasing the API concentration in these blends. Accuracy and robustness were further improved by combining this calibration set with a second independent data set comprising different excipient concentrations and reflecting different environmental conditions. The combined calibration model was used to monitor the blending process of independent batches. For this model formulation the target concentration of the API could be achieved within 3 min indicating a short blending time. The in-line NIR approach was verified by stratified sampling HPLC and NIRCI results. All three methods revealed comparable results regarding blend end point determination. Differences in both mean API concentration and RSD values could be attributed to differences in effective sample size and thief sampling errors. This conclusion was supported by HPLC and NIRCI analysis of tablets manufactured from powder blends after different blending times. In summary, the study clearly demonstrates the ability to develop efficient and robust quantitative calibrations for real-time NIR powder blend monitoring with a reduced set of powder blends while avoiding any bias caused by physical sampling. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of chain extension on rheology and tensile properties of PHB and PHB-PLA blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bousfield, Glenn

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), referred to as PHB, is a bacterially-synthesized and biodegradable polymer which is being considered as a substitute for non-biodegradable bulk polymers like polypropylene. PHB is naturally extremely isotactic and naturally has a very high degree of crystallinity, resulting in a stiff but brittle material. The stability of PHB crystals also means that the melting point of the polymer is approximately 170°C, high with respect to similar polymers. For instance, the melting point of poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) is only 53°C (Saito, Nakamura, Hiramitsu, & Doi, 1996). Above 170°C, PHB is subject to a thermomechanical degradation mechanism, meaning that the polymer cannot be melted without degrading. One possible solution to the problem of degradation is to add a chain extender to the molten polymer to increase average molecular weight to counteract the molecular weight lost to degradation. In this work, a variety of chain extenders (JoncrylRTM ADR 4368-C, pyromellitic dianhydride, hexamethylene diisocyanate, polycarbodiimide) were compounded with a random copolymer of 98 mol% 3-hydroxybutyrate and 2 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (referred to as PHB) in concentrations ranging from 0.25% to 4%, to determine which chain extender functionality worked best with PHB. Molecular weight change was inferred from torque monitored during compounding, and from complex viscosity determined from parallel-plate rheology. None of the chain extenders changed the rate of degradation of PHB, although Joncryl increased the complex viscosity of the polymer. PHB was also blended with Poly(L-lactic acid), referred to as PLLA in PHB/PLLA ratios of 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100, to determine the effect of blending on the thermal stability of PHB. Again, thermal stability was determined by monitoring torque during compounding and by measuring complex viscosity through parallel-plate rheology. Blends in which PHB was the more abundant phase, as well as the 50% PHB/50% PLA blend continued to degrade, and the PLLA did not in these cases significantly increase complex viscosity. By contrast, the 25/75 PHB/PLLA blend had a complex viscosity equal to the neat PLLA blend, and both of the blends remained stable. All five blends were also produced with 1% Joncryl to observe the effect of Joncryl on the blends. In the 50/50 blend and the blends in which PLLA was the major component, complex viscosity increased by at least an order of magnitude, while in the 75/25 PHB/PLLA blend and the neat PHB blend, the effect of Joncryl was to increase complex viscosity only by a factor of 2. The effect of blending and of Joncryl on PHB-PLA blends was further investigated through uniaxial tensile stress testing of compression moulded samples of the blends, neat and with 1% Joncryl. The results showed an increase in tensile stress at yield and tensile strain at break for blends with the addition of Joncryl, although Young's modulus was somewhat diminished for these blends. In conclusion, chain extenders were not effective in reversing the effect of thermomechanical degradation, possibly because they do not change the resistance to bond rotation in PHB chains, or because they are not reactive with acrylates, although the exact cause has not been determined.

75 FR 60097 - Colorado Interstate Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare An Environmental Assessment for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-29

... Proposed Project CIG proposes to construct and operate a new air blending station in Douglas County... Spruce Hill Air Blending Project would consist of the following: An air blending compressor station (the Spruce Hill Air Blending Station) containing a 215-, a 390-, and a 500-horsepower air compressor; A back...

75 FR 60441 - Colorado Interstate Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-30

... Proposed Project CIG proposes to construct and operate a new air blending station in Douglas County... Spruce Hill Air Blending Project would consist of the following: An air blending compressor station (the Spruce Hill Air Blending Station) containing a 215-, a 390-, and a 500-horsepower air compressor; A back...

Blended Learning: Creating the Right Delivery Systems to Solve Business Problems

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knoll, Elisabeth; Berge, Zane

2007-01-01

This paper addresses the concept of blended learning, an approach that has been gaining popularity in recent years with the advancement of computer-mediated training solutions. It begins with an effort to define blended learning and a description of its historical context. A discussion of blended learning as a learner-centric approach follows,…

Combustion performance of pyrolysis oil/ethanol blends in a residential-scale oil-fired boiler

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A 40 kWth oil-fired commercial boiler was fueled with blends of biomass pyrolysis oil (py-oil) and ethanol to determine the feasibility of using these blends as a replacement for fuel oil in home heating applications. An optimal set of test parameters was determined for the combustion of these blend...

A Comparison of Student Satisfaction between Traditional and Blended Technology Course Offerings in Physical Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vernadakis, Nikolaos; Giannousi, Maria; Tsitskari, Efi; Antoniou, Panagiotis; Kioumourtzoglou, Efthimis

2012-01-01

Blended learning With the concerns and dissatisfaction with e-learning, educators are searching for alternative instructional delivery solutions to relieve the above problems. The blended e-learning system has been presented as a promising alternative learning approach. While blended learning has been recognized as having a number of advantages,…

An Empirical Evaluation of Critical Factors Influencing Learner Satisfaction in Blended Learning: A Pilot Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Won Sun; Yao, Adrian Yong Tat

2016-01-01

Blended learning, a convergence of e-learning approach and face-to-face learning, has been regarded as a new paradigm in modern education. The degree of learners' satisfaction with blended learning played a crucial role in evaluating the effectiveness of blended learning adoption. Therefore, this study examined the primary factors affecting…

Blended Learning: How Teachers Balance the Blend of Online and Classroom Components

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jeffrey, Lynn M.; Milne, John; Suddaby, Gordon

2014-01-01

Despite teacher resistance to the use of technology in education, blended learning has increased rapidly, driven by evidence of its advantages over either online or classroom teaching alone. However, blended learning courses still fail to maximize the benefits this format offers. Much research has been conducted on various aspects of this problem,…

Blended Learning Environments in Higher Education: A Case Study of How Professors Make It Happen

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Sarah E.; Arnold, Katie Cerrone

2012-01-01

Blended learning has become a prominent method of course content delivery in higher education. Researchers have found that motivation, communication, and course design are three factors that contribute to the overall success of blended learning courses and students' satisfaction with blended learning courses. This qualitative study also found that…

Blended Learning Opportunities in Ukrainian IT Public Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Szimkovics, Tamás

2017-01-01

Based on previous surveys the usage of ICT and blended learning is at a low level in Ukraine. To catch up with the European average, it is important to familiarize the students and teachers with blended learning in the secondary school. The information technology classes provide the best opportunity to introduce the blended learning, because they…

Thermal lens spectroscopy for the differentiation of biodiesel-diesel blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ventura, M.; Simionatto, E.; Andrade, L. H. C.; Lima, S. M.

2012-04-01

Thermal lens (TL) spectroscopy was applied to biofuels to test its potential to distinguish diesel from biodiesel in blended fuels. Both the heat and mass diffusion effects observed using a TL procedure provide significant information about biodiesel concentrations in blended fuels. The results indicate that the mass diffusivity decreases 32% between diesel and the blend with 10% biodiesel added to the diesel. This simple TL procedure has the potential to be used for in loco analyses to certify the mixture and quality of biodiesel-diesel blends.

Some physical and mechanical properties of recycled polyurethane foam blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bledzki, A. K.; Zicans, J.; Merijs Meri, R.; Kardasz, D.

2008-09-01

Blends of secondary rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) with soft polyurethane foams (SPUFs) were investigated. The effect of SPUF content and its chemical nature on some physical and mechanical properties of the blends was evaluated. Owing to the stronger intermolecular interaction and higher values of cohesion energy, the blends of RPUFs with polyester SPUFs showed higher mechanical properties than those with polyether SPUFs. The density, hardness, ultimate strength, and the tensile, shear, and flexural moduli increased, while the impact toughness, ultimate elongation, and damping characteristics decreased with increasing RPUF content in the blends.

Investigation of phase separated polyimide blend films containing boron nitride using FTIR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chae, Boknam; Hong, Deok Gi; Jung, Young Mee; Won, Jong Chan; Lee, Seung Woo

2018-04-01

Immiscible aromatic polyimide (PI) blend films and a PI blend film incorporated with thermally conductive boron nitride (BN) were prepared, and their phase separation behaviors were examined by optical microscopy and FTIR imaging. The 2,2‧-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB)-containing and 4,4‧-thiodianiline (TDA)-containing aromatic PI blend films and a PI blend/BN composite film show two clearly separated regions; one region is the TFMB-rich phase, and the other region is the TDA-rich phase. The introduction of BN induces morphological changes in the immiscible aromatic PI blend film without altering the composition of either domain. In particular, the BN is selectively incorporated into the TDA-rich phase in this study.

Effect of compatibilizer on impact and morphological analysis of recycled HDPE/PET blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salleh, Mohd Nazry; Ahmad, Sahrim; Ghani, Mohd Hafizuddin Ab

Blends based on recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) were prepared using a corotating twin screw extruder. PET and HDPE are incompatible polymers and their blends showed poor properties. Compatibilization is a step to obtain blends with good mechanical properties and in this work, ethylene glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (E-GMA) was used as a compatibilizing agent. The effect of blends based on rHDPE and rPET with and without a compatibilizer, E-GMA were examined. From the studies clearly showed that the addition of 5% E-GMA increased the impact strength. SEM analysis of rHDPE/rPET blends confirmed the morphological interactionmore » and improved interfacial bonding between two phases.« less

Non-linear blend coding in the moth antennal lobe emerges from random glomerular networks

PubMed Central

Capurro, Alberto; Baroni, Fabiano; Olsson, Shannon B.; Kuebler, Linda S.; Karout, Salah; Hansson, Bill S.; Pearce, Timothy C.

2012-01-01

Neural responses to odor blends often exhibit non-linear interactions to blend components. The first olfactory processing center in insects, the antennal lobe (AL), exhibits a complex network connectivity. We attempt to determine if non-linear blend interactions can arise purely as a function of the AL network connectivity itself, without necessitating additional factors such as competitive ligand binding at the periphery or intrinsic cellular properties. To assess this, we compared blend interactions among responses from single neurons recorded intracellularly in the AL of the moth Manduca sexta with those generated using a population-based computational model constructed from the morphologically based connectivity pattern of projection neurons (PNs) and local interneurons (LNs) with randomized connection probabilities from which we excluded detailed intrinsic neuronal properties. The model accurately predicted most of the proportions of blend interaction types observed in the physiological data. Our simulations also indicate that input from LNs is important in establishing both the type of blend interaction and the nature of the neuronal response (excitation or inhibition) exhibited by AL neurons. For LNs, the only input that significantly impacted the blend interaction type was received from other LNs, while for PNs the input from olfactory sensory neurons and other PNs contributed agonistically with the LN input to shape the AL output. Our results demonstrate that non-linear blend interactions can be a natural consequence of AL connectivity, and highlight the importance of lateral inhibition as a key feature of blend coding to be addressed in future experimental and computational studies. PMID:22529799

Post-operative re-bleeding in patients with hypertensive ICH is closely associated with the CT blend sign.

PubMed

Wu, Guofeng; Shen, Zhengkui; Wang, Likun; Sun, Shujie; Luo, Jinbiao; Mao, Yuanhong

2017-07-06

Intracranial post-operative re-haemorrhage is an important complication in patients with hypertensive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The purpose of the present study was to determine the value of the computed tomography (CT) blend sign in predicting post-operative re-haemorrhage in patients with ICH. A total of 126 patients with ICH were included in the present study. All the patients underwent standard stereotactic minimally invasive surgery(MIS) to remove the ICH within 24 h following admission. There were 41 patients with a blend sign on initial CT and 85 patients without a blend sign on the initial CT. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the presence of the blend sign on the non-enhanced admission CT scan and post-operative re-haemorrhage. Post-operative re-haemorrhage occurred in 24 of the 41 patients with the blend sign, and in 9 of the 85 patients without the blend sign. The incidence of re-haemorrhage was significantly different between the groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the initial Glasgow coma scale score (p = 0.002) and blend sign (P < 0.00) on the initial CT scan are independent predictors of post-operative re-haemorrhage. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the blend sign for predicting post-operative re-haemorrhage were 72.7, 81.7, 58.5 and 89.4%, respectively. The presence of the blend sign on the initial CT scan is closely associated with post-operative re-haemorrhage in patients with ICH who undergo stereotactic MIS.

Interesterification of engkabang (Shorea macrophylla) fat--canola oil blend with lipase from Candida antarctica to simulate the properties of lard.

PubMed

Illiyin, Mohamed Roslan Nur; Marikkar, Jalaldeen Mohamed Nazrim; Loke, Mei Key; Shuhaimi, Musthafa; Mahiran, Basri; Miskandar, Mat Saari

2014-01-01

A study was carried out to compare the composition and thermal properties of lard (LD) and engkabang fat (EF) - canola oil (CaO) blend interesterified with Candida antartica lipase (C. antartica). A fat blend EF-4 (40% EF in CaO) was prepared and interesterified using C. antartica lipase at 60°C for different time intervals (6 h, 12 h and 24 h) with 200 rpm agitation. The fat blends before and after interesterification were compared to LD with respect to their slip melting points (SMP), fatty acid and triacyglycerol (TAG) compositions, melting, solidification and polymorphic properties. Result showed that the slip melting point (SMP) of the fat blend interesterified for 6 h was the closest to that of LD. The solid fat content (SFC) values of fat blends interesterified for 12 and 24 h were found to become equal to those of LD within the temperature range of 0 to 20°C. In addition, all three interesterified blends had SFC values similar to those of LD within the temperature range of 30-40°C. According to thermal analysis, the transition of the fat blend interesterified for 24 h appearing at -2.39°C was similar to the low melting thermal transition of LD and the transition of the fat blend interesterified for 12 h appearing at 26.25°C was similar to the high melting thermal transition of LD. However, there is no compatibility between LD and all three interesterified blends with regard to polymorphic behaviour.

Flippin' Fluid Mechanics - Comparison of Blended Classroom vs. Traditional Lecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webster, D. R.; Kadel, R. S.; Newstetter, W. C.

2017-11-01

We conducted a study of student performance in and perceptions of a blended classroom delivery of a junior-level fluid mechanics course. In the blended pedagogy, students watch short on-line videos before class, participate in interactive in-class problem solving (in dyads), and complete individualized on-line quizzes weekly. Comparisons are made among four sections of the blended classroom delivery in the period of 2013-2017 to eleven sections delivered in a traditional lecture-style format by the same instructor in 2002-2012. The results reveal dramatic improvement in student engagement, perceptions, and achievement in the blended pedagogy. For instance, the withdrawal/fail/barely-passing (WFD) rate is significantly lower for the blended classroom (8.6% vs. 16.3%; p <0.05). The average course total (i.e., aggregate of exam and assignment scores) is significantly greater in the blended classes (p <0.001) with a medium size effect (Cohen's d = 0.42). Further, we regressed students' course total on a dummy variable for the blended classroom, as well as with controls for gender, students' major, and prior achievement as measured by incoming GPA. The regression model (for all students) explains a strong amount of variation in final course grade with an R-squared of 0.563, and the blended class variable is significant (p <0.001) with a coefficient of 4.437 (100-point scale). Regarding student perceptions, surveys reveal significantly greater enthusiasm, stimulation, self-perception of how-much-learned, perception of the value of the course activities, and the overall effectiveness of the course and instructor in the blended classroom.

Coalescence in PLA-PBAT blends under shear flow: Effects of blend preparation and PLA molecular weight

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nofar, M.; Heuzey, M. C.; Carreau, P. J., E-mail: pierre.carreau@polymtl.ca

Blends containing 75 wt. % of an amorphous polylactide (PLA) with two different molecular weights and 25 wt. % of a poly[(butylene adipate)-co-terephthalate] (PBAT) were prepared using either a Brabender batch mixer or a twin-screw extruder. These compounds were selected because blending PLA with PBAT can overcome various drawbacks of PLA such as its brittleness and processability limitations. In this study, we investigated the effects of varying the molecular weight of the PLA matrix and of two different mixing processes on the blend morphology and, further, on droplet coalescence during shearing. The rheological properties of these blends were investigated and the interfacialmore » properties were analyzed using the Palierne emulsion model. Droplet coalescence was investigated by applying shear flows of 0.05 and 0.20 s{sup −1} at a fixed strain of 60. Subsequently, small amplitude oscillatory shear tests were conducted to investigate changes in the viscoelastic properties. The morphology of the blends was also examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. It was observed that the PBAT droplets were much smaller when twin-screw extrusion was used for the blend preparation. Shearing at 0.05 s{sup −1} induced significant droplet coalescence in all blends, but coalescence and changes in the viscoelastic properties were much more pronounced for the PLA-PBAT blend based on a lower molecular weight PLA. The viscoelastic responses were also somehow affected by the thermal degradation of the PLA matrix during the experiments.« less

Effects of Blended-Cement Paste Chemical Composition Changes on Some Strength Gains of Blended-Mortars

PubMed Central

Kirgiz, Mehmet Serkan

2014-01-01

Effects of chemical compositions changes of blended-cement pastes (BCPCCC) on some strength gains of blended cement mortars (BCMSG) were monitored in order to gain a better understanding for developments of hydration and strength of blended cements. Blended cements (BC) were prepared by blending of 5% gypsum and 6%, 20%, 21%, and 35% marble powder (MP) or 6%, 20%, 21%, and 35% brick powder (BP) for CEMI42.5N cement clinker and grinding these portions in ball mill at 30 (min). Pastes and mortars, containing the MP-BC and the BP-BC and the reference cement (RC) and tap water and standard mortar sand, were also mixed and they were cured within water until testing. Experiments included chemical compositions of pastes and compressive strengths (CS) and flexural strengths (FS) of mortars were determined at 7th-day, 28th-day, and 90th-day according to TS EN 196-2 and TS EN 196-1 present standards. Experimental results indicated that ups and downs of silica oxide (SiO2), sodium oxide (Na2O), and alkali at MP-BCPCC and continuously rising movement of silica oxide (SiO2) at BP-BCPCC positively influenced CS and FS of blended cement mortars (BCM) in comparison with reference mortars (RM) at whole cure days as MP up to 6% or BP up to 35% was blended for cement. PMID:24587737

Tuning the superstructure of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene/low-molecular-weight polyethylene blend for artificial joint application.

PubMed

Xu, Ling; Chen, Chen; Zhong, Gan-Ji; Lei, Jun; Xu, Jia-Zhuang; Hsiao, Benjamin S; Li, Zhong-Ming

2012-03-01

An easy approach was reported to achieve high mechanical properties of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based polyethylene (PE) blend for artificial joint application without the sacrifice of the original excellent wear and fatigue behavior of UHMWPE. The PE blend with desirable fluidity was obtained by melt mixing UHMWPE and low molecular weight polyethylene (LMWPE), and then was processed by a modified injection molding technology-oscillatory shear injection molding (OSIM). Morphological observation of the OSIM PE blend showed LMWPE contained well-defined interlocking shish-kebab self-reinforced superstructure. Addition of a small amount of long chain polyethylene (2 wt %) to LMWPE greatly induced formation of rich shish-kebabs. The ultimate tensile strength considerably increased from 27.6 MPa for conventional compression molded UHMWPE up to 78.4 MPa for OSIM PE blend along the flow direction and up to 33.5 MPa in its transverse direction. The impact strength of OSIM PE blend was increased by 46% and 7% for OSIM PE blend in the direction parallel and vertical to the shear flow, respectively. Wear and fatigue resistance were comparable to conventional compression molded UHMWPE. The superb performance of the OSIM PE blend was originated from formation of rich interlocking shish-kebab superstructure while maintaining unique properties of UHMWPE. The present results suggested the OSIM PE blend has high potential for artificial joint application. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Miscibility of poly(lactic acid) and poly(ethylene oxide) solvent polymer blends and nanofibers made by solution blow spinning

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The miscibility of blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was studied in polymer solutions by dilute solution viscometry and in solution blow spun nanofibers by microscopy (SEM, TEM) and by thermal and spectral analysis. Three blends of PLA and PEO were solution blended in...

The Status of Middle and High School Instruction: Examining Professional Development, Social Desirability, and Teacher Readiness for Blended Pedagogy in the Southeastern United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parks, Rebecca A.; Oliver, Wendy; Carson, Elaine

2016-01-01

Using quantitative methods, the current study addresses the phenomenon of blended learning and the impact of professional development (PD) in blended learning on teacher practice. Two separate but complementary investigations, Oliver's (2013) focus group data for examining Oliver's Framework for Blended Instruction and Parks' (2015) national…

Blending in: The Extent and Promise of Blended Education in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allen, I. Elaine; Seaman, Jeff; Garrett, Richard

2007-01-01

"Blending In: The Extent and Promise of Blended Education in the United States" builds on the series of annual reports on the state of online education in U.S. Higher Education. This study, like the previous reports, is aimed at answering some of the fundamental questions about the nature and extent of education in the United States.…

Elastomer modified polypropylene–polyethylene blends as matrices for wood flour–plastic composites

Treesearch

Craig Clemons

2010-01-01

Blends of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) could potentially be used as matrices for wood–plastic composites (WPCs). The mechanical performance and morphology of both the unfilled blends and wood-filled composites with various elastomers and coupling agents were investigated. Blending of the plastics resulted in either small domains of the minor phase in a...

EFL Secondary School Teachers' Views on Blended Learning in Tabuk City

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alfahadi, Abdulrahman M.; Alsalhi, Abdulrhman A.; Alshammari, Abdullah S.

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate EFL Secondary School Teachers' Views on Blended Learning. It also aims to investigate (a) the teachers' views on blended learning content and process, and (b) how blended learning is effective in developing teachers' performance. The study sample included 35 EFL Saudi teachers in Tabuk City, KSA. In order to…

Revisiting the Blended Learning Literature: Using a Complex Adaptive Systems Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Yuping; Han, Xibin; Yang, Juan

2015-01-01

This research has two aims: (1) to bridge a gap in blended learning research--the lack of a systems approach to the understanding of blended learning research and practice, and (2) to promote a more comprehensive understanding of what has been achieved and what needs to be achieved in blended learning research and practice. To achieve these aims,…

The Literature Landscape of Blended Learning in Higher Education: The Need for Better Understanding of Academic Blended Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Torrisi-Steele, Geraldine; Drew, Steve

2013-01-01

If we are to realise the potential of blended learning in higher education, then further research into academic practice and relevant academic development is essential. Our review of literature on blended learning in higher education reveals an interesting scholarship landscape which, when described in detail, pointedly directs attention to the…

An Analysis of High Impact Scholarship and Publication Trends in Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halverson, Lisa R.; Graham, Charles R.; Spring, Kristian J.; Drysdale, Jeffery S.

2012-01-01

Blended learning is a diverse and expanding area of design and inquiry that combines face-to-face and online modalities. As blended learning research matures, numerous voices enter the conversation. This study begins the search for the center of this emerging area of study by finding the most cited scholarship on blended learning. Using Harzing's…

Radiation processed polychloroprene-co-ethylene-propene diene terpolymer blends: Effect of radiation vulcanization on solvent transport kinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubey, K. A.; Bhardwaj, Y. K.; Chaudhari, C. V.; Kumar, Virendra; Goel, N. K.; Sabharwal, S.

2009-03-01

Blends of polychloroprene rubber (PCR) and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) of different compositions were made and exposed to different gamma radiation doses. The radiation sensitivity and radiation vulcanization efficiency of blends was estimated by gel-content analysis, Charlesby-Pinner parameter determination and crosslinking density measurements. Gamma radiation induced crosslinking was most efficient for EPDM ( p0/ q0 ˜ 0.08), whereas it was the lowest for blends containing 40% PCR ( p0/ q0 ˜ 0.34). The vulcanized blends were characterized for solvent diffusion characteristics by following the swelling dynamics. Blends with higher PCR content showed anomalous swelling. The sorption and permeability of the solvent were not strictly in accordance with each other and the extent of variation in two parameters was found to be a function of blend composition. The Δ G values for solvent diffusion were in the range -2.97 to -9.58 kJ/mol and indicated thermodynamically favorable sorption for all blends. These results were corroborated by dynamic swelling, experimental as well as simulated profiles and have been explained on the basis of correlation between crosslinking density, diffusion kinetics, thermodynamic parameters and polymer-polymer interaction parameter.

Phenolic composition and mouthfeel characteristics resulting from blending Chilean red wines.

PubMed

Cáceres-Mella, Alejandro; Peña-Neira, Alvaro; Avilés-Gálvez, Pamela; Medel-Marabolí, Marcela; Del Barrio-Galán, Rubén; López-Solís, Remigio; Canals, Joan Miquel

2014-03-15

The blending of wine is a common practice in winemaking to improve certain characteristics that are appreciated by consumers. The use of some cultivars may contribute phenolic compounds that modify certain characteristics in blended wines, particularly those related to mouthfeel. The aim of this work was to study the effect of Carménère, Merlot and Cabernet Franc on the phenolic composition, proanthocyanidin profile and mouthfeel characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon blends. Significant differences in chemical composition were observed among the monovarietal wines. Separation using Sep-Pak C₁₈ cartridges revealed differences in the concentration but not in the proportion of various proanthocyanidins. Blending reduced polyphenol concentration differences among the various monovarietal wines. Although no major overall differences were observed after blending the monovarietal wines, this oenological practice produced clear differences in mouthfeel characteristics in such a way that the quality of the perceived astringency was different. This study showed that the use of a particular wine variety (Cabernet Sauvignon) in a higher proportion in wine blending produced blends that were less differentiable from the monovarietal wine, owing to a suppression effect, producing an apparent standardization of the wines regarding chemical composition. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

Oxidative stability, chemical composition and organoleptic properties of seinat (Cucumis melo var. tibish) seed oil blends with peanut oil from China.

PubMed

Siddeeg, Azhari; Xia, Wenshui

2015-12-01

Seinat seed oil was blended with peanut oil for the enhancement of stability and chemical characteristics of the blend. The physicochemical properties (relative density, refractive index, free fatty acids, saponification value, iodine value and peroxide value) of seinat seed and peanut oil blends in ratios 95:5, 85:15, 30:70 and 50:50 proportions were evaluated, as well as oxidative stability index, deferential scanning calorimetric (DSC) characteristics and tocopherols content. Results of oil blend showed that there was no negative effect by the addition of seinat seed oil to peanut oil and also had decreased percentages of all saturated fatty acids except stearic acid, conversely, increased the levels of unsaturated fatty acids. As for the sensory evaluation, the panelist results showed that seinat seed oil blends had no significant differences (p < 0.05) in all attributes except the purity. The results indicated that the blending of seinat seed oil with peanut oil had also increased the stability and tocopherols content. As Sudan is the first producer of seinat oil, blending of seinat seed oil with traditional oil like quality, and may decrease the consumption of other expensive edible oils.

Production of silk sericin/silk fibroin blend nanofibers

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Silk sericin (SS)/silk fibroin (SF) blend nanofibers have been produced by electrospinning in a binary SS/SF trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution system, which was prepared by mixing 20 wt.% SS TFA solution and 10 wt.% SF TFA solution to give different compositions. The diameters of the SS/SF nanofibers ranged from 33 to 837 nm, and they showed a round cross section. The surface of the SS/SF nanofibers was smooth, and the fibers possessed a bead-free structure. The average diameters of the SS/SF (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75) blend nanofibers were much thicker than that of SS and SF nanofibers. The SS/SF (100/0, 75/25, and 50/50) blend nanofibers were easily dissolved in water, while the SS/SF (25/75 and 0/100) blend nanofibers could not be completely dissolved in water. The SS/SF blend nanofibers could not be completely dissolved in methanol. The SS/SF blend nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and differential thermal analysis. FTIR showed that the SS/SF blend nanofibers possessed a random coil conformation and ß-sheet structure. PMID:21867508

Impact of Various Compression Ratio on the Compression Ignition Engine with Diesel and Jatropha Biodiesel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaganesan, S.; Chandrasekaran, M.; Ruban, M.

2017-03-01

The present experimental investigation evaluates the effects of using blends of diesel fuel with 20% concentration of Methyl Ester of Jatropha biodiesel blended with various compression ratio. Both the diesel and biodiesel fuel blend was injected at 23º BTDC to the combustion chamber. The experiment was carried out with three different compression ratio. Biodiesel was extracted from Jatropha oil, 20% (B20) concentration is found to be best blend ratio from the earlier experimental study. The engine was maintained at various compression ratio i.e., 17.5, 16.5 and 15.5 respectively. The main objective is to obtain minimum specific fuel consumption, better efficiency and lesser Emission with different compression ratio. The results concluded that full load show an increase in efficiency when compared with diesel, highest efficiency is obtained with B20MEOJBA with compression ratio 17.5. It is noted that there is an increase in thermal efficiency as the blend ratio increases. Biodiesel blend has performance closer to diesel, but emission is reduced in all blends of B20MEOJBA compared to diesel. Thus this work focuses on the best compression ratio and suitability of biodiesel blends in diesel engine as an alternate fuel.

Influence of Philosamia ricini silk fibroin components on morphology, secondary structure and thermal properties of chitosan biopolymer film.

PubMed

Prasong, S; Nuanchai, K; Wilaiwan, S

2009-09-15

This study aimed to prepare Eri (Philosamia ricini) Silk Fibroin (SF)/chitosan (CS) blend films by a solvent evaporation method and to compare the blend films with both native SF and CS films. Influence of SF ratios on the morphology, secondary structure and thermal decomposition of the CS blend films were investigated. The native SF and CS films were uniform and homogeneous without phase separation. For the blend films, the uniform can be found less than 60% of SF composition. All of SF/CS blend films showed both SF and CS characteristics. FT-IR results showed that the blend films composed of both random coil and beta-sheet with predominant of beta-sheet form. Interaction of intermolecular between SF and CS have occurred which were measured by thermogravimetric thermograms. Increasing of SF contents was leading to the increase of beta-sheet structures which were enhanced the thermal stability of the CS blend films.

Blended Learning Versus Traditional Lecture in Introductory Nursing Pathophysiology Courses.

PubMed

Blissitt, Andrea Marie

2016-04-01

Currently, many undergraduate nursing courses use blended-learning course formats with success; however, little evidence exists that supports the use of blended formats in introductory pathophysiology courses. The purpose of this study was to compare the scores on pre- and posttests and course satisfaction between traditional and blended course formats in an introductory nursing pathophysiology course. This study used a quantitative, quasi-experimental, nonrandomized control group, pretest-posttest design. Analysis of covariance compared pre- and posttest scores, and a t test for independent samples compared students' reported course satisfaction of the traditional and blended course formats. Results indicated that the differences in posttest scores were not statistically significant between groups. Students in the traditional group reported statistically significantly higher satisfaction ratings than students in the blended group. The results of this study support the need for further research of using blended learning in introductory pathophysiology courses in undergraduate baccalaureate nursing programs. Further investigation into how satisfaction is affected by course formats is needed. Copyright 2016, SLACK Incorporated.

Enhanced Differentiation of Human Preosteoblasts on Electrospun Blend Fiber Mats of Polydioxanone and Anionic Sulfated Polysaccharides

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The viability and differentiation of SaOS-2 preosteoblasts on fiber mats of blends comprising of the biodegradable poly(ester-ether) polydioxanone (PDX) and the sulfate-containing anionic polysaccharides kappa-carrageenan (KCG) and fucoidan (FUC) were investigated for a range of different blend compositions. The detailed analysis of the blend nanofiber properties revealed a different degree of miscibility of PDX and the polysaccharide leading to a different enrichment at the surface of the blend nanofibers, which were observed to be stable in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for up to 5 weeks. The fibrous mats of PDX/FUC led to the highest osteogenic differentiation with very good cell viability. The electrospun blend fibers also supported human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and iPS cell-derived embryoid bodies with high cell viability, which underlines the potential of these novel blend fiber systems for optimized performance in bone tissue engineering applications. PMID:29285521

Effect of granular characteristics on pasting properties of starch blends.

PubMed

Lin, Jheng-Hua; Kao, Wen-Tsu; Tsai, You-Che; Chang, Yung-Ho

2013-11-06

Pasting and morphology properties of starch blends composed of waxy (waxy rice and waxy corn) and non-waxy (normal corn, tapioca and potato) starches at various ratios were investigated for elucidating effect of granular characteristics on pasting of blends. Pasting profiles of blends were between those of the component starches alone, while the changes varied with starch source. Results reveal obvious water competition during pasting for blends composed of waxy starch and highly swelling non-waxy (tapioca or potato) starch. On the contrary, starch blends composed of waxy starch and non-waxy (normal corn) starch with restricted swelling showed less water competition during pasting, and the pasting attributes could be estimated from those of the component starches following the mixing ratio. Results indicate that the pasting properties of starch blends composed of waxy and non-waxy starches depend on not only the mixing ratio, but also the granular characteristics of component starch. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

3D composites based on the blends of chitosan and collagen with the addition of hyaluronic acid.

PubMed

Sionkowska, Alina; Kaczmarek, Beata; Lewandowska, Katarzyna; Grabska, Sylwia; Pokrywczyńska, Marta; Kloskowski, Tomasz; Drewa, Tomasz

2016-08-01

3D porous composites based on blends of chitosan, collagen and hyaluronic acid were obtained through the lyophilization process. Mechanical properties, swelling behavior and thermal stability of the blends were studied. Moreover, SEM images were taken and the structure of the blends was studied. Biological properties of the materials obtained were investigated by analyzing of proliferation rate of fibroblast cells incubated with biomaterial extract using MTT assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). The results showed that the properties of 3D composites based on the blends of chitosan and collagen were altered after the addition 1%, 2% and 5% of hyaluronic acid. Mechanical properties and thermal stability of chitosan/collagen blends were improved in the presence of hyaluronic acid in the composite. New 3D materials based on the blends of chitosan, collagen and hyaluronic acid were non-toxic and did not significantly affect cell morphology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

WI Biodiesel Blending Progream Final Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Redmond, Maria E; Levy, Megan M

The Wisconsin State Energy Office's (SEO) primary mission is to implement cost effective, reliable, balanced, and environmentally friendly clean energy projects. To support this mission the Wisconsin Biodiesel Blending Program was created to financially support the installation infrastructure necessary to directly sustain biodiesel blending and distribution at petroleum terminal facilities throughout Wisconsin. The SEO secured a federal directed award of $600,000 over 2.25 years. With these funds, the SEO supported the construction of inline biodiesel blending facilities at two petroleum terminals in Wisconsin. The Federal funding provided through the state provided a little less than half of the necessary investmentmore » to construct the terminals, with the balance put forth by the partners. Wisconsin is now home to two new biodiesel blending terminals. Fusion Renewables on Jones Island (in the City of Milwaukee) will offer a B100 blend to both bulk and retail customers. CITGO is currently providing a B5 blend to all customers at their Granville, WI terminal north of the City of Milwaukee.« less

Discernment of synergism in pyrolysis of biomass blends using thermogravimetric analysis.

PubMed

Mallick, Debarshi; Poddar, Maneesh Kumar; Mahanta, Pinakeswar; Moholkar, Vijayanand S

2018-08-01

This study reports pyrolysis kinetics of biomass blends using isoconversional methods, viz. Friedman, FWO and KAS. Blends of three biomasses, viz. saw dust, bamboo dust and rice husk, were used. Extractives and volatiles in biomass and minerals in ash had marked influence on enhancement of reaction kinetics during co-pyrolysis, as indicated by reduction in activation energy and increase in decomposition intensity. Pyrolysis kinetics of saw dust and rice husk accelerated (positive synergy), while that of bamboo dust decelerated after blending (negative synergy). Predominant reaction mechanism of all biomass blends was 3-D diffusion in lower conversion range (α ≤ 0.5), while for α ≥ 0.5 pyrolysis followed random nucleation (or nucleation and growth mechanism). Higher reaction order for pyrolysis of blends of rice husk with saw dust and bamboo dust was attributed to catalytic effect of minerals in ash. Positive ΔH and ΔG was obtained for pyrolysis of all biomass blends. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physicochemical characterization of chitosan/nylon6/polyurethane foam chemically cross-linked ternary blends.

PubMed

Jayakumar, S; Sudha, P N

2013-03-15

Chitosan/nylon6/polyurethane foam (CS/Ny6/PUF) ternary blend was prepared and chemically cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Structural, thermal and morphological studies were performed for the prepared ternary blends. Characterizations of the ternary blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FTIR results showed that the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds took place between CS, Ny6 and PUF. TGA and DSC studies reveal that the thermal stability of the blend is enhanced by glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. Results of XRD indicated that the relative crystalline of pure CS film was reduced when the polymeric network was reticulated by glutaraldehyde. Finally, the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the morphology of the blend is rough and heterogeneous, further it confirms the interaction between the functional groups of the blend components. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Teaching of anatomical sciences: A blended learning approach.

PubMed

Khalil, Mohammed K; Abdel Meguid, Eiman M; Elkhider, Ihsan A

2018-04-01

Blended learning is the integration of different learning approaches, new technologies, and activities that combine traditional face-to-face teaching methods with authentic online methodologies. Although advances in educational technology have helped to expand the selection of different pedagogies, the teaching of anatomical sciences has been challenged by implementation difficulties and other limitations. These challenges are reported to include lack of time, costs, and lack of qualified teachers. Easy access to online information and advances in technology make it possible to resolve these limitations by adopting blended learning approaches. Blended learning strategies have been shown to improve students' academic performance, motivation, attitude, and satisfaction, and to provide convenient and flexible learning. Implementation of blended learning strategies has also proved cost effective. This article provides a theoretical foundation for blended learning and proposes a validated framework for the design of blended learning activities in the teaching and learning of anatomical sciences. Clin. Anat. 31:323-329, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Childhood fever management program for Korean pediatric nurses: A comparison between blended and face-to-face learning method.

PubMed

Jeong, Yong Sun; Kim, Jin Sun

2014-01-01

A blended learning can be a useful learning strategy to improve the quality of fever and fever management education for pediatric nurses. This study compared the effects of a blended and face-to-face learning program on pediatric nurses' childhood fever management, using theory of planned behavior. A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. A fever management education program using blended learning (combining face-to-face and online learning components) was offered to 30 pediatric nurses, and 29 pediatric nurses received face-to-face education. Learning outcomes did not significantly differ between the two groups. However, learners' satisfaction was higher for the blended learning program than the face-to-face learning program. A blended learning pediatric fever management program was as effective as a traditional face-to-face learning program. Therefore, a blended learning pediatric fever management-learning program could be a useful and flexible learning method for pediatric nurses.

Phase Behavior of Neat Triblock Copolymers and Copolymer/Homopolymer Blends Near Network Phase Windows

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

M Tureau; L Rong; B Hsiao

The phase behavior of poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (ISM) copolymers near the styrene-rich network phase window was examined through the use of neat triblock copolymers and copolymer/homopolymer blends. Both end-block and middle-block blending protocols were employed using poly(isoprene) (PI), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly(styrene) (PS) homopolymers. Blended specimens exhibited phase transformations to well-ordered nanostructures (at homopolymer loadings up to 26 vol % of the total blend volume). Morphological consistency between neat and blended specimens was established at various locations in the ISM phase space. Copolymer/homopolymer blending permitted the refinement of lamellar, hexagonally packed cylinder, and disordered melt phase boundaries as well asmore » the identification of double gyroid (Q{sup 230}), alternating gyroid (Q{sup 214}), and orthorhombic (O{sup 70}) network regimes. Additionally, the experimental phase diagram exhibited similar trends to those found in a theoretical ABC triblock copolymer phase diagram with symmetric interactions and statistical segments lengths generated by Tyler et al.« less

Monte Carlo simulation of star/linear and star/star blends with chemically identical monomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theodorakis, P. E.; Avgeropoulos, A.; Freire, J. J.; Kosmas, M.; Vlahos, C.

2007-11-01

The effects of chain size and architectural asymmetry on the miscibility of blends with chemically identical monomers, differing only in their molecular weight and architecture, are studied via Monte Carlo simulation by using the bond fluctuation model. Namely, we consider blends composed of linear/linear, star/linear and star/star chains. We found that linear/linear blends are more miscible than the corresponding star/star mixtures. In star/linear blends, the increase in the volume fraction of the star chains increases the miscibility. For both star/linear and star/star blends, the miscibility decreases with the increase in star functionality. When we increase the molecular weight of linear chains of star/linear mixtures the miscibility decreases. Our findings are compared with recent analytical and experimental results.

Sustained release of antimicrobial drugs from polyvinylalcohol and gum arabica blend matrix.

PubMed

Kushwaha, V; Bhowmick, A; Behera, B K; Ray, A R

1998-03-01

Synthetic polymers are widely used in biomedical applications. Polymer blends have recently paved their way in this field. An attempt to prepare blend of synthetic polymer polyvinylalcohol and natural macromolecule gum arabica is made in this paper. Characterization of these blends by NMR, DSC and viscoelastic studies reveal preparation of a blend composition with synergistic properties. The blend composition with synergistic properties was used to release various antimicrobial drugs. The duration and release of the drug depends on the amount of drug loaded in the matrix and solubility of the drug in the matrix and release medium. The advantage of this system is that the release kinetics of the drug from the system can be tailored by adjusting plasticizer, homopolymer and crosslinker composition depending on the drug to be released.

Facile fabrication of mesoporous poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend monoliths.

PubMed

Wang, Guowei; Xin, Yuanrong; Uyama, Hiroshi

2015-11-05

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH)/chitosan blend monoliths were fabricated by thermally-induced phase separation method. Chitosan was successfully incorporated into the polymeric monolith by selecting EVOH as the main component of the monolith. SEM images exhibit that the chitosan was located on the inner surface of the monolith. Fourier-transform infrared analysis and elemental analysis indicate the successful blend of EVOH and chitosan. BET results show that the blend monoliths had high specific surface area and uniform mesopore structure. Good adsorption ability toward various heavy metal ions was found in the blend monoliths due to the large chelation capacity of chitosan. The blend monoliths have potential application for waste water purification or bio-related applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Raman structural study of melt-mixed blends of isotactic polypropylene with polyethylene of various densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prokhorov, K. A.; Nikolaeva, G. Yu; Sagitova, E. A.; Pashinin, P. P.; Guseva, M. A.; Shklyaruk, B. F.; Gerasin, V. A.

2018-04-01

We report a Raman structural study of melt-mixed blends of isotactic polypropylene with two grades of polyethylene: linear high-density and branched low-density polyethylenes. Raman methods, which had been suggested for the analysis of neat polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene, were modified in this study for quantitative analysis of polyethylene/polypropylene blends. We revealed the dependence of the degree of crystallinity and conformational composition of macromolecules in the blends on relative content of the blend components and preparation conditions (quenching or annealing). We suggested a simple Raman method for evaluation of the relative content of the components in polyethylene/polypropylene blends. The degree of crystallinity of our samples, evaluated by Raman spectroscopy, is in good agreement with the results of analysis by differential scanning calorimetry.

Controlling And Operating Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (Hcci) Engines

DOEpatents

Flowers, Daniel L.

2005-08-02

A Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine system includes an engine that produces exhaust gas. A vaporization means vaporizes fuel for the engine an air induction means provides air for the engine. An exhaust gas recirculation means recirculates the exhaust gas. A blending means blends the vaporized fuel, the exhaust gas, and the air. An induction means inducts the blended vaporized fuel, exhaust gas, and air into the engine. A control means controls the blending of the vaporized fuel, the exhaust gas, and the air and for controls the inducting the blended vaporized fuel, exhaust gas, and air into the engine.

Enhancing the Dyeability of Polypropylene Fibers by Melt Blending with Polyethylene Terephthalate

PubMed Central

Moradian, Siamak; Ameri, Farhad

2013-01-01

Attempts were made to modify polypropylene fibers by melt blending with polyethylene terephthalate in order to enhance the dyeability of the resultant fiber. Five blends of polypropylene/polyethylene terephthalate/compatibilizer were prepared and subsequently spun into fibers. Three disperse dyes were used to dye such modified fibers at boiling and 130°C. The dyeing performance of the blend fibers, as well as the morphological, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties, of the corresponding blends was characterized by means of spectrophotometry, polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile testing. PMID:24288485

Multiphase materials with lignin. VI. Effect of cellulose derivative structure on blend morphology with lignin

Treesearch

Timothy G. Rials; Wolfgang G. Glasser

1989-01-01

Polymeric blends of lignin with ethyl cellulose (EC) and cellulose acetate/butyrate (CAB) prepared by solution casting from dioxane. Fracture surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed phase separation when the lignin content exceeded 10% for blends with EC and 5% in the CAB system. While this phase behavior is as predicted for the EC blends, a greater...

The Art of Blending: Benefits and Challenges of a Blended Course for Preservice Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shand, Kristen; Farrelly, Susan Glassett

2018-01-01

In this study, we explore the design and delivery of a blended social studies teaching methods course according to principles and core attributes of blended course design. In a survey at the end of the course, pre-service teachers were asked to reflect on their experience in the course, and identify the benefits and challenges of the blended…

"Why Did You Blend My Learning?" A Comparison of Student Success in Lecture and Blended Learning Introduction to Sociology Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Luna, Yvonne M.; Winters, Stephanie A.

2017-01-01

Introduction to Sociology at a large public university was taught in two separate formats, blended learning and lecture, during the same semester by the first author. While some similarities existed, the distinction was in delivery of course content. Additionally, the blended class had one-third less in-class time that was primarily devoted to…

Technology-Enhanced Blended Language Learning in an ESL Class: A Description of a Model and an Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grgurovic, Maja

2010-01-01

Blended learning, a combination of face-to-face and online instruction, is seen as one of the most important advancements of this century and a natural evolution of the learning agenda (Thorne, 2003). Blended learning studies that compared traditional and blended foreign language classes showed no significant differences in learner outcomes and…

Blended versus Face-to-Face: Evidence from a Graduate Corporate Finance Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harjoto, Maretno Agus

2017-01-01

The author compared students' perceptions of prelecture videos replacing face-to-face (F2F) classes in blended and F2F graduate corporate finance classes. Using 176 anonymous survey responses from eight F2F and two blended classes during the 2014-2016 year, the author found that students in the blended classes had a greater belief that prelecture…

Cyanoresin, cyanoresin/cellulose triacetate blends for thin film, dielectric capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yen, Shiao-Ping S. (Inventor); Lewis, Carol R. (Inventor); Cygan, Peter J. (Inventor); Jow, T. Richard (Inventor)

1996-01-01

Non brittle dielectric films are formed by blending a cyanoresin such as cyanoethyl, hydroxyethyl cellulose (CRE) with a compatible, more crystalline resin such as cellulose triacetate. The electrical breakdown strength of the blend is increased by orienting the films by uniaxial or biaxial stretching. Blends of high molecular weight CRE with high molecular weight cyanoethyl cellulose (CRC) provide films with high dielectric constants.

Cyanoresin, cyanoresin/cellulose triacetate blends for thin film, dielectric capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yen, Shiao-Ping (Inventor); Jow, T. Richard (Inventor)

1993-01-01

Non-brittle dielectric films are formed by blending a cyanoresin such as cyanoethyl, hydroxyethyl cellulose (CRE) with a compatible, more crystalline resin such as cellulose triacetate. The electrical breakdown strength of the blend is increased by orienting the films by uniaxial or biaxial stretching. Blends of high molecular weight CRE with high molecular weight cyanoethyl cellulose (CRC) provide films with high dielectric constants.

Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Blended Learning for English Courses: A Case Study of Students at University of Bisha

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ja'ashan, Mohammed Mohammed Nasser Hassan

2015-01-01

This paper presents a case study of students' perceptions and attitudes towards Blended Learning course in English at University of Bisha. The statement of problem that blended learning of English course annoys students at University of Bisha. Most of the students do not understand well the objectives of e learning through blended learning courses…

Comparing the Effectiveness of Blended, Semi-Flipped, and Flipped Formats in an Engineering Numerical Methods Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Renee M.; Kaw, Autar; Besterfield-Sacre, Mary

2016-01-01

Blended, flipped, and semi-flipped instructional approaches were used in various sections of a numerical methods course for undergraduate mechanical engineers. During the spring of 2014, a blended approach was used; in the summer of 2014, a combination of blended and flipped instruction was used to deliver a semi-flipped course; and in the fall of…

Retention of natural antioxidants of blends of groundnut and sunflower oils with minor oils during storage and frying.

PubMed

Sunil, L; Reddy, P Vanitha; Krishna, A G Gopala; Urooj, Asna

2015-02-01

Unrefined groundnut oil (GNO) and refined sunflower oil (SFO) were blended with four minor oils including laboratory refined red palmolein (RRPO), physically refined rice bran oil (RBO), unrefined sesame oil (SESO), and unrefined coconut oil (CNO) containing natural antioxidants viz., β-carotene, tocopherols, oryzanol and lignans. The five blends prepared were GNO + RRPO (80:20), GNO + RBO (80:20), GNO + SESO (80:20), SFO + RRPO (50:50) and SFO + CNO (60:40). Prepared blends contained saturated fatty acids (SFA) (16.7-53.3 %); monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (16.0-45.5 %) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (29.2-37.8 %). GNO blends viz., GNO + RRPO, GNO + RBO and GNO + SESO contained β-carotene (10.7 mg/100 g), oryzanol (0.12 g/100 g) and lignans (0.35 g/100 g) respectively as natural antioxidants. SFO was enriched with β-carotene (28.7 mg/100 g) and medium chain fatty acids (34.2 %) by blending with RRPO and CNO respectively. The oil blends (200 ml) were packed and stored at 38 °C/90 % relative humidity (RH) and 27 °C/65 % RH and samples were withdrawn at fixed intervals for analysis. Freshly prepared blends were also investigated for their frying performance. During storage, GNO + RBO blend showed highest oxidative stability probably due to the presence of oryzanol in the order GNO + RBO > GNO + SESO > GNO + RRPO. During frying, the peroxide value of GNO blends with RBO (rich in oryzanol) and SESO (rich in lignans) was less while the free fatty acid value was less in SFO blends with RRPO and CNO. Hence, blending of natural antioxidants rich minor oils (RRPO, RBO and SESO) with the major vegetable oils (GNO and SFO) may preserve them by lowering their rate of oxidation during storage and frying.

Influence of storage temperature and time on the physicochemical and bioactive properties of roselle-fruit juice blends in plastic bottle

PubMed Central

Mgaya-Kilima, Beatrice; Remberg, Siv Fagertun; Chove, Bernard Elias; Wicklund, Trude

2014-01-01

Roselle-fruit juice blends were made from roselle extract and mango, papaya, and guava juices at the ratio of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80, % roselle: fruit juice, respectively. The blends were pasteurized at 82.5°C for 20 min and stored in 100 mL plastic bottles at 28 and 4°C for 6 months. The effects of storage time and temperature on physicochemical and bioactive properties were evaluated. Total soluble solids, pH, and reducing sugars increased significantly (P < 0.05) in some blends while titratable acidity decrease with increasing storage time. Vitamin C, total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), total phenols (TPC), and antioxidant activity (ferric reducing ability of plasma, FRAP) in all roselle-fruit blends (40% roselle) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 28 and 4°C as storage progressed. Vitamin C in all roselle-fruit blends (40% roselle) decreased from 58–55% to 43–42% when stored at 28 and 4°C, respectively. TMA losses were 86–65% at 28°C and 75–53% at 4°C while TPC losses were 66–58% at 28°C and 51–22% at 4°C. Loss of antioxidant capacity (FRAP) was 18–46% at 28°C and 17–35% at 4°C. A principal component analysis (PCA) differentiated roselle-juice fruit blends into two clusters with two principle components PC1 and PC2, which explained 97 and 3% (blends stored at ambient temperature) and 96 and 4% (blends stored at refrigerated temperature) of the variation, respectively. PC1 differentiated roselle-guava juice blends which were characterized by vitamin C, TPC, FRAP, and pH, while PC2 from another cluster of roselle-mango and roselle-papaya juice blends and was characterized by TSS, RS, and color parameters (L* a* b*). However, TMA was the main variable with the highest effect on all roselle-fruit juice blends regardless of the storage time and temperature. PMID:24804077

At-line determination of pharmaceuticals small molecule's blending end point using chemometric modeling combined with Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tewari, Jagdish; Strong, Richard; Boulas, Pierre

2017-02-01

This article summarizes the development and validation of a Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) method for the rapid at-line prediction of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a powder blend to optimize small molecule formulations. The method was used to determine the blend uniformity end-point for a pharmaceutical solid dosage formulation containing a range of API concentrations. A set of calibration spectra from samples with concentrations ranging from 1% to 15% of API (w/w) were collected at-line from 4000 to 12,500 cm- 1. The ability of the FT-NIR method to predict API concentration in the blend samples was validated against a reference high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The prediction efficiency of four different types of multivariate data modeling methods such as partial least-squares 1 (PLS1), partial least-squares 2 (PLS2), principal component regression (PCR) and artificial neural network (ANN), were compared using relevant multivariate figures of merit. The prediction ability of the regression models were cross validated against results generated with the reference HPLC method. PLS1 and ANN showed excellent and superior prediction abilities when compared to PLS2 and PCR. Based upon these results and because of its decreased complexity compared to ANN, PLS1 was selected as the best chemometric method to predict blend uniformity at-line. The FT-NIR measurement and the associated chemometric analysis were implemented in the production environment for rapid at-line determination of the end-point of the small molecule blending operation. FIGURE 1: Correlation coefficient vs Rank plot FIGURE 2: FT-NIR spectra of different steps of Blend and final blend FIGURE 3: Predictions ability of PCR FIGURE 4: Blend uniformity predication ability of PLS2 FIGURE 5: Prediction efficiency of blend uniformity using ANN FIGURE 6: Comparison of prediction efficiency of chemometric models TABLE 1: Order of Addition for Blending Steps

Blend Sign on Computed Tomography: Novel and Reliable Predictor for Early Hematoma Growth in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

PubMed

Li, Qi; Zhang, Gang; Huang, Yuan-Jun; Dong, Mei-Xue; Lv, Fa-Jin; Wei, Xiao; Chen, Jian-Jun; Zhang, Li-Juan; Qin, Xin-Yue; Xie, Peng

2015-08-01

Early hematoma growth is not uncommon in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and is an independent predictor of poor functional outcome. The purpose of our study was to report and validate the use of our newly identified computed tomographic (CT) blend sign in predicting early hematoma growth. Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent baseline CT scan within 6 hours after onset of symptoms were included. The follow-up CT scan was performed within 24 hours after the baseline CT scan. Significant hematoma growth was defined as an increase in hematoma volume of >33% or an absolute increase of hematoma volume of >12.5 mL. The blend sign on admission nonenhanced CT was defined as blending of hypoattenuating area and hyperattenuating region with a well-defined margin. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the presence of the blend sign on nonenhanced admission CT and early hematoma growth. A total of 172 patients were included in our study. Blend sign was observed in 29 of 172 (16.9%) patients with intracerebral hemorrhage on baseline nonenhanced CT scan. Of the 61 patients with hematoma growth, 24 (39.3%) had blend sign on admission CT scan. Interobserver agreement for identifying blend sign was excellent between the 2 readers (κ=0.957). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the time to baseline CT scan, initial hematoma volume, and presence of blend sign on baseline CT scan to be independent predictors of early hematoma growth. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of blend sign for predicting hematoma growth were 39.3%, 95.5%, 82.7%, and 74.1%, respectively. The CT blend sign could be easily identified on regular nonenhanced CT and is highly specific for predicting hematoma growth. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

Trends of non-destructive analytical methods for identification of biodiesel feedstock in diesel-biodiesel blend according to European Commission Directive 2012/0288/EC and detecting diesel-biodiesel blend adulteration: A brief review.

PubMed

Mazivila, Sarmento Júnior

2018-04-01

Discrimination of biodiesel feedstock present in diesel-biodiesel blend is challenging due to the great similarity in the spectral profile as well as digital image profile of each type of feedstock employed in biodiesel production. Once the marketed diesel-biodiesel blend is subsidized, in which motivates adulteration in biofuel blend by cheaper supplies with high solubility to obtain profits associated with the subsidies involved in biodiesel production. Non-destructive analytical methods based on qualitative and quantitative analysis for detecting marketed diesel-biodiesel blend adulteration are reviewed. Therefore, at the end is discussed the advantage of the qualitative analysis over quantitative analysis, when the systems require immediate decisions such as to know if the marketed diesel-biodiesel blend is unadulterated or adulterated in order to aid the analyst in selecting the most appropriate green analytical procedure for detecting diesel-biodiesel blend adulteration proceeding in fast way. This critical review provides a brief review on the non-destructive analytical methods reported in scientific literature based on different first-order multivariate calibration models coupled with spectroscopy data and digital image data to identify the type of biodiesel feedstock present in diesel-biodiesel blend in order to meets the strategies adopted by European Commission Directive 2012/0288/EC as well as to monitoring diesel-biodiesel adulteration. According to that Directive, from 2020 biodiesel produced from first-generation feedstock, that is, oils employed in human food such as sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, palm oil, among other oils should not be subsidized. Therefore, those non-destructive analytical methods here reviewed are helpful for discrimination of biodiesel feedstock present in diesel-biodiesel blend according to European Commission Directive 2012/0288/EC as well as for detecting diesel-biodiesel blend adulteration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The morphology of blends of linear and branched polyethylenes by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Londono, J.D.; Wignall, G.D.; Lin, J.S.

1995-12-31

The solid-state morphology and liquid-state homogeneity of blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were investigated by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS). The solid state morphology was investigated as a function of composition and cooling rate from the melt. After slow cooling, the evidence indicated that the mixtures were either completely (HDPE-rich blends) or almost completely (LDPE-rich blends) phase separated into separate HDPE and LDPE lamellae over the whole compositional range. In contrast, for rapidly quenched blends the components are extensively co-crystallized for all concentrations, though the SANS data indicated that the branched component hadmore » a tendency to be preferentially located in the inter-lamellar regions. In the liquid state, the blends were homogeneous at all compositions, showing that the solid state morphology is not determined by the melt structure, but is a function of the crystallization kinetics. Further evidence for blend homogeneity in the liquid is presented. In particular the authors examine the hypothesis that a phase separated mixture might give a scattering pattern similar to a homogeneous blend if the domain sizes were larger than the maximum spatial resolution of the SANS experiment (D > 2{pi}/Q{sub min} {approximately} 2,000 {angstrom}). In this scenario, the differential scattering cross section d{Sigma}/d{Omega}(Q) {approximately} Q{sup {minus}2}, though phase separation decreases the cross section in this Q-range with respect to the homogeneous blend. For HDPE/LDPE blends in the melt, this decrease in intensity was not observed, thus ruling out the possibility of phase separation.« less

Students' Perceptions of Blended Learning and its Effectiveness As a Part of Second Year Dental Curriculum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varthis, Spyridon

The field of dental medical education is one of the most rapidly evolving fields in education. Newer teaching methods are being evaluated and incorporated in dental institutions. One of the promising new methods is the blended learning approach that may involve a "flipped" instructional sequencing, where online instruction precedes the group meeting, allowing for more sophisticated learning through discussion and critical thinking. The author conducted a mixed method, experimental study that focused on second year dental students' perceptions of blended learning and its effectiveness. A sample size of 40 dental students in their second year from a Northeastern Regional Dental School were invited to participate in this study to evaluate a blended learning approach in comparison to a more traditional lecture format. Students who participated in the study, participated in group problem-solving, responded to Likert-type surveys, completed content exams, and were interviewed individually. Based on Likert survey data and interview responses, the participants in the blended learning treatment reported very positive opinions including positive perceptions of the organization, support of meaningful learning and potential merits for use in dental education. There also was evidence that the blended learning group achieved at least as well as the traditional lecture group, and excelled on certain content test items. The results of this study support the conclusion that blended instruction promotes active, in-depth and self-regulated learning. During blended learning, students set standards or goals regarding their learning, evaluate their progress toward these goals, and then adapt and regulate their cognition, motivation, and behavior in order to accomplish their goals. Overall, the results of this research on blended learning, including the use of problem-based learning in group discussions, supports the merits of incorporating blended earning in dental education curricula.

Aroma-therapeutic effects of massage blended essential oils on humans.

PubMed

Hongratanaworakit, Tapanee

2011-08-01

Although blended essential oils are increasingly being used for the improvement of the quality of life and for the relief of various symptoms in patients, the scientific evaluation of the aroma-therapeutic effects of blended essential oils in humans is rather scarce. In this study, we hypothesized that applying blended essential oil would provide a synergistic effect that would have a chance for success in treating depression or anxiety. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the blended essential oil on autonomic parameters and on emotional responses in humans following transdermal absorption. The blended essential oil consisted of lavender and bergamot oils. Human autonomic parameters, i.e. blood pressure, pulse rate, breathing rate, and skin temperature, were recorded as indicators of the arousal level of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, subjects had to rate their emotional condition in terms of relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentiveness, mood, and alertness in order to assess subjective behavioral arousal. Forty healthy volunteers participated in the experiments. Blended essential oil was applied topically to the skin of the abdomen of each subject. Compared with placebo, blended essential oil caused significant decreases of pulse rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which indicated a decrease of autonomic arousal. At the emotional level, subjects in the blended essential oil group rated themselves as 'more calm' and 'more relaxed' than subjects in the control group. This finding suggests a decrease of subjective behavioral arousal. In conclusion, our investigation demonstrates the relaxing effect of a mixture of lavender and bergamot oils. This synergistic blend provides evidence for its use in medicine for treating depression or anxiety in humans.

Improved properties of fine active pharmaceutical ingredient powder blends and tablets at high drug loading via dry particle coating.

PubMed

Kunnath, Kuriakose; Huang, Zhonghui; Chen, Liang; Zheng, Kai; Davé, Rajesh

2018-05-30

It has been shown that dry coating cohesive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with nano-silica can improve packing and flow of their blends, facilitating high speed direct compression tableting. This paper examines the broader scope and generality of previous work by examining three fine APIs; micronized Acetaminophen (mAPAP), coarse Acetaminophen (cAPAP) and micronized Ibuprofen (mIBU), and considers dry coating with both hydrophobic or hydrophilic nano-silica to examine the effect not only on packing density and flow of their blends, but also dissolution and tensile strength of their tablets. The impact of the excipient size on blend and tablet properties are also investigated, indicating blend flow is most improved when matching API particle size with excipient particle size. In all cases where the API is dry coated, the blend packing and flow improve, so as to suggest such high drug loaded blends could enable direct compression. Using dry coated API along with finer excipients in blends lead to improved hardness of the corresponding tablets. Interestingly, dissolution profiles show dry coated API tablets generally have faster dissolution rates, regardless of silica hydrophilicity, suggesting API powder deagglomeration via nano-silica coating plays a crucial role. The most significant conclusion is that, although there are differences in properties of blends that depend on the API, hydrophobic or hydrophilic nano-silica coating, as well as large or fine excipients, in all cases, dry coating of APIs significantly improves the possibility of using the specific blend at high drug loading in direct compression tableting. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of polyfunctional monomers on properties of radiation crosslinked EPDM/waste tire dust blend

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasin, Tariq; Khan, Sajid; Nho, Young-Chang; Ahmad, Rashid

2012-04-01

In this study, waste tire dust is recycled as filler and blended with ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. Three different polyfuntional monomers (PFMs) are incorporated into the standard formulation and irradiated under electron beam at different doses up to maximum of 100 kGy. The combined effects of PFMs and absorbed dose on the physical properties of EPDM/WTD blend are measured and compared with sulfur crosslinked formulation. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that radiation developed better crosslinked network with higher thermal stability than sulfur crosslinked structure. The physical properties of radiation crosslinked blend are similar to the sulfur crosslinked blend. The absence of toxic chemicals/additives in radiation crosslinked blends made them an ideal candidate for many applications such as roof sealing sheets, water retention pond, playground mat, sealing profile for windows etc.

Fitting Photometry of Blended Microlensing Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Christian L.; Griest, Kim

2006-03-01

We reexamine the usefulness of fitting blended light-curve models to microlensing photometric data. We find agreement with previous workers (e.g., Woźniak & Paczyński) that this is a difficult proposition because of the degeneracy of blend fraction with other fit parameters. We show that follow-up observations at specific point along the light curve (peak region and wings) of high-magnification events are the most helpful in removing degeneracies. We also show that very small errors in the baseline magnitude can result in problems in measuring the blend fraction and study the importance of non-Gaussian errors in the fit results. The biases and skewness in the distribution of the recovered blend fraction is discussed. We also find a new approximation formula relating the blend fraction and the unblended fit parameters to the underlying event duration needed to estimate microlensing optical depth.

Apparatus and methods for purifying lead

DOEpatents

Tunison, Harmon M.

2016-01-12

Disclosed is an exemplary method of purifying lead which includes the steps of placing lead and a fluoride salt blend in a container; forming a first fluid of molten lead at a first temperature; forming a second fluid of the molten fluoride salt blend at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; mixing the first fluid and the second fluid together; separating the two fluids; solidifying the molten fluoride salt blend at a temperature above a melting point of the lead; and removing the molten lead from the container. In certain exemplary methods the molten lead is removed from the container by decanting. In still other exemplary methods the molten salt blend is a Lewis base fluoride eutectic salt blend, and in yet other exemplary methods the molten salt blend contains sodium fluoride, lithium fluoride, and potassium fluoride.

Full-color tuning in binary polymer:perovskite nanocrystals organic-inorganic hybrid blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perulli, A.; Balena, A.; Fernandez, M.; Nedelcu, G.; Cretí, A.; Kovalenko, M. V.; Lomascolo, M.; Anni, M.

2018-04-01

The excellent optical and electronic properties of metal halide perovskites recently proposed these materials as interesting active materials for optoelectronic applications. In particular, the high color purity of perovskite colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) had recently motivated their exploration as active materials for light emitting diodes with tunable emission across the visible range. In this work, we investigated the emission properties of binary blends of conjugated polymers and perovskite NCs. We demonstrate that the emission color of the blends is determined by the superposition of the component photoluminescence spectra, allowing color tuning by acting on the blend relative composition. The use of two different polymers, two different perovskite NCs, and different blend compositions is exploited to tune the blend color in the blue-green, yellow-red, and blue-red ranges, including white light generation.

Engineered Option Treatment of Remediated Nitrate Salts: Surrogate Batch-Blending Testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anast, Kurt Roy

2016-03-11

This report provides results from batch-blending test work for remediated nitrate salt (RNS) treatment. Batch blending was identified as a preferred option for blending RNS and unremediated nitrate salt (UNS) material with zeolite to effectively safe the salt/Swheat material identified as ignitable (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency code D001). Blending with zeolite was the preferred remediation option identified in the Options Assessment Report and was originally proposed as the best option for remediation by Clark and Funk in their report, Chemical Reactivity and Recommended Remediation Strategy for Los Alamos Remediated Nitrate Salt (RNS) Wastes, and also found to be a preferredmore » option in the Engineering Options Assessment Report: Nitrate Salt Waste Stream Processing. This test work evaluated equipment and recipe alternatives to achieve effective blending of surrogate waste with zeolite.« less

Chemical and antioxidant properties of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina) juice and Pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice blends and their changes during storage.

PubMed

Bamidele, Oluwaseun P; Fasogbon, Mofoluwaso B

2017-04-01

Juice blends made from the mixture of snake tomato (Trichosanthes cucumerina) and Pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruits were analyzed for pH, antioxidant properties, total titratable acidity, vitamin C, lycopene and total phenolic contents after different blend ratios were made. The addition of snake tomato juice increased the vitamin C, total carotene, lycopene and antioxidant properties of the juice blends. The radical scavenging properties of juice blends containing a higher ratio of snake tomato were higher and samples stored at room temperature (29°C) showed an increase in antioxidant properties compared to samples stored at 4°C. In conclusion, snake tomato juice up to 50% may be added to Pineapple juice to make a healthy juice blend. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alternative fuel properties of tall oil fatty acid methyl ester-diesel fuel blends.

PubMed

Altiparmak, Duran; Keskin, Ali; Koca, Atilla; Gürü, Metin

2007-01-01

In this experimental work, tall oil methyl ester-diesel fuel blends as alternative fuels for diesel engines were studied. Tall oil methyl ester was produced by reacting tall oil fatty acids with methyl alcohol under optimum conditions. The blends of tall oil methyl ester-diesel fuel were tested in a direct injection diesel engine at full load condition. The effects of the new fuel blends on the engine performance and exhaust emission were tested. It was observed that the engine torque and power output with tall oil methyl ester-diesel fuel blends increased up to 6.1% and 5.9%, respectively. It was also seen that CO emissions decreased to 38.9% and NO(x) emissions increased up to 30% with the new fuel blends. The smoke opacity did not vary significantly.

Effect of Pertalite-Spiritus Blend Fuel on Performance of Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wibowo, H.; Susastriawan, A. A. P.; Andrian, D.

2018-02-01

This work aims to experimentally investigate an effect of Spiritus and Pertalite blend on engine’s performance (brake horsepower and torque, specific fuel consumption rate, and exhaust gas emission). The tests are conducted at 3000-7000 rpm for four different fuels, i.e., pertalite, 95%P-5%S, 90%P-10%S, and 85%P-15%S to obtain an optimum ratio of the Pertalite-Spiritus blend. The blend ratios of Pertalite (P) and Spiritus (S) are measured by volume. The result shows that addition of 15% Spiritus (by volume) on Pertalilte can enhance the combustion process of the blend hence increasing engine’s brake horsepower and decreasing specific fuel consumption rate. However, engine’s torque is lower when using the blend 85%P-15%S if compared with using Pertalite.

Influence of charge carrier mobility and morphology on solar cell parameters in devices of mono- and bis-fullerene adducts.

PubMed

Muth, Mathis-Andreas; Mitchell, William; Tierney, Steven; Lada, Thomas A; Xue, Xiang; Richter, Henning; Carrasco-Orozco, Miguel; Thelakkat, Mukundan

2013-12-06

Herein, we analyze charge carrier mobility and morphology of the active blend layer in thin film organic solar cells and correlate them with device parameters. A low band gap donor-acceptor copolymer in combination with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) or two bis-adduct fullerenes, bis-PCBM and bis-o-quino-dimethane C60 (bis-oQDMC), is investigated. We study the charge transport of polymer:fullerene blends in hole- and electron-only devices using the space-charge limited current method. Lower electron mobilities are observed in both bis-adduct fullerene blends. Hole mobility, however, is decreased only in the blend containing bis-oQDMC. Both bis-adduct fullerene blends show very high open circuit voltage in solar cell devices, but poor photocurrent compared to the standard PCBM blend for an active layer thickness of 200 nm. Therefore, a higher short circuit current is feasible for the polymer:bis-PCBM blend by reducing the active layer thickness in order to compensate for the low electron mobility, which results in a PCE of 4.3%. For the polymer:bis-oQDMC blend, no such improvement is achieved due to an unfavorable morphology in this particular blend system. The results are supported by external quantum efficiency measurements, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV/vis spectroscopy. Based on these results, the investigations presented herein give a more scientific basis for the optimization of solar cells.

Morphology Evolution of Polymer Blends under Intense Shear During High Speed Thin-Wall Injection Molding.

PubMed

Zhou, Yi; Yu, Feilong; Deng, Hua; Huang, Yajiang; Li, Guangxian; Fu, Qiang

2017-06-29

The morphology evolution under shear during different processing is indeed an important issue regarding the phase morphology control as well as final physical properties of immiscible polymer blends. High-speed thin wall injection molding (HSTWIM) has recently been demonstrated as an effective method to prepare alternating multilayered structure. To understand the formation mechanism better and explore possible phase morphology for different blends under HSTWIM, the relationship between the morphology evolution of polymer blends based on polypropylene (PP) under HSTWIM and some intrinsic properties of polymer blends, including viscosity ratio, interfacial tension, and melt elasticity, is systematically investigated in this study. Blends based on PP containing polyethylene (PE), ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), and polylactic acid (PLA) are used as examples. Compatibilizer has also been added into respective blends to alter their interfacial interaction. It is demonstrated that dispersed phase can be deformed into a layered-like structure if interfacial tension, viscosity ratio, and melt elasticity are relatively small. While some of these values are relatively large, these dispersed droplets are not easily deformed under HSTWIM, forming ellipsoidal or fiber-like structure. The addition of a moderate amount of compatibilizer into these blends is shown to be able to reduce interfacial tension and the size of dispersed phase, thus, allowing more deformation on the dispersed phase. Such a study could provide some guidelines on phase morphology control of immiscible polymer blends under shear during various processing methods.

Flight Investigation of the Knock-Limited Performance of a Triptane Blend, a Toluene Blend, and 28-R Fuel in an R-1830-75 Engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blackman, Calvin C.

1946-01-01

Knock-limited performance data were obtained for three fuels on an R-1830-75 engine in a B-24D airplane at engine speeds of 1800, 2250, and 2600 rpm, a spark advance of 25 degrees B.T.C., and carburetor-air temperatures of 85 F for 1800 and 2250 rpm and 100 F for 2600 rpm. The test fuels were a blend of 80 percent 28-R plus 20 percent triptane (leaded to 4.5 ml TEL/gal), a blend of 80 percent 28-R plus 15 percent toluene (leaded to 4.5 ml TEL / gal), and 28-R fuel. The knock-limited manifold pressure of the toluene blend depreciated more in the lean region than the triptane blend or 28-R fuel. The knock-limited brake horsepower for the triptane blend varied from 16 to 25 percent higher than 28-R in the lean region and 18 to 30 percent higher in the rich region. The knock-limited brake horsepower of the toluene blend was approximately 15 percent higher than that of 28-R in the rich region and varied from 2 to 10 percent higher in the lean region. Knock limits of the triptane blend and 28-R fuel tested in the R-1830-75 engine agreed with limits for the same fuels determined with the R-1830-94 engine for engine speeds of 1800 and 2250 rpm.

Reverse indentation size effects in gamma irradiated blood compatible blend films of chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) for possible medical applications.

PubMed

Bisen, D S; Bhatt, Rinkesh; Bajpai, A K; Bajpai, R; Katare, R

2017-02-01

In the present work binary blends of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) were prepared by solution cast method and characterized by analytical methods like FTIR, XRD and SEM for seeking structural and morphological information. The blends were exposed to gamma radiation and evaluated for their improved mechanical strength. It was found that the tensile strength and microhardness increased after irradiation of CS-PVA films. Plastic effect due to absorption of water molecules and scissoring effect due to gamma irradiation were found to decrease the softness or increase the microhardness of the blends. Improved mechanical properties were attributed to intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds and adhesive nature of the blends also. The blends were also investigated for water intake behavior and in vitro blood compatibility property on the basis of certain in vitro tests like protein adsorption, haemolysis and blood clot formation on the un-irradiated and irradiated blend samples. The increased % swelling with time could be assigned to the fact that increasing water content facilitates the phase separation process within the blend which results in advancement in interstitial nano-void spaces which are occupied by water molecules. The blood compatibility results showed that when the amount of CS was varied from 0.5% to 2%, the amount of blood clot and percent haemolysis decreased while the protein adsorption increased with increasing CS content of the blend films. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Granulated Lactose as a Carrier for Dry Powder Inhaler Formulations 2: Effect of Drugs and Drug Loading.

PubMed

Du, Ping; Du, Ju; Smyth, Hugh D C

2017-01-01

Previously, granulated lactose carriers were shown to improve uniformity and aerosolization of a low-dose model drug. In the present study, the blending uniformity and aerosol dispersion performance were assessed for 2 model drugs salbutamol sulfate (SS) and rifampicin (RIF), blended at high loadings (10% or 30% drug) with granulated lactose carriers. The model drug powders differed in particle size distribution, morphology, density, and surface energies. Content uniformity of RIF blends was better than that of SS. Aerosolization studies showed that all blend formulations had acceptable emitted fractions (>70%). The SS blends showed low induction-port deposition (6%-10%) compared to RIF (5%-30%). This difference was greater at high flow rates. At 90 L/min, the low induction port deposition of SS blends allowed high fine particle fraction (FPF) of 73%-81%, whereas the FPF of the RIF blends was around 43%-45% with higher induction port deposition. However, SS blends exhibited strong flow rate-dependent performance. Increasing the flow rate from 30 L/min to 90 L/min increased SS FPF from approximately 20% to 80%. Conversely, RIF blends were flow rate and drug loading independent. It was concluded that the aerosolization of high drug-loaded dry powder inhaler formulations using granulated lactose, particularly flow rate dependency, varies with active pharmaceutical ingredient properties. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Microstructural control of charge transport in organic blend thin-film transistors

DOE PAGES

Hunter, Simon; Chen, Jihua; Anthopoulos, Thomas D.

2014-07-17

In this paper, the charge-transport processes in organic p-channel transistors based on the small-molecule 2,8-difluoro-5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)anthradithiophene (diF-TES ADT), the polymer poly(triarylamine)(PTAA) and blends thereof are investigated. In the case of blend films, lateral conductive atomic force microscopy in combination with energy filtered transmission electron microscopy are used to study the evolution of charge transport as a function of blends composition, allowing direct correlation of the film's elemental composition and morphology with hole transport. Low-temperature transport measurements reveal that optimized blend devices exhibit lower temperature dependence of hole mobility than pristine PTAA devices while also providing a narrower bandgap trap distribution thanmore » pristine diF-TES ADT devices. These combined effects increase the mean hole mobility in optimized blends to 2.4 cm 2/Vs; double the value measured for best diF-TES ADT-only devices. The bandgap trap distribution in transistors based on different diF-TES ADT:PTAA blend ratios are compared and the act of blending these semiconductors is seen to reduce the trap distribution width yet increase the average trap energy compared to pristine diF-TES ADT-based devices. In conclusion, our measurements suggest that an average trap energy of <75 meV and a trap distribution of <100 meV is needed to achieve optimum hole mobility in transistors based on diF-TES ADT:PTAA blends.« less

Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) Fuel Blending Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT The U.S. Army sought to study the effect of blending highly iso-paraffinic ATJ blending...stock into JP-8 in order to understand the effect ATJ fuel blends will have on ground vehicle engines and support equipment. This subtask under Work... Synthetic Fuel, JP-8, diesel engine, combustion 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 19a. NAME OF

Blended Isogeometric Shells

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

biomechanical modeling (e.g. arteries). It is also possible to go still fur- ther with the concept and blend shell theories with continuum solid theories in the...spirit of transition elements. Again biomechanical modeling opportunities present themselves, such as for heart-artery models . We also note that all...these blended theories can be developed within the IGA format of exact CAD modeling . The blended formulation presented here is valid for a broad class

Learners' Perceptions of Blended Learning and the Roles and Interaction of f2f and Online Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Huang, Qiang

2016-01-01

The present study aims to probe into learners' perceptions of blended learning in relation to the respective roles of face-to-face learning (f2f learning) and online learning as well as their interaction in the blended EFL contexts. Questionnaires were used in the study to examine the attitudes of 296 university students towards a blended English…

Fabrication of antibacterial blend film from poly (vinyl alcohol) and quaternized chitosan for packaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Dongying; Wang, Lijuan, E-mail: donglinwlj@163.com

Highlights: • HTCC/PVA blend films were prepared through a simple mixing method. • The blend films had greater elongation at break and good optical transmittance. • The blend films had low oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability. • The films had good activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. - Abstract: Blend films from poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) containing N-(2-hydroxy) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HTCC) were prepared via a simple mixing and casting method. The films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible measurements (UV–vis). The effects of HTCC amountmore » on mechanical properties, oxygen permeability, water vapor permeation, and antibacterial properties against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) of the films were investigated. FTIR and XRD analysis show that HTCC and PVA in the blend films interacted by hydrogen bonding. SEM and UV–vis analysis reveal the good compatibility between HTCC and PVA. Compared with pure PVA film, the blend films had greater elongation at break, lower water permeability, and higher antibacterial activity. The HTCC addition decreased the tensile strength and the light transmittance. The results suggest that HTCC/PVA blend films have a potential as packaging materials.« less

Key Odorants Regulate Food Attraction in Drosophila melanogaster

PubMed Central

Giang, Thomas; He, Jianzheng; Belaidi, Safaa; Scholz, Henrike

2017-01-01

In insects, the search for food is highly dependent on olfactory sensory input. Here, we investigated whether a single key odorant within an odor blend or the complexity of the odor blend influences the attraction of Drosophila melanogaster to a food source. A key odorant is defined as an odorant that elicits a difference in the behavioral response when two similar complex odor blends are offered. To validate that the observed behavioral responses were elicited by olfactory stimuli, we used olfactory co-receptor Orco mutants. We show that within a food odor blend, ethanol functions as a key odorant. In addition to ethanol other odorants might serve as key odorants at specific concentrations. However, not all odorants are key odorants. The intensity of the odor background influences the attractiveness of the key odorants. Increased complexity is only more attractive in a concentration-dependent range for single compounds in a blend. Orco is necessary to discriminate between two similarly attractive odorants when offered as single odorants and in food odor blends, supporting the importance of single odorant recognition in odor blends. These data strongly indicate that flies use more than one strategy to navigate to a food odor source, depending on the availability of key odorants in the odor blend and the alternative odor offered. PMID:28928642

Predicting the composition of red wine blends using an array of multicomponent Peptide-based sensors.

PubMed

Ghanem, Eman; Hopfer, Helene; Navarro, Andrea; Ritzer, Maxwell S; Mahmood, Lina; Fredell, Morgan; Cubley, Ashley; Bolen, Jessica; Fattah, Rabia; Teasdale, Katherine; Lieu, Linh; Chua, Tedmund; Marini, Federico; Heymann, Hildegarde; Anslyn, Eric V

2015-05-20

Differential sensing using synthetic receptors as mimics of the mammalian senses of taste and smell is a powerful approach for the analysis of complex mixtures. Herein, we report on the effectiveness of a cross-reactive, supramolecular, peptide-based sensing array in differentiating and predicting the composition of red wine blends. Fifteen blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, in addition to the mono varietals, were used in this investigation. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) showed a clear differentiation of blends based on tannin concentration and composition where certain mono varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon seemed to contribute less to the overall characteristics of the blend. Partial Least Squares (PLS) Regression and cross validation were used to build a predictive model for the responses of the receptors to eleven binary blends and the three mono varietals. The optimized model was later used to predict the percentage of each mono varietal in an independent test set composted of four tri-blends with a 15% average error. A partial least square regression model using the mouth-feel and taste descriptive sensory attributes of the wine blends revealed a strong correlation of the receptors to perceived astringency, which is indicative of selective binding to polyphenols in wine.

Testing of commonly used mixing and sampling procedures to evaluate fertilizer blends prepared with matched and mismatched particle sizes.

PubMed

Hall, William L; Ramsey, Charles; Falls, J Harold

2014-01-01

Bulk blending of dry fertilizers is a common practice in the United States and around the world. This practice involves the mixing (either physically or volumetrically) of concentrated, high analysis raw materials. Blending is followed by bagging (for small volume application such as lawn and garden products), loading into truck transports, and spreading. The great majority of bulk blended products are not bagged but handled in bulk and transferred from the blender to a holding hopper. The product is then transferred to a transport vehicle, which may, or may not, also be a spreader. If the primary transport vehicle is not a spreader, then there is another transfer at the user site to a spreader for application. Segregation of materials that are mismatched due to size, density, or shape is an issue when attempting to effectively sample or evenly spread bulk blended products. This study, prepared in coordination with and supported by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Fertilizer and Agrochemical Association, looks at the impact of varying particle size as it relates to blending, sampling, and application of bulk blends. The study addresses blends containing high ratios of N-P-K materials and varying (often small) quantities of the micronutrient Zn.

Perceptions of sport science students on the potential applications and limitations of blended learning in their education: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Keogh, Justin W L; Gowthorp, Lisa; McLean, Michelle

2017-09-01

This study sought to gain insight into blended learning-naive sports science students' understanding and perceptions of the potential benefits and limitations of blended (hybrid) learning, which has been defined as the thoughtful integration of face-to-face and online instructional approaches. Five focus groups, each comprising 3-4 students from either the undergraduate or postgraduate sports science programmes were conducted. The focus groups were facilitated by a researcher who was not involved in sports science. Audio recordings of the focus groups were transcribed verbatim. NVivo software was used to code the transcripts to identify the themes and subthemes. Students generally had little initial understanding of blended learning. When provided with a definition, they believed that blended learning could improve educational outcomes and assist those who were legitimately unable to attend a session. Their reservations about blended learning mainly related to some students not being sufficiently autonomous to undertake independent study, timetabling considerations and access to reliable Internet services. For blended learning to be effective, students felt the online material had to be interactive, engaging and complement the face-to-face sessions. Better understanding the perceptions of the students in the current study may assist educators who are considering implementing blended learning in their teaching.

Blended learning in health education: three case studies.

PubMed

de Jong, Nynke; Savin-Baden, Maggi; Cunningham, Anne Marie; Verstegen, Daniëlle M L

2014-09-01

Blended learning in which online education is combined with face-to-face education is especially useful for (future) health care professionals who need to keep up-to-date. Blended learning can make learning more efficient, for instance by removing barriers of time and distance. In the past distance-based learning activities have often been associated with traditional delivery-based methods, individual learning and limited contact. The central question in this paper is: can blended learning be active and collaborative? Three cases of blended, active and collaborative learning are presented. In case 1 a virtual classroom is used to realize online problem-based learning (PBL). In case 2 PBL cases are presented in Second Life, a 3D immersive virtual world. In case 3 discussion forums, blogs and wikis were used. In all cases face-to-face meetings were also organized. Evaluation results of the three cases clearly show that active, collaborative learning at a distance is possible. Blended learning enables the use of novel instructional methods and student-centred education. The three cases employ different educational methods, thus illustrating diverse possibilities and a variety of learning activities in blended learning. Interaction and communication rules, the role of the teacher, careful selection of collaboration tools and technical preparation should be considered when designing and implementing blended learning.

Photonic polymer-blend structures and method for making

DOEpatents

Barnes, Michael D.

2004-06-29

The present invention comprises the formation of photonic polymer-blend structures having tunable optical and mechanical properties. The photonic polymer-blend structures comprise monomer units of spherical microparticles of a polymer-blend material wherein the spherical microparticles have surfaces partially merged with one another in a robust inter-particle bond having a tunable inter-particle separation or bond length sequentially attached in a desired and programmable architecture. The photonic polymer-blend structures of the present invention can be linked by several hundred individual particles sequentially linked to form complex three-dimensional structures or highly ordered two-dimensional arrays of 3D columns with 2D spacing.

Gas and hydrocarbon vapor permeation in poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)/poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Morisato, A.; Shen, H.C.; Toy, L.G.

1996-12-31

Permeation properties of phase-separated blends prepared from glassy poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) and poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP) were determined as a function of blend composition with pure hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and butane. Blend permeabilities decrease significantly with increasing PPP concentration and suggest the occurrence of a phase inversion at low PPP content (5 to 20 wt%). Based on TEM analysis high-aspect-ratio (extended) PPP ellipsoidal dispersions are found in a PTMSP matrix, indicating that the phase inversion is closely related to dispersed-phase connectivity in the blends.

A blended learning program on undergraduate nursing students' learning of electrocardiography.

PubMed

Jang, Keum-Seong; Kim, Yun-Min; Park, Soon-Joo

2006-01-01

This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of applying the blended learning program that combines the advantages of face-to-face(FTF) learning and e-learning. The blended learning program was developed by the authors and implemented for 4 weeks. 56 senior nursing students were recruited at a university in Korea. Significant improvement was noted in learning achievement. No significant differences were noted between FTF and web-based learning in learning motivation. Learning satisfaction and students' experience in taking this course revealed some positive effects of blended learning. The use of blended learning program for undergraduate nursing students will provide an effective learning model.

A novel quantitative analysis method of three-dimensional fluorescence spectra for vegetable oils contents in edible blend oil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jing; Wang, Yu-Tian; Liu, Xiao-Fei

2015-04-01

Edible blend oil is a mixture of vegetable oils. Eligible blend oil can meet the daily need of two essential fatty acids for human to achieve the balanced nutrition. Each vegetable oil has its different composition, so vegetable oils contents in edible blend oil determine nutritional components in blend oil. A high-precision quantitative analysis method to detect the vegetable oils contents in blend oil is necessary to ensure balanced nutrition for human being. Three-dimensional fluorescence technique is high selectivity, high sensitivity, and high-efficiency. Efficiency extraction and full use of information in tree-dimensional fluorescence spectra will improve the accuracy of the measurement. A novel quantitative analysis is proposed based on Quasi-Monte-Carlo integral to improve the measurement sensitivity and reduce the random error. Partial least squares method is used to solve nonlinear equations to avoid the effect of multicollinearity. The recovery rates of blend oil mixed by peanut oil, soybean oil and sunflower are calculated to verify the accuracy of the method, which are increased, compared the linear method used commonly for component concentration measurement.

Gasohol Quality Control for Real Time Applications by Means of a Multimode Interference Fiber Sensor

PubMed Central

Rodríguez Rodríguez, Adolfo J.; Baldovino-Pantaleón, Oscar; Domínguez Cruz, Rene F.; Zamarreño, Carlos R.; Matías, Ignacio R.; May-Arrioja, Daniel A.

2014-01-01

In this work we demonstrate efficient quality control of a variety of gasoline and ethanol (gasohol) blends using a multimode interference (MMI) fiber sensor. The operational principle relies on the fact that the addition of ethanol to the gasohol blend reduces the refractive index (RI) of the gasoline. Since MMI sensors are capable of detecting small RI changes, the ethanol content of the gasohol blend is easily determined by tracking the MMI peak wavelength response. Gasohol blends with ethanol contents ranging from 0% to 50% has been clearly identified using this device, which provides a linear response with a maximum sensitivity of 0.270 nm/% EtOH. The sensor can also distinguish when water incorporated in the blend has exceeded the maximum volume tolerated by the gasohol blend, which is responsible for phase separation of the ethanol and gasoline and could cause serious engine failures. Since the MMI sensor is straightforward to fabricate and does not require any special coating it is a cost effective solution for real time and in-situ monitoring of the quality of gasohol blends. PMID:25256111

Characterization of layered silicate-reinforced blends of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate).

PubMed

Lendvai, László; Apostolov, Anton; Karger-Kocsis, József

2017-10-01

A two-step melt blending procedure was used to produce binary systems composed of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). To improve the properties of the blends, two different layered silicates, viz. bentonite (BT) and organically modified montmorillonite (oMMT) were incorporated. First, TPS and its layered silicate nanocomposites were prepared via extrusion compounding during which starch was plasticized with glycerol and water. In the second step, PBAT was added to TPS/layered silicate to produce blends in a batch-type mixer. Mechanical and thermal properties were determined. The blends showed acceptable ductility over 50wt.% PBAT content, although at the cost of strength and stiffness. By contrast to oMMT the BT became intercalated in TPS and TPS/PBAT blends. The reinforcing effect of BT and oMMT was most prominent for the glassy states of both TPS and TPS/PBAT blends. Thermal, and thermooxidative properties were not significantly affected by the presence of layered silicates. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polymer/Polymer Blend Solar Cells Using Tetraazabenzodifluoranthene Diimide Conjugated Polymers as Electron Acceptors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Haiyan; Hwang, Ye-Jin; Earmme, Taeshik

2015-03-02

Two n-type semiconducting polymers with alternating arylene (thiophene or selenophene)–tetraazabenzodifluoranthene diimide (BFI) donor–acceptor architecture have been investigated as new electron acceptors in polymer/polymer blend solar cells. The new selenophene-linked polymer, PBFI-S, has a significantly smaller optical band gap (1.13 eV) than the thiophene-linked PBFI-T (1.38 eV); however, both polymers have similar HOMO/LUMO energy levels determined from cyclic voltammetry. Blends of PBFI-T with the thiazolothiazole–dithienylsilole donor polymer (PSEHTT) gave a 2.60% power conversion efficiency (PCE) with a 7.34 mA/cm2 short-circuit current. In contrast, PBFI-S:PSEHTT blends had a 0.75% PCE with similarly reduced photocurrent and external quantum efficiency. Reduced free energy formore » charge transfer and reduced bulk electron mobility in PBFI-S:PSEHTT blends compared to PBFI-T:PSEHTT blends as well as significant differences in bulk film morphology are among the reasons for the large loss in efficiency in PBFI-S:PSEHTT blend solar cells.« less

Investigation of sources, properties and preparation of distillate test fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowden, J. N.; Erwin, J.

1983-01-01

Distillate test fuel blends were generated for prescribed variations in composition and physical properties. Fuels covering a wide range in properties and composition which would provide a matrix of fuels for possible use in future combustion research programs were identified. Except for tetralin the blending components were all from typical refinery streams. Property variation blends span a boiling range within 150 C to 335 C, freezing point -23 C to -43 C, aromatic content 20 to 50 volume percent, hydrogen content 11.8 to 14.2 mass percent, viscosity 4 and 11 cSt (-20 C), and naphthalenes 8 and 16 volume percent. Composition variation blends were made with two base stocks, one paraffinic and the other napthenic. To each base stock was added each of three aromatic type fuels (alkyl benzenes, tetralin, and naphthalenes) for assigned initial boiling point, final boiling point, and hydrogen content. The hydrogen content was 13.5 mass percent for the paraffinic base stock blends and 12.5 mass percent and 11.5 mass percent for the naphthenic base stock blends. Sample 5-gallon quantities of all blends were prepared and analyzed.

Viscometric investigation of compatibilization of the poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends by terpolymer of maleic anhydride styrene vinyl acetate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

İmren, Dilek; Boztuğ, Ali; Yılmaz, Ersen; Zengin, H. Bayram

2008-11-01

In this study, a blend of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) was compatibilized by terpolymer of maleic anhydride-styrene-vinyl acetate (MAStVA) used as a compatibilizer. It was prepared the blends of 50/50 PVC/EVA containing 2-10% of the terpolymer. The compatibility experiences of these blends were investigated by using viscometric method in the range of concentrations (0.5-2.0 g dL -1) where tetrahydrofuran (THF) is the solvent. The interaction parameter (Δ b) was used to study the miscibility and compatibility of polymer blend in solution, obtained from the modified Krigbaum and Wall theory. Turbidity and FTIR measurements were also used to investigate the miscibility of this pair of polymers. The values of the relative viscosities of the each polymer solution and their blends were measured by a Cannon-Fenske type viscometer. In consequence of the study, it was observed that a considerable improvement was achieved in the miscibility of PVC/EVA blends by adding among 5 and 10 wt% of compatibilizer.

Anisotropic thermal conductive MWCNT/polymer composites prepared with an immiscible PS/LDPE blend.

PubMed

Kwon, Younghwan

2014-08-01

This study focuses on MWCNT/polymer composites with flexible, anisotropic heat transporting properties. For this study, an immiscible polymer blend of MWCNT/PS and LDPE (13.5:86.5 v:v) were used as a template. MWCNT/PS composites were first prepared by a solution process, and then melt-blended with LDPE using a brabender mixer. For achieving an alignment of MWCNT/PS in LDPE matrix, the blends of MWCNT/PS and LDPE were continuously treated under a fixed shear rate of 10 s(-1) at 210 °C. With partial extraction of PS in the aligned blends, FE-SEM images of the aligned blends revealed morphology of MWCNT in the PS/LDPE matrix, indicating local distribution of MWCNT selectively inside PS, where PS was elongated parallel to shear direction in LDPE matrix. The prepared MWCNT/PS and LDPE blends showed an anisotropic heat transporting behavior with anisotropic ratio of thermal conductivity (AR = λx/λz) up to 1.330 at 10 wt% of MWCNT in PS (equivalent to 1.50 wt% of MWCNT in PS/LDPE).

Tensile and morphology properties of PLA/LNR blends modified with maleic anhydride grafted-polylactic acid and -natural rubber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruf, Mohd Farid Hakim Mohd; Ahmad, Sahrim; Chen, Ruey Shan; Shahdan, Dalila; Zailan, Farrah Diyana

2018-04-01

This research was carried out to investigate the addition of grafted copolymers of maleic anhydride grafted-polylactic acid(PLA-g-MA) and maleic anhydride grafted-natural rubber (NR-g-MA) on the tensile and morphology properties of polylactic acid/ liquid natural rubber (PLA/LNR) blends. Prior to blend preparation, the PLA-g-MA and NR-g-MA was first self-synthesized using maleic anhydride (MA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator together with the PLA and NR respectively. The PLA/LNR, PLA/LNR/PLA-g-MA and PLA/LNR/NR-g-MA blends were prepared via melt-blending method. The loading of PLA-g-MA and NR-g-MA was varied by 5, 10 and 15 wt% respectively. The addition of PLA-g-MA led to increment in tensile strength with 5 and 10 wt% while NR-g-MA gives lower than controlled sample (PLA/LNR blend). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed the interaction of the components in the blends. The PLA/LNR compatibilized with PLA-g-MA and NR-g-MA shows greater dispersion and adhesion.

Topological and morphological analysis of gamma rays irradiated chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) blends using atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatt, Rinkesh; Bisen, D. S.; Bajpai, R.; Bajpai, A. K.

2017-04-01

In the present communication, binary blends of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (CS) were prepared by solution cast method and the roughness parameters of PVA, native CS and CS-PVA blend films were determined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Moreover, the changes in the morphology of the samples were also investigated after irradiation of gamma rays at absorbed dose of 1 Mrad and 10 Mrad for the scanning areas of 5×5 μm2, 10×10 μm2 and 20×20 μm2. Amplitude, statistical and spatial parameters, including line, 3D and 2D image profiles of the experimental surfaces were examined and compared to un-irradiated samples. For gamma irradiated CS-PVA blends the larger waviness over the surface was found as compared to un-irradiated CS-PVA blends but the values of average roughness for both the films were found almost same. The coefficient of skewness was positive for gamma irradiated CS-PVA blends which revealed the presence of more peaks than valleys on the blend surfaces.

Partnerships and Pathways of Dissemination: The NIDA-SAMHSA Blending Initiative in the Clinical Trials Network

PubMed Central

Martino, Steve; Brigham, Gregory S.; Higgins, Christine; Gallon, Steve; Freese, Thomas E.; Albright, Lonnetta M.; Hulsey, Eric G.; Krom, Laurie; Storti, Susan A.; Perl, Harold; Nugent, Cathrine D.; Pintello, Denise; Condon, Timothy P.

2010-01-01

Since 2001, the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) has worked to put the results of its trials into the hands of community treatment programs, in large part through its participation in the National Institute on Drug Abuse - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Blending Initiative and its close involvement with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s Addiction Technology Transfer Centers. This article describes 1) the CTN’s integral role in the Blending Initiative, 2) key partnerships and dissemination pathways through which the results of CTN trials are developed into blending products and then transferred to community treatment programs, and 3) three blending initiatives involving buprenorphine, motivational incentives, and motivational interviewing. The Blending Initiative has resulted in high utilization of its products, preparation of over 200 regional trainers, widespread training of service providers in most U.S. States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and movement toward the development of web-based implementation supports and technical assistance. Implications for future directions of the Blending Initiative and opportunities for research are discussed. PMID:20307793

Line shifts due to blending. [in stellar spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, A. T.

1978-01-01

The reported investigation is concerned with the case in which the measured position of a strong line of the spectrum is blended with a weaker one, taking into account the traditional solution proposed by Hartmann (1901) concerning the mean of the solar lines. An arbitrary element regarding the use of the centroid is related to the decision at which separation the components pass from being 'blended' to being 'resolved'. At this separation, the adopted wavelength suddenly jumps from the centroid of the blend to the position of the stronger line alone. It is pointed out that this discontinuous behavior is physically implausible. Attention is given to a solution involving a gradual diminution of the effect of the weaker line with increasing separation. Thus the weight of each component should depend on its position as well as its intensity. When partially blended lines cannot be decomposed into their components, and an effective line-position for the hole blend is needed, the line peak is the criterion least affected by blending. A method is presented for calculating such peak positions.

[Application of genetic algorithm in blending technology for extractions of Cortex Fraxini].

PubMed

Yang, Ming; Zhou, Yinmin; Chen, Jialei; Yu, Minying; Shi, Xiufeng; Gu, Xijun

2009-10-01

To explore the feasibility of genetic algorithm (GA) on multiple objective blending technology for extractions of Cortex Fraxini. According to that the optimization objective was the combination of fingerprint similarity and the root-mean-square error of multiple key constituents, a new multiple objective optimization model of 10 batches extractions of Cortex Fraxini was built. The blending coefficient was obtained by genetic algorithm. The quality of 10 batches extractions of Cortex Fraxini that after blending was evaluated with the finger print similarity and root-mean-square error as indexes. The quality of 10 batches extractions of Cortex Fraxini that after blending was well improved. Comparing with the fingerprint of the control sample, the similarity was up, but the degree of variation is down. The relative deviation of the key constituents was less than 10%. It is proved that genetic algorithm works well on multiple objective blending technology for extractions of Cortex Fraxini. This method can be a reference to control the quality of extractions of Cortex Fraxini. Genetic algorithm in blending technology for extractions of Chinese medicines is advisable.

Autoignition study of binary blends of n- dodecane/1-methylnaphthalene and iso- cetane/1-methylnaphthalene

DOE PAGES

Kukkadapu, Goutham; Sung, Chih-Jen

2017-11-24

An experimental study on autoignition of two binary blends, n-dodecane/1-methylnaphthalene and iso-cetane/1-methylnaphthalene, has been conducted using a rapid compression machine. Specifically, the ignition delays of the stoichiometric blend+air mixtures were measured at elevated pressures of P C = 15 bar and 30 bar, compressed temperatures of T C = 626–944 K, and varying blending ratios of the constituents. For a given set of P C and T C, a nonlinear response of the blend reactivity with respect to the relative amount of the constituents was observed. Since a comprehensive chemical kinetic model for the blends investigated here is under development,more » the current ignition delay datasets serve as the needed targets for model validation. For selected conditions, ignition delay simulations were conducted to highlight and discuss the deficiencies of the literature models and the potential areas for model improvements, especially at low temperatures. In conclusion, further chemical kinetic analyses were conducted to gain understanding of the blending behavior predicted by the available model.« less

Autoignition study of binary blends of n- dodecane/1-methylnaphthalene and iso- cetane/1-methylnaphthalene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kukkadapu, Goutham; Sung, Chih-Jen

An experimental study on autoignition of two binary blends, n-dodecane/1-methylnaphthalene and iso-cetane/1-methylnaphthalene, has been conducted using a rapid compression machine. Specifically, the ignition delays of the stoichiometric blend+air mixtures were measured at elevated pressures of P C = 15 bar and 30 bar, compressed temperatures of T C = 626–944 K, and varying blending ratios of the constituents. For a given set of P C and T C, a nonlinear response of the blend reactivity with respect to the relative amount of the constituents was observed. Since a comprehensive chemical kinetic model for the blends investigated here is under development,more » the current ignition delay datasets serve as the needed targets for model validation. For selected conditions, ignition delay simulations were conducted to highlight and discuss the deficiencies of the literature models and the potential areas for model improvements, especially at low temperatures. In conclusion, further chemical kinetic analyses were conducted to gain understanding of the blending behavior predicted by the available model.« less

Unique synergism in flame retardancy in ABS based composites through blending PVDF and halloysite nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remanan, Sanjay; Sharma, Maya; Jayashree, Priyadarshini; Parameswaranpillai, Jyotishkumar; Fabian, Thomas; Shih, Julie; Shankarappa, Prasad; Nuggehalli, Bharath; Bose, Suryasarathi

2017-06-01

This study demonstrates flame retardant materials designed using bi-phasic polymer blends of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) containing halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and Cloisite 30B nanoclay. The prepared blends with and without nanoparticles were extensively characterized. The nanoparticles were added in different weight concentrations to improve the flame retardancy. It was observed that prepared ABS/PVDF blends showed better flame retardancy than ABS based composites. The flame resistance was further improved by the addition of nanoparticles in the blends. The microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) test showed better flame resistance in ABS/PVDF blends filled with 5 wt% HNTs than other composites. The total heat release of ABS/PVDF blend filled with 5 wt% HNTs decreased by 31% and also the heat of combustion decreased by 26% as compared to neat ABS. When compared with nanoparticles, the addition of PVDF reduced the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and increased the char residue more effectively. A synergistic improvement was observed from both PVDF and HNTs on the flame resistance properties.

Polymer blends

DOEpatents

Allen, Scott D.; Naik, Sanjeev

2017-08-22

The present invention provides, among other things, extruded blends of aliphatic polycarbonates and polyolefins. In one aspect, provided blends comprise aliphatic polycarbonates such as poly(propylene carbonate) and a lesser amount of a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer. In certain embodiments, provided blends are characterized in that they exhibit unexpected improvements in their elongation properties. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of making such materials and applications of the materials in applications such as the manufacture of consumer packaging materials.

THE RESEARCH ON THERMAL PROPERTIES AND HYDROPHOBILITY OF THE NATIVE STARCH/HYDROLYSIS STARCH BLENDS WITH TREATED CaCO{sub 3} POWDER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, C.-I; Huang, C.-Y.

In this research, hydrolysis starch was added into the starch blends to study the thermal properties. The enthalpy of blends had a significant decrease to 109J/g as content of treated CaCO{sub 3} increased to 5wt%. The modified starch was degraded slightly to produce glucose in the hydrolysis treatment. The amount of glucose in native starch and hydrolysis starch was 0.09 {mu}mol and 0.14 {mu}mol by the DNS measurement. Moreover, CaCO{sub 3} treated with titanium coupling agent was also added to improve miscibility and hydrophobility in the starch blends. The contact angle of the blends increased from 60 deg. to 95more » deg. when 15wt% treated CaCO{sub 3} was added. Treated CaCO{sub 3} was confirmed to improve the hydrophobility of starch blends effectively.« less

Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) Mapping Coupled with Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) for Studying the Miscibility of Chlorobutyl Rubber/Polyamide-12 Blends.

PubMed

Tang, Yongjiao; Jing, Nan; Zhang, Pudun

2015-11-01

A series of chlorobutyl rubber/polyamide-12 (CIIR/PA-12) blends compatibilized by different amounts of maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) were investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) mapping. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was used to process the FT-IR images. Both the spectra of pure components in the blends and their concentration distributions in a micro-region were acquired. Our results demonstrated that the blend with 15 parts per hundred rubber PP-g-MAH showed the best miscibility. An amide interphase and an imide interphase were inferred by analyzing the spectra of MCR component 3 of the blends with and without PP-g-MAH, respectively. Correspondingly, two different compatibilizing mechanisms were proposed for these blends.

Crosslinked bicontinuous biobased PLA/NR blends via dynamic vulcanization using different curing systems.

PubMed

Yuan, Daosheng; Chen, Kunling; Xu, Chuanhui; Chen, Zhonghua; Chen, Yukun

2014-11-26

In this study, blends of entirely biosourced polymers, namely polylactide (PLA) and natural rubber (NR), were prepared through dynamic vulcanization using dicumyl peroxide (DCP), sulphur (S) and phenolic resin (2402) as curing agents, respectively. The crosslinked NR phase was found to be a continuous structure in all the prepared blends. The molecular weight changes of PLA were studied by gel permeation chromatography. Interfacial compatibilization between PLA and NR was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of blends were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis instrument. It was found that the molecular weight of PLA and interfacial compatibilizaion between PLA and NR showed a significant influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of blends. The PLA/NR blend (60/40 w/w) by DCP-induced dynamic vulcanization owned the finest mechanical properties and thermal stability. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A simple model to predict the biodiesel blend density as simultaneous function of blend percent and temperature.

PubMed

Gaonkar, Narayan; Vaidya, R G

2016-05-01

A simple method to estimate the density of biodiesel blend as simultaneous function of temperature and volume percent of biodiesel is proposed. Employing the Kay's mixing rule, we developed a model and investigated theoretically the density of different vegetable oil biodiesel blends as a simultaneous function of temperature and volume percent of biodiesel. Key advantage of the proposed model is that it requires only a single set of density values of components of biodiesel blends at any two different temperatures. We notice that the density of blend linearly decreases with increase in temperature and increases with increase in volume percent of the biodiesel. The lower values of standard estimate of error (SEE = 0.0003-0.0022) and absolute average deviation (AAD = 0.03-0.15 %) obtained using the proposed model indicate the predictive capability. The predicted values found good agreement with the recent available experimental data.

Miscibility phase diagram of ring-polymer blends: A topological effect.

PubMed

Sakaue, Takahiro; Nakajima, Chihiro H

2016-04-01

The miscibility of polymer blends, a classical problem in polymer science, may be altered, if one or both of the component do not have chain ends. Based on the idea of topological volume, we propose a mean-field theory to clarify how the topological constraints in ring polymers affect the phase behavior of the blends. While the large enhancement of the miscibility is expected for ring-linear polymer blends, the opposite trend toward demixing, albeit comparatively weak, is predicted for ring-ring polymer blends. Scaling formulas for the shift of critical point for both cases are derived. We discuss the valid range of the present theory, and the crossover to the linear polymer blends behaviors, which is expected for short chains. These analyses put forward a view that the topological constraints could be represented as an effective excluded-volume effects, in which the topological length plays a role of the screening factor.

Polymeric blends for sensor and actuation dual functionality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

St. Clair, Terry L. (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor); Su, Ji (Inventor); Ounaies, Zoubeida (Inventor)

2004-01-01

The invention described herein supplies a new class of electroactive polymeric blend materials which offer both sensing and actuation dual functionality. The blend comprises two components, one component having a sensing capability and the other component having an actuating capability. These components should be co-processable and coexisting in a phase separated blend system. Specifically, the materials are blends of a sensing component selected from the group consisting of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric and photoelectric polymers and an actuating component that responds to an electric field in terms of dimensional change. Said actuating component includes, but is not limited to, electrostrictive graft elastomers, dielectric electroactive elastomers, liquid crystal electroactive elastomers and field responsive polymeric gels. The sensor functionality and actuation functionality are designed by tailoring the relative fraction of the two components. The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric response and the mechanical toughness of the dual functional blends are also tailored by the composition adjustment.

Suitability of full fat and defatted rice brain obtained from Indian rice for use in food products.

PubMed

Singh, B; Sekhon, K S; Singh, N

1995-04-01

The effect of blending different types of rice bran in wheat flour on the rheological, pasting and baking properties is reported. Dough development time and strength as measured through farinograph decreased with the blending of unstabilized full fat and defatted bran; whereas, blending of stabilized full fat and defatted bran improved the dough strength. Pasting properties revealed an increase in gelatinization temperature and decrease in paste viscosities and set-back values with the blending of various types of rice bran. Bread volume and cookie spread decreased with blending of different types of rice bran; however, the decrease was more pronounced with the defatted bran. Muffin volume improved with the blending of rice bran. Stabilized full fat rice bran up to 20% level and unstabilized full fat or stabilized defatted rice bran up to 10% was found suitable in various food products.

Recycling of engineering plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipments: influence of virgin polycarbonate and impact modifier on the final performance of blends.

PubMed

Ramesh, V; Biswal, Manoranjan; Mohanty, Smita; Nayak, Sanjay K

2014-05-01

This study is focused on the recovery and recycling of plastics waste, primarily polycarbonate, poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and high impact polystyrene, from end-of-life waste electrical and electronic equipments. Recycling of used polycarbonate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene/high impact polystrene material was carried out using material recycling through a melt blending process. An optimized blend composition was formulated to achieve desired properties from different plastics present in the waste electrical and electronic equipments. The toughness of blended plastics was improved with the addition of 10 wt% of virgin polycarbonate and impact modifier (ethylene-acrylic ester-glycidyl methacrylate). The mechanical, thermal, dynamic-mechanical and morphological properties of recycled blend were investigated. Improved properties of blended plastics indicate better miscibility in the presence of a compatibilizer suitable for high-end application.

Comprehensive characterization of chitosan/PEO/levan ternary blend films.

PubMed

Bostan, Muge Sennaroglu; Mutlu, Esra Cansever; Kazak, Hande; Sinan Keskin, S; Oner, Ebru Toksoy; Eroglu, Mehmet S

2014-02-15

Ternary blend films of chitosan, PEO (300,000) and levan were prepared by solution casting method and their phase behavior, miscibility, thermal and mechanical properties as well as their surface energy and morphology were characterized by different techniques. FT-IR analyses of blend films indicated intermolecular hydrogen bonding between blend components. Thermal and XRD analysis showed that chitosan and levan suppressed the crystallinity of PEO up to nearly 25% of PEO content in the blend, which resulted in more amorphous film structures at higher PEO/(chitosan+levan) ratios. At more than 30% of PEO concentration, contact angle (CA) measurements showed a surface enrichment of PEO whereas at lower PEO concentrations, chitosan and levan were enriched on the surfaces leading to more amorphous and homogenous surfaces. This result was further confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. Cell proliferation and viability assay established the high biocompatibility of the blend films. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Critical Success Factor for Implementing Vocational Blended Learning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewi, K. C.; Ciptayani, P. I.; Surjono, H. D.; Priyanto

2018-01-01

Blended learning provides many benefits to the flexibility of time, place and situation constraints. The research’s objectives was describing the factors that determine the successful implementation of blended learning in vocational higher education. The research used a qualitative approach, data collected through observations and interviews by questionnare based on the CSFs indicators refers to TAM and Kliger. Data analysis was inductive method. The result provided an illustration that the success of vocational blended learning implementation was largely determined by the selection of instructional models that are inline with learning achievement target. The effectiveness of blended learning required the existence of policy support, readiness of IT infrastructure. Changing lecturer’s culture by utilizing ICT can also encourage the accelerated process of successful implementation. It can concluded that determinant factor of successful implementation of blended learning in vocational education is determined by teacher’s ability in mastering the pedagogical knowledge of designing instructional models.

Blended learning in K-12 mathematics and science instruction -- An exploratory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Jason

Blended learning has developed into a hot topic in education over the past several years. Flipped classrooms, online learning environments, and the use of technology to deliver educational content using rich media continue to garner national attention. While generally well accepted and researched in post-secondary education, not much research has focused on blended learning in elementary, middle, and high schools. This thesis is an exploratory study to begin to determine if students and teachers like blended learning and whether or not it affects the amount of time they spend in math and science. Standardized achievement test data were also analyzed to determine if blended learning had any effect on test scores. Based on student and teacher surveys, this population seems to like blended learning and to work more efficiently in this environment. There is no evidence from this study to support any effect on student achievement.

Instrumented roll technology for the design space development of roller compaction process.

PubMed

Nesarikar, Vishwas V; Vatsaraj, Nipa; Patel, Chandrakant; Early, William; Pandey, Preetanshu; Sprockel, Omar; Gao, Zhihui; Jerzewski, Robert; Miller, Ronald; Levin, Michael

2012-04-15

Instrumented roll technology on Alexanderwerk WP120 roller compactor was developed and utilized successfully for the measurement of normal stress on ribbon during the process. The effects of process parameters such as roll speed (4-12 rpm), feed screw speed (19-53 rpm), and hydraulic roll pressure (40-70 bar) on normal stress and ribbon density were studied using placebo and active pre-blends. The placebo blend consisted of 1:1 ratio of microcrystalline cellulose PH102 and anhydrous lactose with sodium croscarmellose, colloidal silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate. The active pre-blends were prepared using various combinations of one active ingredient (3-17%, w/w) and lubricant (0.1-0.9%, w/w) levels with remaining excipients same as placebo. Three force transducers (load cells) were installed linearly along the width of the roll, equidistant from each other with one transducer located in the center. Normal stress values recorded by side sensors and were lower than normal stress values recorded by middle sensor and showed greater variability than middle sensor. Normal stress was found to be directly proportional to hydraulic pressure and inversely to screw to roll speed ratio. For active pre-blends, normal stress was also a function of compressibility. For placebo pre-blends, ribbon density increased as normal stress increased. For active pre-blends, in addition to normal stress, ribbon density was also a function of gap. Models developed using placebo were found to predict ribbon densities of active blends with good accuracy and the prediction error decreased as the drug concentration of active blend decreased. Effective angle of internal friction and compressibility properties of active pre blend may be used as key indicators for predicting ribbon densities of active blend using placebo ribbon density model. Feasibility of on-line prediction of ribbon density during roller compaction was demonstrated using porosity-pressure data of pre-blend and normal stress measurements. Effect of vacuum to de-aerate pre blend prior to entering the nip zone was studied. Varying levels of vacuum for de-aeration of placebo pre blend did not affect the normal stress values. However, turning off vacuum completely caused an increase in normal stress with subsequent decrease in gap. Use of instrumented roll demonstrated potential to reduce the number of DOE runs by enhancing fundamental understanding of relationship between normal stress on ribbon and process parameters. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel bio-based and biodegradable polymer blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shengzhe

Most plastic materials, including high performance thermoplastics and thermosets are produced entirely from petroleum-based products. The volatility of the natural oil markets and the increasing cost of petroleum have led to a push to reduce the dependence on petroleum products. Together with an increase in environmental awareness, this has promoted the use of alternative, biorenewable, environmentally-friendly products, such as biomass. The growing interest in replacing petroleum-based products by inexpensive, renewable, natural materials is important for sustainable development into the future and will have a significant impact on the polymer industry and the environment. This thesis involved characterization and development of two series of novel bio-based polymer blends, namely polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/polyamide (PA) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/soy protein. Blends with different concentrations and compatible microstructures were prepared using twin-screw extruder. For PHA/PA blends, the poor mechanical properties of PHA improved significantly with an excellent combination of strength, stiffness and toughness by adding PA. Furthermore, the effect of blending on the viscoelastic properties has been investigated using small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow experiments as a function of blend composition and angular frequency. The elastic shear modulus (G‧) and complex viscosity of the blends increased significantly with increasing the concentration of PHA. Blending PLA with soy protein aims at reducing production cost, as well as accelerating the biodegradation rate in soil medium. In this work, the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the blends were investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile tests.

Cost Comparison Model: Blended eLearning versus traditional training of community health workers.

PubMed

Sissine, Mysha; Segan, Robert; Taylor, Mathew; Jefferson, Bobby; Borrelli, Alice; Koehler, Mohandas; Chelvayohan, Meena

2014-01-01

Another one million community healthcare workers are needed to address the growing global population and increasing demand of health care services. This paper describes a cost comparison between two training approaches to better understand costs implications of training community health workers (CHWs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our team created a prospective model to forecast and compare the costs of two training methods as described in the Dalburge Report - (1) a traditional didactic training approach ("baseline") and (2) a blended eLearning training approach ("blended"). After running the model for training 100,000 CHWs, we compared the results and scaled up those results to one million CHWs. A substantial difference exists in total costs between the baseline and blended training programs. RESULTS indicate that using a blended eLearning approach for training community health care workers could provide a total cost savings of 42%. Scaling the model to one million CHWs, the blended eLearning training approach reduces total costs by 25%. The blended eLearning savings are a result of decreased classroom time, thereby reducing the costs associated with travel, trainers and classroom costs; and using a tablet with WiFi plus a feature phone rather than a smartphone with data plan. The results of this cost analysis indicate significant savings through using a blended eLearning approach in comparison to a traditional didactic method for CHW training by as much as 67%. These results correspond to the Dalberg publication which indicates that using a blended eLearning approach is an opportunity for closing the gap in training community health care workers.

To Study Capping or Lamination Tendency of Tablets Through Evaluation of Powder Rheological Properties and Tablet Mechanical Properties of Directly Compressible Blends.

PubMed

Dudhat, Siddhi M; Kettler, Charles N; Dave, Rutesh H

2017-05-01

Air entrapment efficiency of the powders is one of the main factors leading to occurrence of capping or lamination tendency of tablets manufactured from the directly compressible powder blends. The purpose of the current research was to study this underlying cause leading to occurrence of capping or lamination of tablets through evaluation of powder rheological properties. Powder blends were prepared by addition of 0% w/w to 100% w/w of individual active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) [two model API: acetaminophen (APAP) and ibuprofen (IBU)] with microcrystalline cellulose without and with 0.5% w/w Magnesium Stearate as lubricant. Powder rheological properties were analyzed using FT4 Powder Rheometer for dynamic, bulk, and shear properties. Tablet mechanical properties of the respective blends were studied by determining the ability of the material to form tablet of specific strength under applied compaction pressure through tabletability profile. The results showed that powder rheometer distinguished the powder blends based on their ability to relieve entrapped air along with the distinctive flow characteristics. Powder blend prepared with increasing addition of APAP displayed low powder permeability as compared to IBU blends with better powder permeability, compressibility and flow characteristics. Also, lubrication of the APAP blends did not ease their ability to relieve air. Tabletability profiles revealed the potential occurrence of capping or lamination in tablets prepared from the powder blends with high APAP content. This study can help scientist to understand tableting performance at the early-developmental stages and can avoid occurrence capping and lamination of tablets.

A systematic review examining the effectiveness of blending technology with team-based learning.

PubMed

River, Jo; Currie, Jane; Crawford, Tonia; Betihavas, Vasiliki; Randall, Sue

2016-10-01

Technological advancements are rapidly changing nursing education in higher education settings. Nursing academics are enthusiastically blending technology with active learning approaches such as Team Based Learning (TBL). While the educational outcomes of TBL are well documented, the value of blending technology with TBL (blended-TBL) remains unclear. This paper presents a systematic review examining the effectiveness of blended-TBL in higher education health disciplines. This paper aimed to identify how technology has been incorporated into TBL in higher education health disciplines. It also sought to evaluate the educational outcomes of blended-TBL in terms of student learning and preference. A review of TBL research in Medline, CINAHL, ERIC and Embase databases was undertaken including the search terms, team based learning, nursing, health science, medical, pharmaceutical, allied health education and allied health education. Papers were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). The final review included 9 papers involving 2094 student participants. A variety of technologies were blended with TBL including interactive eLearning and social media. There is limited evidence that blended-TBL improved student learning outcomes or student preference. Enthusiasm to blend technology with TBL may not be as well founded as initially thought. However, few studies explicitly examined the value of incorporating technology into TBL. There is a clear need for research that can discern the impact of technology into TBL on student preference and learning outcomes, with a particular focus on barriers to student participation with online learning components. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Blended learning for reinforcing dental pharmacology in the clinical years: A qualitative analysis.

PubMed

Eachempati, Prashanti; Kiran Kumar, K S; Sumanth, K N

2016-10-01

Blended learning has become the method of choice in educational institutions because of its systematic integration of traditional classroom teaching and online components. This study aims to analyze student's reflection regarding blended learning in dental pharmacology. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Faculty of Dentistry, Melaka-Manipal Medical College among 3 rd and 4 th year BDS students. A total of 145 dental students, who consented, participate in the study. Students were divided into 14 groups. Nine online sessions followed by nine face-to-face discussions were held. Each session addressed topics related to oral lesions and orofacial pain with pharmacological applications. After each week, students were asked to reflect on blended learning. On completion of 9 weeks, reflections were collected and analyzed. Qualitative analysis was done using thematic analysis model suggested by Braun and Clarke. The four main themes were identified, namely, merits of blended learning, skill in writing prescription for oral diseases, dosages of drugs, and identification of strengths and weakness. In general, the participants had a positive feedback regarding blended learning. Students felt more confident in drug selection and prescription writing. They could recollect the doses better after the online and face-to-face sessions. Most interestingly, the students reflected that they are able to identify their strength and weakness after the blended learning sessions. Blended learning module was successfully implemented for reinforcing dental pharmacology. The results obtained in this study enable us to plan future comparative studies to know the effectiveness of blended learning in dental pharmacology.

Accuracy of the Blend Sign on Computed Tomography as a Predictor of Hematoma Growth after Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Lei, Chunyan; Geng, Jia; Chen, Chun; Chang, Xiaolong

2018-06-01

Hematoma growth is a strong independent predictor of poor outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage. However, there is no gold standard to accurately predict hematoma growth. Several noncontrast computed tomographic markers associated with hematoma growth have been reported recently. Blend sign, which is a new marker, has been reported in several studies and seems a particularly promising marker but lacks a standardized evaluation so far. A systematic review of published literature on blend sign and hematoma growth and clinical outcomes was conducted. Systematic review of best practices was followed, and study quality was assessed. The 6 studies involved 1573 participants in this review. The prevalence of blend sign ranged from 8.70% to 38.46%. The sensitivity of blend sign to predict hematoma growth varied from 13.0% to 42.86%; the specificity varied from 88.51% to 95.5%. Blend sign showed lower sensitivity but superior specificity for prediction of hematoma growth. Four studies indicated that the presence of blend sign was an independent predictor of hematoma growth. Four studies showed that the prevalence of blend sign was significantly higher in patients with hematoma growth compared with those without hematoma growth (odds ratio, 9.33; 95% confidence interval, 5.20-16.74). There was an association between blend sign and hematoma growth, but this finding is tentative in light of the fact that the number of included studies was relatively small. Copyright © 2018 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Blended learning for reinforcing dental pharmacology in the clinical years: A qualitative analysis

PubMed Central

Eachempati, Prashanti; Kiran Kumar, K. S.; Sumanth, K. N.

2016-01-01

Objectives: Blended learning has become the method of choice in educational institutions because of its systematic integration of traditional classroom teaching and online components. This study aims to analyze student’s reflection regarding blended learning in dental pharmacology. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Faculty of Dentistry, Melaka-Manipal Medical College among 3rd and 4th year BDS students. A total of 145 dental students, who consented, participate in the study. Students were divided into 14 groups. Nine online sessions followed by nine face-to-face discussions were held. Each session addressed topics related to oral lesions and orofacial pain with pharmacological applications. After each week, students were asked to reflect on blended learning. On completion of 9 weeks, reflections were collected and analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Qualitative analysis was done using thematic analysis model suggested by Braun and Clarke. Results: The four main themes were identified, namely, merits of blended learning, skill in writing prescription for oral diseases, dosages of drugs, and identification of strengths and weakness. In general, the participants had a positive feedback regarding blended learning. Students felt more confident in drug selection and prescription writing. They could recollect the doses better after the online and face-to-face sessions. Most interestingly, the students reflected that they are able to identify their strength and weakness after the blended learning sessions. Conclusions: Blended learning module was successfully implemented for reinforcing dental pharmacology. The results obtained in this study enable us to plan future comparative studies to know the effectiveness of blended learning in dental pharmacology. PMID:28031603

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF GASOLINE BLENDING OPTIONS

EPA Science Inventory

A life cycle assessment has been done to compare the potential environmental impacts of various gasoline blends that meet octane and vapour pressure specifications. The main blending components of alkylate, cracked gasoline and reformate have different octane and vapour pressure...

Survey for reactive blends of asphalt and antistripping additives : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-01-01

When subjected to elevated temperatures, some blends of asphalts and antistripping additives undergo a reaction that causes the additive to be ineffective. The frequency ofoccurrence of reactive asphalt-additive blends used by the Virginia Department...

Blended Learning as Transformational Institutional Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

VanDerLinden, Kim

2014-01-01

This chapter reviews institutional approaches to blended learning and the ways in which institutions support faculty in the intentional redesign of courses to produce optimal learning. The chapter positions blended learning as a strategic opportunity to engage in organizational learning.

PVDF-based semicrystalline-amorphous blends: Phase behavior and thermomechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campo, Cheryl Josephine

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) [PVDF]-based semicrystalline-amorphous blends were studied to better understand the degree to which transition temperatures and mechanical properties could be varied as a function of composition. Changes in the amorphous component, processing parameters, MW, and filler content were used to manipulate blend properties. Compositional and MW series of PVDF:poly(vinyl acetate) [PVAc] blends were prepared and characterized. Varying PVDF content led to appreciable changes in crystallinity. In contrast, the effect of composition on blend glass transition temperature, Tg, was manifested only at low PVDF contents. The effect of MWPVA, on the 30:70 PVDF:PVAc composition was manifested primarily in the materials' viscoelastic response to deformation. Ternary blends of PVDF, PVAc, and poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA] showed limited miscibility with both a PVAc- and PMMA-rich amorphous phase apparent in all the compositions tested. PVDF:PMMA blends on the other hand exhibited good miscibility characterized by tunable Tg values which were further exploited by varying the processing conditions in order to obtain thermomechanical properties ideal for bio-related shape memory applications. PVDF:poly(ethyl methacrylate) [PEMA] blends, despite having very broad transitions, similarly exhibited desirable transition temperatures for in vivo actuation. The effect of boron nitride (BN), short carbon fibers (SCF), and clay on blend properties was also assessed. SCF filler in 50:50 PVDF:PMMA led mainly to the formation of PVDF crystals in the alpha form, clay was observed to promote growth of the beta crystal form, and BN led to a mixture of crystal forms. BN also exhibited interesting effects in the creep behavior of this system as well as the crystallization behavior of the 50:50 PVDF:PEMA blend, suppressed kinetic crystallization competing with enhanced nucleation effect under isothermal conditions observed in the latter. Depending on the processing conditions used, SCF was found to have similar nucleation effects in the 50:50 PVDF:PMMA blend but diminished degrees of crystallinity overall. Finally, shape memory behavior of PVDF:PVAc blends as well as SCF-filled 50:50 PVDF:PMMA was characterized using single and multiple shape memory cycles. Increasing PVDF content had a negative impact on PVDF:PVAc shape memory properties while increasing stress was found to have an enhancing effect as did low SCF filler content in 50:50 PVDF:PMMA.

Pluronic F127/chitosan blend microspheres for mucoadhesive drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, W. Z.; Hu, X. F.

2017-01-01

Pluronic F127/chitosan blend microspheres were prepared via emulsification and cross-linking process using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker. Compared with chitosan microspheres fabricated under the same experimental conditions, blend microspheres exhibited better physical stability and higher swelling capacity. Puerarin, a traditional Chinese medicine, was incorporated into microparticlesas the model drug. The in vitro release of puerarin from blend microspheres was reduced because of the improved compatibility of the drug with the matrices. According to the results from in vitro adhesion experiments, mucoadhesive behavior of blend microspheres on a mucosa-like surface was similar to that of chitosan microspheres, despite their good ability of anti-protein absorption in solution.

Process for blending coal with water immiscible liquid

DOEpatents

Heavin, Leonard J.; King, Edward E.; Milliron, Dennis L.

1982-10-26

A continuous process for blending coal with a water immiscible liquid produces a uniform, pumpable slurry. Pulverized raw feed coal and preferably a coal derived, water immiscible liquid are continuously fed to a blending zone (12 and 18) in which coal particles and liquid are intimately admixed and advanced in substantially plug flow to form a first slurry. The first slurry is withdrawn from the blending zone (12 and 18) and fed to a mixing zone (24) where it is mixed with a hot slurry to form the pumpable slurry. A portion of the pumpable slurry is continuously recycled to the blending zone (12 and 18) for mixing with the feed coal.

Study of dielectric phenomenon for P3HT: PCBM blend

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Sunil; Kumar, Manoj; Rathi, Sonika; Singh, Amarjeet

2017-05-01

In this present work we prepared the film sample of blend (P3HT (poly (3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl)): PCBM ([6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester)), P3HT and PCBM solution on ITO substrate by drop cast method. Capacitance and tangent loss (tan δ) were measured and dielectric constants έ and dielectric loss ɛ″ were deduced from them as function frequency at room temperature. Blend samples show strong frequency dependence as compared to pristine P3HT and pristine PCBM sample. The high dielectric constant in blend films at low frequency was attributed to characteristic slow relaxation process in polymers along with polarization of isolated grains in the blend sample.

The gamma irradiation effects on structural and optical properties of silk fibroin/HPMC blend films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shetty, G. Rajesha; Rao, B. Lakshmeesha; Gowda, Mahadeva

In this paper the structural, chemical and optical properties of gamma irradiated silk fibroin/Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (SF-HPMC) blend films were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The results indicate that the gamma radiation did not affect significantly the primary structure of polypeptide arrangement in the blend films. But the optical properties of the blends changed with gamma irradiation dosage.

System for determining biofuel concentration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huff, Shean P.; Janke, Christopher James; Kass, Michael D.

2016-09-13

A measurement device or system configured to measure the content of biofuels within a fuel blend. By measuring a state of a responsive material within a fuel blend, a biofuel content of the fuel blend may be measured. For example, the solubility of a responsive material to biofuel content within a fuel blend, may affect a property of the responsive material, such as shape, dimensional size, or electrical impedance, which may be measured and used as a basis for determining biofuel content.

Electronic and structural characteristics of zinc-blende wurtzite biphasic homostructure GaN nanowires

DOE PAGES

Jacobs, Benjamin W.; Ayres, Virginia M.; Petkov, Mihail P.; ...

2007-04-07

Here, we report a new biphasic crystalline wurtzite/zinc-blende homostructure in gallium nitride nanowires. Cathodoluminescence was used to quantitatively measure the wurtzite and zinc-blende band gaps. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to identify distinct wurtzite and zinc-blende crystalline phases within single nanowires through the use of selected area electron diffraction, electron dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and fast Fourier transform techniques. A mechanism for growth is identified.

Electronic and structural characteristics of zinc-blende wurtzite biphasic homostructure GaN nanowires.

PubMed

Jacobs, Benjamin W; Ayres, Virginia M; Petkov, Mihail P; Halpern, Joshua B; He, Maoqi; Baczewski, Andrew D; McElroy, Kaylee; Crimp, Martin A; Zhang, Jiaming; Shaw, Harry C

2007-05-01

We report a new biphasic crystalline wurtzite/zinc-blende homostructure in gallium nitride nanowires. Cathodoluminescence was used to quantitatively measure the wurtzite and zinc-blende band gaps. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to identify distinct wurtzite and zinc-blende crystalline phases within single nanowires through the use of selected area electron diffraction, electron dispersive spectroscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and fast Fourier transform techniques. A mechanism for growth is identified.

Nonlinear Stress Relaxation of ``Quasi-monodisperse'' Miscible Blends of cis-Polyisoprene and Poly(ptert-butylstyrene)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Hiroshi; Matsumiya, Yumi

Viscoelastic relaxation was examined for entangled miscible blends of cis-polyisoprene (PI) and poly(ptert-butylstyrene) (PtBS). The terminal relaxation times of PI and PtBS therein, τPI and τPtBS, changed with the composition wPI and the molecular weights MPI and MPtBS. This ratio became unity when the wPI, MPI, and MPtBS values were chosen adequately. For example, in a blend with wPI = 0.75, MPI = 321k, and MPtBS = 91k at T = 40ûC, τPI/τPtBS = 1 and M/Me = 55 and 8.3 for PI and PtBS. Under small strains, this blend exhibited sharp, single-step terminal relaxation as similar to monodisperse homopolymers, thereby behaving as a ``quasi-monodisperse'' material. Under large step strains, the blend exhibited moderate nonlinear damping known as the type-A damping for entangled monodisperse homopolymers. Nevertheless, PI had M/Me = 55 in that blend, and homopolymers having such a large M/Me ratio exhibit very strong type-C damping. Thus, as compared to homopolymers, the nonlinearity was suppressed in the PI/PtBS blend having the large M/Me ratio. This suppression is discussed in relation to the slow Rouse retraction of the coexisting PtBS chains (having M/Me = 8.3 in the blend).

A charge carrier transport model for donor-acceptor blend layers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fischer, Janine, E-mail: janine.fischer@iapp.de; Widmer, Johannes; Koerner, Christian

2015-01-28

Highly efficient organic solar cells typically comprise donor-acceptor blend layers facilitating effective splitting of excitons. However, the charge carrier mobility in the blends can be substantially smaller than in neat materials, hampering the device performance. Currently, available mobility models do not describe the transport in blend layers entirely. Here, we investigate hole transport in a model blend system consisting of the small molecule donor zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and the acceptor fullerene C{sub 60} in different mixing ratios. The blend layer is sandwiched between p-doped organic injection layers, which prevent minority charge carrier injection and enable exploiting diffusion currents for themore » characterization of exponential tail states from a thickness variation of the blend layer using numerical drift-diffusion simulations. Trap-assisted recombination must be considered to correctly model the conductivity behavior of the devices, which are influenced by local electron currents in the active layer, even though the active layer is sandwiched in between p-doped contacts. We find that the density of deep tail states is largest in the devices with 1:1 mixing ratio (E{sub t} = 0.14 eV, N{sub t} = 1.2 × 10{sup 18 }cm{sup −3}) directing towards lattice disorder as the transport limiting process. A combined field and charge carrier density dependent mobility model are developed for this blend layer.« less

Improved quality of a vitamin B12-fortified 'ready to blend' fresh-cut mix salad with chitosan.

PubMed

Artés-Hernández, Francisco; Formica-Oliveira, Anna Carolina; Artés, Francisco; Martínez-Hernández, Ginés Benito

2017-09-01

A vitamin B12-fortified (0.25 mg L -1 ) chitosan (10 g L -1 ) coating was applied to a ready-to-blend fresh-cut salad including melon, pineapple and carrot, which was stored at 5 ℃ up to nine days. Uncoated samples were used as control while the vitamin B12 effect was compared to non-fortified chitosan-coated samples. Beverages were prepared on blending days 0, 4, 7 and 9 with subsequent storage at 5 ℃ for 0, 24 and 48 h. Physicochemical quality of fresh blended beverages was well preserved throughout storage. The chitosan coating highly reduced epiphytic microflora growth and polyphenoloxidase/peroxidase activities. No relevant variations of total phenolic contents were observed between different fresh blended beverages. However, its total antioxidant capacity reported after blending was lower as storage time of ready-to-blend samples increased. Fortified samples showed a vitamin B12 content of 8.6 µg kg -1 on processing day, ensuring 200 mL of such beverage the recommended daily intake of this vitamin. In conclusion, a ready-to-blend fruit/vegetable mix, fortified with vitamin B12, was developed with a shelf life of nine days at 5 ℃ showing the prepared beverages good quality during subsequent storage for 48 h at 5 ℃.

How do formulation and process parameters impact blend and unit dose uniformity? Further analysis of the product quality research institute blend uniformity working group industry survey.

PubMed

Hancock, Bruno C; Garcia-Munoz, Salvador

2013-03-01

Responses from the second Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) Blend Uniformity Working Group (BUWG) survey of industry have been reanalyzed to identify potential links between formulation and processing variables and the measured uniformity of blends and unit dosage forms. As expected, the variability of the blend potency and tablet potency data increased with a decrease in the loading of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). There was also an inverse relationship between the nominal strength of the unit dose and the blend uniformity data. The data from the PQRI industry survey do not support the commonly held viewpoint that granulation processes are necessary to create and sustain tablet and capsule formulations with a high degree of API uniformity. There was no correlation between the blend or tablet potency variability and the type of process used to manufacture the product. Although it is commonly believed that direct compression processes should be avoided for low API loading formulations because of blend and tablet content uniformity concerns, the data for direct compression processes reported by the respondents to the PQRI survey suggest that such processes are being used routinely to manufacture solid dosage forms of acceptable quality even when the drug loading is quite low. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[An exploratory study of 'blended' cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for patients with a panic disorder: results and patients' experiences].

PubMed

Bruinsma, A; Kampman, M; Exterkate, C C; Hendriks, G J

2016-01-01

Digital technology (e-health or 'blended' care), combined with evidence-based face-to-face CBT, is becoming increasingly implemented into mental health care and is expected to result in improved effectiveness and efficiency. To explore the feasibility of blended CBT for patients with a panic disorder. Nine face-to-face sessions of blended CBT (n = 18), supplemented with the digital support of a tabletcomputer and three e-mail contacts, were compared with 12 weekly sessions of regular CBT (n = 18). Primary outcomes were panic frequency and avoidance behaviour; the secondary outcome was general functioning. Patients' experiences of the treatment were collected in the form of a structured interview. The effect sizes found in both the regular and the blended CBT were medium to high (Cohen's d 0.42-1.60). In both types of treatment there was a significant reduction in patients' symptoms. There were no big differences in patient satisfaction regarding the treatment received. The therapists registered 39 face-to-face minutes in the blended treatment but they registered in total 41 fewer face-to-face minutes; this represented a time reduction of 4%. Blended CBT with help of a tablet computer seems to be a suitable method for treating panic disorder psychologically, although the time saved is only moderate. Much more research is needed to ascertain the feasibility and the cost effectiveness of blended CBT.

How 'blended' is blended learning?: students' perceptions of issues around the integration of online and face-to-face learning in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) health care context.

PubMed

Glogowska, Margaret; Young, Pat; Lockyer, Lesley; Moule, Pam

2011-11-01

This paper explores students' perceptions of blended learning modules delivered in a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) health care context in the UK. 'Blended learning' is the term used to describe a hybrid model of learning where traditional face-to-face teaching approaches and newer electronic learning activities and resources are utilised together. A new model of CPD for health care practitioners based on a blended learning approach was developed at a university in the south west of England. As part of the evaluation of the new modules, a qualitative study was conducted, in which 17 students who had experienced the modules were interviewed by telephone. Three main themes emerged from the interviews relating to the 'blended' nature of the blended learning modules. These were i) issues around the opportunities for discussion of online materials face-to-face; ii) issues of what material should be online versus face-to-face and iii) balancing online and face-to-face components. Teaching staff engaged in the development of blended learning courses need to pay particular attention to the ways in which they develop and integrate online and face-to-face materials. More attention needs to be paid to allowing opportunity for students to come together to create a 'community of inquiry'. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Can blended learning and the flipped classroom improve student learning and satisfaction in Saudi Arabia?

PubMed

Sajid, Muhammad R; Laheji, Abrar F; Abothenain, Fayha; Salam, Yezan; AlJayar, Dina; Obeidat, Akef

2016-09-04

To evaluate student academic performance and perception towards blended learning and flipped classrooms in comparison to traditional teaching. This study was conducted during the hematology block on year three students. Five lectures were delivered online only. Asynchronous discussion boards were created where students could interact with colleagues and instructors. A flipped classroom was introduced with application exercises. Summative assessment results were compared with previous year results as a historical control for statistical significance. Student feedback regarding their blended learning experience was collected. A total of 127 responses were obtained. Approximately 22.8% students felt all lectures should be delivered through didactic lecturing, while almost 35% felt that 20% of total lectures should be given online. Students expressed satisfaction with blended learning as a new and effective learning approach. The majority of students reported blended learning was helpful for exam preparation and concept clarification. However, a comparison of grades did not show a statistically significant increase in the academic performance of students taught via the blended learning method. Learning experiences can be enriched by adopting a blended method of instruction at various stages of undergraduate and postgraduate education. Our results suggest that blended learning, a relatively new concept in Saudi Arabia, shows promising results with higher student satisfaction. Flipped classrooms replace passive lecturing with active student-centered learning that enhances critical thinking and application, including information retention.

The role of methyl salicylate in prey searching behavior of the predatory mite phytoseiulus persimilis.

PubMed

De Boer, Jetske G; Dicke, Marcel

2004-02-01

Many carnivorous arthropods use herbivore-induced plant volatiles to locate their prey. These plant volatiles are blends of up to hundreds of compounds. It is often unknown which compounds in such a complex volatile blend represent the signal to the foraging carnivore. We studied the role of methyl salicylate (MeSA) as part of the volatile blend in the foraging behavior of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis by using a Y-tube olfactometer. MeSA is one of the compounds released by lima bean, infested with Tetranychus urticae--a prey species of the predatory mite. MeSA attracted satiated predatory mites in a dose-dependent way with optimum attraction at a dose of 0.2 microg. Predatory mites did not discriminate between a prey-induced lima bean volatile blend (that contains MeSA) and a prey-induced volatile blend to which an extra amount of synthetic MeSA had been added. However, they preferred a MeSA-containing volatile blend (induced by T. urticae) to an otherwise similar but MeSA-free blend (induced by jasmonic acid). Adding synthetic MeSA to the MeSA-free blend significantly increased the mites' choice for this odor, suggesting an important role for MeSA. This study is a new step toward unraveling the role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in the foraging behavior of predatory arthropods.

Influence of an organic acid blend and essential oil blend, individually or in combination, on growth performance, carcass parameters, apparent digestibility, intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers.

PubMed

Basmacioğlu-Malayoğlu, H; Ozdemir, P; Bağriyanik, H A

2016-04-01

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an organic acid (OA) and essential oil (EO) blends, individually or in combination, on growth performance, carcass parameters, apparent digestibility, intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers. A total of 480 one-d-old male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments consisting of 4 replicates each (n = 30 birds in each replicate). Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control), and basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg OA blend (OAB), 300 mg/kg EO blend (EOB), or with 2 g/kg OA and 300 mg/kg EO blend (OAB-EOB) for 42 d. The dietary supplementation with EO blend or in combination with OA blend increased body weight gain and improved feed efficiency as compared to control. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on feed consumption or relative organ weights of broilers. The OAB diet increased carcass yield compared to the control diet but the lowest carcass yield occurred with the OAB-EOB combination. Birds fed on EOB and OAB-EOB diets had lower ileum Escherichia coli counts than birds fed on the control diet. There was no significant effect of treatments on apparent digestibility at 16-21 d but the EOB and OAB-EOB diets increased apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein during the finisher period (d 37-42) compared to the control diet. Birds fed on the EOB and OAB-EOB diets had greater villus height in the ileum at 21 and 42 d of age and had lower crypt depth in the ileum at 42 d of age than birds given the control diet. In conclusion, beneficial effects of the use of EO blend individually or in combination with the OA blend were observed but the OA blend alone was ineffective. Furthermore, the use of the combination of OA and EO was more effective, in some respects, than their individual use.

A Blend of Sesame and Rice Bran Oils Lowers Hyperglycemia and Improves the Lipids.

PubMed

Devarajan, Sankar; Chatterjee, Biprabuddha; Urata, Hidenori; Zhang, Bo; Ali, Amanat; Singh, Ravinder; Ganapathy, Sambandam

2016-07-01

Considering the health benefits of sesame oil and rice bran oil, the study was conducted to determine the extent to which the daily use of this blend of oils controls hyperglycemia and improves the lipid profile. In this 8-week open-label randomized dietary intervention study, 300 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 100 normoglycemic subjects were grouped as 1) normoglycemic subjects (n = 100) treated with sesame oil blend Vivo (Adani Wilmar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India), 2) type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with sesame oil blend (n = 100), 3) type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with glibenclamide (n = 100; 5 mg/d), and 4) type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated in combination of glibenclamide (5 mg/d) and sesame oil blend (n = 100). Twelve-hour fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profile followed by postprandial blood glucose were measured at baseline. Sesame oil blend was supplied to the respective groups, who were instructed to use as cooking oil for 8 weeks. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose was measured at week 4 and week 8, while HbA1c and lipid profile were measured at week 8. At week 4 and week 8, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with sesame oil blend or glibenclamide or combination of glibenclamide and sesame oil blend showed significant reduction of fasting and postprandial blood glucose (P <.001). HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reduced (P <.001), while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased at week 8 (P <.001) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with the sesame oil blend or combination of glibenclamide and sesame oil blend; whereas glibenclamide-alone-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients showed a significant reduction of HbA1c (P <.001) only. A novel blend of 20% cold-pressed unrefined sesame oil and 80% physically refined rice bran oil as cooking oil, lowered hyperglycemia and improved the lipid profile in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Blended Learning Educational Format for Third-Year Pediatrics Clinical Rotation.

PubMed

Langenau, Erik E; Lee, Robert; Fults, Marci

2017-04-01

Traditional medical education is shifting to incorporate learning technologies and online educational activities with traditional face-to-face clinical instruction to engage students, especially at remote clinical training sites. To describe and evaluate the effectiveness of the blended learning format (combining online and face-to-face instruction) for third-year osteopathic medical students during their pediatric rotation. Third-year medical students who completed the 4-week clerkship in pediatrics during the 2014-2015 academic year were divided into a standard learning group and a blended learning group with online activities (discussion boards, blogs, virtual patient encounters, narrated video presentations, and online training modules). Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test scores and final course grades were compared between the standard learning and blended learning groups. Students in the blended learning group completed a postsurvey regarding their experiences. Of 264 third-year students who completed the 4-week clerkship in pediatrics during the 2014-2015 academic year, 78 (29.5%) participated in the blended learning supplement with online activities. Of 53 students who completed the postsurvey in the blended learning group, 44 (83.0%) agreed or strongly agreed that "The integration of e-learning and face-to-face learning helped me learn pediatrics." Open-ended comments supported this overall satisfaction with the course format; however, 26 of 100 comments reflected a desire to increase the amount of clinical exposure and face-to-face time with patients. No statistical differences were seen between the standard learning (n=186) and blended learning (n=78) groups with regard to Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test scores (P=.321). Compared with the standard learning group, more students in the blended learning group received a final course grade of honors (P=.015). Results of this study support the use of blended learning in a clinical training environment. As more medical educators use blended learning, it is important to investigate the best balance between learning with technology and learning in a face-to-face setting. Online activities may enhance but should never fully replace face-to-face learning with real patients.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GASOLINE BLENDING COMPONENTS THROUGH THEIR LIFE CYCLE

EPA Science Inventory

The contributions of three major gasoline blending components (reformate, alkylate and cracked gasoline) to potential environmental impacts are assessed. This study estimates losses of the gasoline blending components due to evaporation and leaks through their life cycle, from pe...

Characterization of asphalt cements modified with crumbed rubber from discarded tires : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-11-01

The potential legislative requirement for incorporation of scrap rubber into asphalt blends mandated a thorough evaluation of the influence of scrap rubber additives on the physical properties and aging characteristics of rubber/asphalt blends. Blend...

COMPOSITION CHANGES IN REFRIGERANT BLENDS FOR AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING

EPA Science Inventory

Three refrigerant blends used to replace CFC-12 in automotive air conditioners were evaluated for composition changes due to typical servicing and leakage. When recommended service procedures were followed, changes in blend compositions were relatively small. Small changes in b...

Evaluation of Ethanol Fuel Blends in EPA MOVES2014 Model

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-01-01

In this report, the methodology and prediction effects of the MOVES model development are reviewed and evaluated in relation to the use of ethanol fuel blends. Particular attention is placed on mid-level ethanol fuel blends (containing between ...

Improving the Cold Temperature Properties of Tallow-Based Methyl Ester Mixtures Using Fractionation, Blending, and Additives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elwell, Caleb

Beef tallow is a less common feedstock source for biodiesel than soy or canola oil, but it can have economic benefits in comparison to these traditional feedstocks. However, tallow methyl ester (TME) has the major disadvantage of poor cold temperature properties. Cloud point (CP) is an standard industry metric for evaluating the cold temperature performance of biodiesel and is directly related to the thermodynamic properties of the fuel's constituents. TME has a CP of 14.5°C compared with 2.3°C for soy methyl ester (SME) and -8.3°C for canola methyl ester (CME). In this study, three methods were evaluated to reduce the CP of TME: fractionation, blending with SME and CME, and using polymer additives. TME fractionation (i.e. removal of specific methyl ester constituents) was simulated by creating FAME mixtures to match the FAME profiles of fractionated TME. The fractionation yield was found to be highest at the eutectic point of methyl palmitate (MP) and methyl stearate (MS), which was empirically determined to be at a MP/(MP+MS) ratio of approximately 82%. Since unmodified TME has a MP/(MP+MS) ratio of 59%, initially only MS should be removed to produce a ratio closer to the eutectic point to reduce CP and maximize yield. Graphs relating yield (with 4:1 methyl stearate to methyl oleate carryover) to CP were produced to determine the economic viability of this approach. To evaluate the effect of blending TME with other methyl esters, SME and CME were blended with TME at blend ratios of 0 to 100%. Both the SME/TME and CME/TME blends exhibited decreased CPs with increasing levels of SME and CME. Although the CP of the SME/TME blends varied linearly with SME content, the CP of the CME/TME blends varied quadratically with CME content. To evaluate the potential of fuel additives to reduce the CP of TME, 11 different polymer additives were tested. Although all of these additives were specifically marketed to enhance the cold temperature properties of petroleum diesel or biodiesel, only two of the additives had any significant effect on TME CP. The additive formulated by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) outperformed Evonik's Viscoplex 10-530. The MLA additive was investigated further and its effect on CP was characterized in pure TME and in CME/TME blends. When mixed in CME/TME blends, the MLA additive had a synergistic effect and produced lower CPs than the addition of mixing MLA in TME and blending CME with TME. To evalulate the cold temperature properties of TME blended with petroleum diesel, CPs of TME/diesel blends from 0 to 100% were measured. The TME/diesel blends were treated with the MLA additives to determine the effects of the additives under these blend conditions. The MLA additive also had a synergistic effect when mixed in TME/diesel blends. Finally, all three of the TME CP reduction methods were evaluated in an economic model to determine the conditions under which each method would be economically viable. Each of the CP reduction methods were compared using a common metric based on the cost of reducing the CP of 1 gallon of finished biodiesel by 1°C (i.e. $/gal/°C). Since the cost of each method is dependent on varying commodity prices, further development of the economic model (which was developed and tested with 2012 prices) to account for stochastic variation in commodity prices is recommended.

Managing variability in algal biomass production through drying and stabilization of feedstock blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wahlen, Bradley D.; Roni, Mohammad S.; Cafferty, Kara G.

The uncertainty and variability of algal biomass production presents several challenges to the algal biofuel industry including equipment scaling and the ability to provide a consistent feedstock stream for conversion. Blended feedstocks containing both algal and terrestrial biomass may provide a cost-effective method to manage variability of algal biomass production. The hypothesis is that mixing of algae with terrestrial biomass has the potential to create blends with rheologic (flowability) properties similar to terrestrial feedstock and that blends with the consistency of terrestrial biomass can be dried using established low-cost drying systems. To test this hypothesis and its technical feasibility, prototypemore » bench scale simulated drum dyers were designed and tested with blends of algae and ground pine. Scenedesmus dimorphus biomass was used as the algal feedstock, while 2 mm grind pine was used as the terrestrial feedstock. Pine was selected as the representative terrestrial feedstock to leverage independent HTL research using pine feedstock. In these studies, blends up to 60% algae produced drying curves similar to those of pine alone, and reached dryness (2% moisture) much more rapidly than algae alone. Thermogravimetric analyses performed on these feedstocks provided drying curves consistent with the simulated drum dryers. In addition, observable rheologic properties at the time of blending served as an indicator of drying performance, as those blends with texture similar to pine also dried similar to the pine control. Logistics analyses performed to determine cost and availability of feedstock materials for blending at production scale further indicate the potential of this approach. Lastly, our results indicate that blending of algae with terrestrial biomass enables the use of low cost dryers and has the potential to improve overall algal biofuel economics by capturing the value of excess biomass produced during periods of high productivity and by decoupling of algal production farms and conversion facilities.« less

Nonlinear behavior of PP/PS blends with and without clay under large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salehiyan, Reza; Song, Hyeong Yong; Hyun, Kyu

2015-05-01

Dynamic oscillatory measurement, i.e., small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) test was used to investigate linear and non-linear viscoelastic properties of Polypropylene (PP)/Polystyrene (PS) blends with and without 5 wt.% clay (C20A). Fourier transform (FT-Rheology), Lissajous curves and stress decomposition methods were used to analyze non-linear responses under LAOS flow. Composition effects of blends were investigated prior to compatibilization effects. Elevated concentrations of dispersed phase (PS) increased the moduli G'(ω) from SAOS test and G*( γ 0) from LAOS test of the blends as well as strain thinning behavior. Interestingly, addition of 5 wt.% clay (C20A) boosted moduli of the blends as well as led to similar strain thinning behaviors among the PP/PS/C20A blends, except for the (90/10) PP/PS blend. The latter did not show improved rheological properties despite morphological improvements, as shown by SEM. Results from SEM and improved rheological properties of PP/PS/C20A blends revealed the compatibilization effects of clay (C20A) particles regardless of size reduction mechanisms. Third relative intensities ( I 3/1) from FT-rheology were found to be sensitive to clay (C20A) additions for the (70/30) and (30/70) PP/PS blends. Similarly, Lissajous curves could detect changes upon clay (C20A) addition, specifically at lower strain amplitudes whereupon addition of 5 wt.% clay resulted in the closed loops of Lissajous curves showing a more ellipsoidal shape due to increased elasticity in the blends. However, detection of these changes at larger strain amplitudes was more challenging. Therefore, stress decomposition (SD) method was applied for more precise characterization as it decomposes the total stress (σ) into elastic stress (σ') and viscous stress (σ″). Using SD method, elastic stress was more distorted, especially, strain hardening, while the total stress response remained almost unchanged at larger strain amplitudes.

Computed Tomography Window Blending: Feasibility in Thoracic Trauma.

PubMed

Mandell, Jacob C; Wortman, Jeremy R; Rocha, Tatiana C; Folio, Les R; Andriole, Katherine P; Khurana, Bharti

2018-02-07

This study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of processing computed tomography (CT) images with a custom window blending algorithm that combines soft-tissue, bone, and lung window settings into a single image; to compare the time for interpretation of chest CT for thoracic trauma with window blending and conventional window settings; and to assess diagnostic performance of both techniques. Adobe Photoshop was scripted to process axial DICOM images from retrospective contrast-enhanced chest CTs performed for trauma with a window-blending algorithm. Two emergency radiologists independently interpreted the axial images from 103 chest CTs with both blended and conventional windows. Interpretation time and diagnostic performance were compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar test, respectively. Agreement with Nexus CT Chest injury severity was assessed with the weighted kappa statistic. A total of 13,295 images were processed without error. Interpretation was faster with window blending, resulting in a 20.3% time saving (P < .001), with no difference in diagnostic performance, within the power of the study to detect a difference in sensitivity of 5% as determined by post hoc power analysis. The sensitivity of the window-blended cases was 82.7%, compared to 81.6% for conventional windows. The specificity of the window-blended cases was 93.1%, compared to 90.5% for conventional windows. All injuries of major clinical significance (per Nexus CT Chest criteria) were correctly identified in all reading sessions, and all negative cases were correctly classified. All readers demonstrated near-perfect agreement with injury severity classification with both window settings. In this pilot study utilizing retrospective data, window blending allows faster preliminary interpretation of axial chest CT performed for trauma, with no significant difference in diagnostic performance compared to conventional window settings. Future studies would be required to assess the utility of window blending in clinical practice. Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. All rights reserved.

Managing variability in algal biomass production through drying and stabilization of feedstock blends

DOE PAGES

Wahlen, Bradley D.; Roni, Mohammad S.; Cafferty, Kara G.; ...

2017-03-22

The uncertainty and variability of algal biomass production presents several challenges to the algal biofuel industry including equipment scaling and the ability to provide a consistent feedstock stream for conversion. Blended feedstocks containing both algal and terrestrial biomass may provide a cost-effective method to manage variability of algal biomass production. The hypothesis is that mixing of algae with terrestrial biomass has the potential to create blends with rheologic (flowability) properties similar to terrestrial feedstock and that blends with the consistency of terrestrial biomass can be dried using established low-cost drying systems. To test this hypothesis and its technical feasibility, prototypemore » bench scale simulated drum dyers were designed and tested with blends of algae and ground pine. Scenedesmus dimorphus biomass was used as the algal feedstock, while 2 mm grind pine was used as the terrestrial feedstock. Pine was selected as the representative terrestrial feedstock to leverage independent HTL research using pine feedstock. In these studies, blends up to 60% algae produced drying curves similar to those of pine alone, and reached dryness (2% moisture) much more rapidly than algae alone. Thermogravimetric analyses performed on these feedstocks provided drying curves consistent with the simulated drum dryers. In addition, observable rheologic properties at the time of blending served as an indicator of drying performance, as those blends with texture similar to pine also dried similar to the pine control. Logistics analyses performed to determine cost and availability of feedstock materials for blending at production scale further indicate the potential of this approach. Lastly, our results indicate that blending of algae with terrestrial biomass enables the use of low cost dryers and has the potential to improve overall algal biofuel economics by capturing the value of excess biomass produced during periods of high productivity and by decoupling of algal production farms and conversion facilities.« less

The Accuracy of the Spot Sign and the Blend Sign for Predicting Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

PubMed

Zheng, Jun; Yu, Zhiyuan; Xu, Zhao; Li, Mou; Wang, Xiaoze; Lin, Sen; Li, Hao; You, Chao

2017-05-12

BACKGROUND Hematoma expansion is associated with poor outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients. The spot sign and the blend sign are reliable tools for predicting hematoma expansion in ICH patients. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the two signs in the prediction of hematoma expansion. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with spontaneous ICH were screened for the presence of the computed tomography angiography (CTA) spot sign and the non-contrast CT (NCCT) blend sign within 6 hours after onset of symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the spot sign and the blend sign in predicting hematoma expansion were calculated. The accuracy of the spot sign and the blend sign in predicting hematoma expansion was analyzed by receiver-operator analysis. RESULTS A total of 115 patients were enrolled in this study. The spot sign was observed in 25 (21.74%) patients, whereas the blend sign was observed in 22 (19.13%) patients. Of the 28 patients with hematoma expansion, the CTA spot sign was found on admission CT scans in 16 (57.14%) and the NCCT blend sign in 12 (42.86%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the spot sign for predicting hematoma expansion were 57.14%, 89.66%, 64.00%, and 86.67%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the blend sign were 42.86%, 88.51%, 54.55%, and 82.80%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the spot sign was 0.734, which was higher than that of the blend sign (0.657). CONCLUSIONS Both the spot sign and the blend sign seemed to be good predictors for hematoma expansion, and the spot sign appeared to have better predictive accuracy.

The Accuracy of the Spot Sign and the Blend Sign for Predicting Hematoma Expansion in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

PubMed Central

Zheng, Jun; Yu, Zhiyuan; Xu, Zhao; Li, Mou; Wang, Xiaoze; Lin, Sen; Li, Hao; You, Chao

2017-01-01

Background Hematoma expansion is associated with poor outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients. The spot sign and the blend sign are reliable tools for predicting hematoma expansion in ICH patients. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the two signs in the prediction of hematoma expansion. Material/Methods Patients with spontaneous ICH were screened for the presence of the computed tomography angiography (CTA) spot sign and the non-contrast CT (NCCT) blend sign within 6 hours after onset of symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the spot sign and the blend sign in predicting hematoma expansion were calculated. The accuracy of the spot sign and the blend sign in predicting hematoma expansion was analyzed by receiver-operator analysis. Results A total of 115 patients were enrolled in this study. The spot sign was observed in 25 (21.74%) patients, whereas the blend sign was observed in 22 (19.13%) patients. Of the 28 patients with hematoma expansion, the CTA spot sign was found on admission CT scans in 16 (57.14%) and the NCCT blend sign in 12 (42.86%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the spot sign for predicting hematoma expansion were 57.14%, 89.66%, 64.00%, and 86.67%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the blend sign were 42.86%, 88.51%, 54.55%, and 82.80%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the spot sign was 0.734, which was higher than that of the blend sign (0.657). Conclusions Both the spot sign and the blend sign seemed to be good predictors for hematoma expansion, and the spot sign appeared to have better predictive accuracy. PMID:28498827

Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PubMed

Marks, L S; Partin, A W; Epstein, J I; Tyler, V E; Simon, I; Macairan, M L; Chan, T L; Dorey, F J; Garris, J B; Veltri, R W; Santos, P B; Stonebrook, K A; deKernion, J B

2000-05-01

We tested the effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) via a randomized, placebo controlled trial. We randomized 44 men 45 to 80 years old with symptomatic BPH into a trial of a saw palmetto herbal blend versus placebo. End points included routine clinical measures (symptom score, uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine volume), blood chemistry studies (prostate specific antigen, sex hormones and multiphasic analysis), prostate volumetrics by magnetic resonance imaging, and prostate biopsy for zonal tissue morphometry and semiquantitative histology studies. Saw palmetto herbal blend and placebo groups had improved clinical parameters with a slight advantage in the saw palmetto group (not statistically significant). Neither prostate specific antigen nor prostate volume changed from baseline. Prostate epithelial contraction was noted, especially in the transition zone, where percent epithelium decreased from 17.8% at baseline to 10.7% after 6 months of saw palmetto herbal blend (p <0.01). Histological studies showed that the percent of atrophic glands increased from 25. 2% to 40.9% after treatment with saw palmetto herbal blend (p <0.01). The mechanism of action appeared to be nonhormonal but it was not identified by tissue studies of apoptosis, cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, growth factors or androgen receptor expression. We noted no adverse effects of saw palmetto herbal blend. When the study was no longer blinded, 41 men elected to continue therapy in an open label extension. Saw palmetto herbal blend appears to be a safe, highly desirable option for men with moderately symptomatic BPH. The secondary outcome measures of clinical effect in our study were only slightly better for saw palmetto herbal blend than placebo (not statistically significant). However, saw palmetto herbal blend therapy was associated with epithelial contraction, especially in the transition zone (p <0.01), indicating a possible mechanism of action underlying the clinical significance detected in other studies.

Physical-biopolymer characterization of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) blended with natural rubber latex

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuntanoo, K., E-mail: thip-kk@hotmail.com; Promkotra, S., E-mail: sarunya@kku.ac.th; Kaewkannetra, P., E-mail: paknar@kku.ac.th

A biopolymer of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is blended with bio-based materials, natural rubber latex, to improve their microstructures. The various ratios between PHBV and natural rubber latex are examined to develop their mechanical properties. In general, physical properties of PHBV are hard, brittle and low flexible while natural rubber (NR) is presented itself as high elastic materials. Concentrations of the PHBV solution are constituted at 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v). The mixtures of their PHBV solutions to natural rubber latex are produced the blended films in three different ratios of 4:6, 5:5 and 6:4, respectively. They are characterized by appearance analysesmore » which are the scanning electron microscope (SEM), universal testing machine (UTM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The SEM photomicrographs of the blended films and the controlled PHBV can provide the void distribution in the range of 12-14% and 19-21%, respectively. For mechanical properties of the blended films, the various elastic moduli of 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v) PHBV are the average of 773, 956 and 1,007 kPa, respectively. The tensile strengths of the blends increase with the increased concentrations of PHBV, similarly trend to the elastic modulus. The crystallization and melting behavior of unmixed PHBV and the blends are determined by DSC. Melting transition temperatures (T{sub m}) of the unmixed PHBV are stated two melting peak at 154°C and 173°C. Besides, the melting peaks of the blends alter in the range of 152-156°C and 168-171°C, respectively. According to morphology of the blends, the void distribution decreases twice compared to the unmixed PHBV. The results of mechanical properties and thermal analysis indicate that the blended PHBV can be developed their properties by more resilient and wide range of temperature than usual.« less

Blended learning in ethics education: a survey of nursing students.

PubMed

Hsu, Li-Ling

2011-05-01

Nurses are experiencing new ethical issues as a result of global developments and changes in health care. With health care becoming increasingly sophisticated, and countries facing challenges of graying population, ethical issues involved in health care are bound to expand in quantity and in depth. Blended learning rather as a combination of multiple delivery media designed to promote meaningful learning. Specifically, this study was focused on two questions: (1) the students' satisfaction and attitudes as members of a scenario-based learning process in a blended learning environment; (2) the relationship between students' satisfaction ratings of nursing ethics course and their attitudes in the blended learning environment. In total, 99 senior undergraduate nursing students currently studying at a public nursing college in Taiwan were invited to participate in this study. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this study. The participants were asked to fill out two Likert-scale questionnaire surveys: CAAS (Case Analysis Attitude Scale), and BLSS (Blended Learning Satisfaction Scale). The results showed what students felt about their blended learning experiences - mostly items ranged from 3.27-3.76 (the highest score is 5). Another self-assessment of scenario analysis instrument revealed the mean scores ranged from 2.87-4.19. Nearly 57.8% of the participants rated the course 'extremely helpful' or 'very helpful.' This study showed statistically significant correlations (r=0.43) between students' satisfaction with blended learning and case analysis attitudes. In addition, results testified to a potential of the blended learning model proposed in this study to bridge the gap between students and instructors and the one between students and their peers, which are typical of blended learning, and to create meaningful learning by employing blended pedagogical consideration in the course design. The use of scenario instruction enables students to develop critical analysis and problem solving skills through active learning and social exchange of ideas. © The Author(s) 2011

Improving Education in Medical Statistics: Implementing a Blended Learning Model in the Existing Curriculum

PubMed Central

Milic, Natasa M.; Trajkovic, Goran Z.; Bukumiric, Zoran M.; Cirkovic, Andja; Nikolic, Ivan M.; Milin, Jelena S.; Milic, Nikola V.; Savic, Marko D.; Corac, Aleksandar M.; Marinkovic, Jelena M.; Stanisavljevic, Dejana M.

2016-01-01

Background Although recent studies report on the benefits of blended learning in improving medical student education, there is still no empirical evidence on the relative effectiveness of blended over traditional learning approaches in medical statistics. We implemented blended along with on-site (i.e. face-to-face) learning to further assess the potential value of web-based learning in medical statistics. Methods This was a prospective study conducted with third year medical undergraduate students attending the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, who passed (440 of 545) the final exam of the obligatory introductory statistics course during 2013–14. Student statistics achievements were stratified based on the two methods of education delivery: blended learning and on-site learning. Blended learning included a combination of face-to-face and distance learning methodologies integrated into a single course. Results Mean exam scores for the blended learning student group were higher than for the on-site student group for both final statistics score (89.36±6.60 vs. 86.06±8.48; p = 0.001) and knowledge test score (7.88±1.30 vs. 7.51±1.36; p = 0.023) with a medium effect size. There were no differences in sex or study duration between the groups. Current grade point average (GPA) was higher in the blended group. In a multivariable regression model, current GPA and knowledge test scores were associated with the final statistics score after adjusting for study duration and learning modality (p<0.001). Conclusion This study provides empirical evidence to support educator decisions to implement different learning environments for teaching medical statistics to undergraduate medical students. Blended and on-site training formats led to similar knowledge acquisition; however, students with higher GPA preferred the technology assisted learning format. Implementation of blended learning approaches can be considered an attractive, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to traditional classroom training in medical statistics. PMID:26859832

Improving Education in Medical Statistics: Implementing a Blended Learning Model in the Existing Curriculum.

PubMed

Milic, Natasa M; Trajkovic, Goran Z; Bukumiric, Zoran M; Cirkovic, Andja; Nikolic, Ivan M; Milin, Jelena S; Milic, Nikola V; Savic, Marko D; Corac, Aleksandar M; Marinkovic, Jelena M; Stanisavljevic, Dejana M

2016-01-01

Although recent studies report on the benefits of blended learning in improving medical student education, there is still no empirical evidence on the relative effectiveness of blended over traditional learning approaches in medical statistics. We implemented blended along with on-site (i.e. face-to-face) learning to further assess the potential value of web-based learning in medical statistics. This was a prospective study conducted with third year medical undergraduate students attending the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, who passed (440 of 545) the final exam of the obligatory introductory statistics course during 2013-14. Student statistics achievements were stratified based on the two methods of education delivery: blended learning and on-site learning. Blended learning included a combination of face-to-face and distance learning methodologies integrated into a single course. Mean exam scores for the blended learning student group were higher than for the on-site student group for both final statistics score (89.36±6.60 vs. 86.06±8.48; p = 0.001) and knowledge test score (7.88±1.30 vs. 7.51±1.36; p = 0.023) with a medium effect size. There were no differences in sex or study duration between the groups. Current grade point average (GPA) was higher in the blended group. In a multivariable regression model, current GPA and knowledge test scores were associated with the final statistics score after adjusting for study duration and learning modality (p<0.001). This study provides empirical evidence to support educator decisions to implement different learning environments for teaching medical statistics to undergraduate medical students. Blended and on-site training formats led to similar knowledge acquisition; however, students with higher GPA preferred the technology assisted learning format. Implementation of blended learning approaches can be considered an attractive, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to traditional classroom training in medical statistics.

Mechanical and thermal properties of conventional and microcellular injection molded poly (lactic acid)/poly (ε-caprolactone) blends.

PubMed

Zhao, Haibin; Zhao, Guoqun

2016-01-01

In view of their complementary properties, blending polylactide (PLA) with poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) becomes a good choice to improve PLA's properties without compromising its biodegradability. A series of blends of biodegradable PLA and PCL with different mass fraction were prepared by melt mixing. Standard tensile bars were produced by both conventional and microcellular injection molding to study their mechanical and thermal properties. With the increase in PCL content, the blend showed decreased tensile strength and modulus; however, elongation was dramatically increased. With the addition of PCL, the failure mode changed from brittle fracture of the neat PLA to ductile fracture of the blend as demonstrated by tensile test. Various theoretical models based on dispersion and interface adhesion were used to predict the Young's modulus and the results shows the experimental data are consistent with the predictions of the foam model and Kerner-Uemura-Takayangi model. The thermal behavior of the blends was investigated by DSC and TGA. The melting temperature and the degree of crystallinity of PCL in the PLA/PCL did not significantly change with the PCL content increasing in the whole range of blends composition. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Is blended learning a viable option in public health education? A case study of student satisfaction with a blended graduate course.

PubMed

So, Hyo-Jeong

2009-01-01

This study reports findings from a case study that examined student satisfaction with a blended graduate-level course in a Masters of Public Health program. This case study used a mixed research method to collect and analyze data from the satisfaction survey and face-to-face interviews. The satisfaction survey revealed that student satisfaction with the quality of this blended course was high. Large percentages of students indicated that they would recommend this course to others and would be willing to take another distance learning course in the future. The satisfaction level was related to students' age and the number of previous distance learning courses that they had taken. Face-to-face interviews revealed that the success of this blended course was associated with the opportunities for face-to-face interaction and meaningful collaborative learning, the integration of technology components, and the course instructor. Overall findings suggest that what is important in blended learning is the integration of hard and soft technology: how to select an appropriate mode of delivery and to design instructional activities to meet the need of students and the course objectives. Implications for designing blended learning courses are discussed.

Treeing phenomenon of thermoplastic polyethylene blends for recyclable cable insulation materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Lunzhi; Zhang, Kai; Zhong, Lisheng; Gao, Jinghui; Xu, Man; Chen, Guanghui; Fu, Mingli

2017-02-01

Owing to its good recyclability and low processing energy consumption, non-crosslinked polyethylene blends (e.g. LLDPE-HDPE blends) are considered as one of potential environmental-friendly substitutions for crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) as cable insulation material. Although extensive work has been performed for measuring the basic dielectric properties, there is a lack of the investigations on the aging properties for such a material system, which hinders the evaluation of reliability and lifetime of the material for cable insulation. In this paper, we study the electric aging phenomenon of 0.7LLDPE-0.3HDPE blending material by investigating the treeing behavior, and its comparison with XLPE and LLDPE. Treeing tests show that the 0.7LLDPE-0.3HDPE blends have lower probability for treeing as well as smaller treeing dimensions. Further thermal analysis and microstructure study results suggest that the blends exhibit larger proportion of thick lamellae and higher crystallinity with homogeneously-distributed amorphous region, which is responsible for good anti-treeing performance. Our finding provides the evidence that the 0.7LLDPE-0.3HDPE blends exhibits better electric-aging-retardance properties than XLPE, which may result in a potential application for cable insulation.

A study on properties of PLA/PBAT from blown film process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hongdilokkul, P.; Keeratipinit, K.; Chawthai, S.; Hararak, B.; Seadan, M.; Suttiruengwong, S.

2015-07-01

The aim of this work was to study the properties of films based on PLA/PBAT blend prepared by the reactive compounding. PLA/PBAT blends were prepared at the weight ratio of 80:20 together with peroxide as a reactive agent in a twin screw extruder with temperature profile of 160/170/180/210/220/190/175/150°C from feed to die zone. All blended samples, neat PLA, and neat PBAT were characterized for morphology, mechanical and rheological properties. SEM micrographs showed finely dispersed phases of PBAT in PLA in all cases. The particle sizes of PBAT were around 1 μm. The results indicated that the drawability and toughness properties of PLA were greatly improved when blended with 20%wt PBAT. The interface adhesion, and mechanical properties of PLA/PBAT blends were also improved when adding a very small quantity of peroxide. PLA/PBAT blends were then used to produce films. The film characteristics and mechanical properties were examined. Tensile strength of films was significantly improved in the machine direction in PLA/PBAT/peroxide blends whereas the good optical transparent property were remained the same compared with neat PLA.

Investigation of miscibility of p(3hydroxybutyrate-co-3hydroxyhexanoate) and epoxidized natural rubber blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akram, Faridah; Chan, Chin Han; Natarajan, Valliyappan David

2015-08-01

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] produced by C. necator PHB-4 harboring phaCcs from crude palm kernel oil with 21 mol% of 3-hydroxyhexanoate and epoxidized natural rubber with 25 mol% of epoxy content (ENR-25) were used to study the miscibility of the blends by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymers used were purified and the blends were prepared by solution casting method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra confirm the purity and molecular structures of P(3HB-co-3HHx) and ENR-25. FTIR spectra for different compositions of P(3HB-co-3HHx) and ENR-25 blends show absorbance change of the absorbance bands but with no significant shifting of the absorbance bands as the P(3HB-co-3HHx) content decreases, which shows that there is no intermolecular interaction between the parent polymer blends. On top of that, there are two Tgs present for the blends and both remain constant for different compositions which corresponds to the Tgs of the parent polymers. This indicates that the blends are immiscible.

Effects of plasticization and shear stress on phase structure development and properties of soy protein blends.

PubMed

Chen, Feng; Zhang, Jinwen

2010-11-01

In this study, soy protein concentrate (SPC) was used as a plastic component to blend with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). Effects of SPC plasticization and blend composition on its deformation during mixing were studied in detail. Influence of using water as the major plasticizer and glycerol as the co-plasticizer on the deformation of the SPC phase during mixing was explored. The effect of shear stress, as affected by SPC loading level, on the phase structure of SPC in the blends was also investigated. Quantitative analysis of the aspect ratio of SPC particles was conducted by using ImageJ software, and an empirical model predicting the formation of percolated structure was applied. The experimental results and the model prediction showed a fairly good agreement. The experimental results and statistic analysis suggest that both SPC loading level and its water content prior to compounding had significant influences on development of the SPC phase structure and were correlated in determining the morphological structures of the resulting blends. Consequently, physical and mechanical properties of the blends greatly depended on the phase morphology and PBAT/SPC ratio of the blends.

Thermal profiles, crystallization behaviors and microstructure of diacylglycerol-enriched palm oil blends with diacylglycerol-enriched palm olein.

PubMed

Xu, Yayuan; Zhao, Xiaoqing; Wang, Qiang; Peng, Zhen; Dong, Cao

2016-07-01

To elucidate the possible interaction mechanisms between DAG-enriched oils, this study investigated how mixtures of DAG-enriched palm-based oils influenced the phase behavior, thermal properties, crystallization behaviors and the microstructure in binary fat blends. DAG-enriched palm oil (PO-DAGE) was blended with DAG-enriched palm olein (POL-DAGE) in various percentages (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 100%). Based on the observation of iso-solid diagram and phase diagram, the binary mixture of PO-DAGE/POL-DAGE showed a better compatibility in comparison with their corresponding original blends. DSC thermal profiles exhibited that the melting and crystallization properties of PO-DAGE/POL-DAGE were distinctively different from corresponding original blends. Crystallization kinetics revealed that PO-DAGE/POL-DAGE blends displayed a rather high crystallization rate and exhibited no spherulitic crystal growth. From the results of polarized light micrographs, PO-DAGE/POL-DAGE blends showed more dense structure with very small needle-like crystals than PO/POL. X-ray diffraction evaluation revealed when POL-DAGE was added in high contents to PO-DAGE, above 30%, β-polymorph dominated, and the mount of β' forms crystals was decreasing. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Partnerships and pathways of dissemination: the National Institute on Drug Abuse-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Blending Initiative in the Clinical Trials Network.

PubMed

Martino, Steve; Brigham, Gregory S; Higgins, Christine; Gallon, Steve; Freese, Thomas E; Albright, Lonnetta M; Hulsey, Eric G; Krom, Laurie; Storti, Susan A; Perl, Harold; Nugent, Cathrine D; Pintello, Denise; Condon, Timothy P

2010-06-01

Since 2001, the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) has worked to put the results of its trials into the hands of community treatment programs, in large part through its participation in the National Institute on Drug Abuse-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Blending Initiative and its close involvement with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's Addiction Technology Transfer Centers. This article describes (a) the CTN's integral role in the Blending Initiative, (b) key partnerships and dissemination pathways through which the results of CTN trials are developed into blending products and then transferred to community treatment programs, and (c) three blending initiatives involving buprenorphine, motivational incentives, and motivational interviewing. The Blending Initiative has resulted in high utilization of its products, preparation of more than 200 regional trainers, widespread training of service providers in most U.S. States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and movement toward the development of Web-based implementation supports and technical assistance. Implications for future directions of the Blending Initiative and opportunities for research are discussed.

Preparation and emission characteristics of ethanol-diesel fuel blends.

PubMed

Zhang, Run-Duo; He, Hong; Shi, Xiao-Yan; Zhang, Chang-Bin; He, Bang-Quan; Wang, Jian-Xin

2004-01-01

The preparation of ethanol-diesel fuel blends and their emission characteristics were investigated. Results showed the absolute ethanol can dissolve in diesel fuel at an arbitrary ratio and a small quantity of water(0.2%) addition can lead to the phase separation of blends. An organic additive was synthesized and it can develop the ability of resistance to water and maintain the stability of ethanol-diesel-trace amounts of water system. The emission characteristics of 10%, 20%, and 30% ethanol-diesel fuel blends, with or without additives, were compared with those of diesel fuel in a direct injection (DI) diesel engine. The experimental results indicated that the blend of ethanol with diesel fuel significantly reduced the concentrations of smoke, hydrocarbon (HC), and carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gas. Using 20% ethanol-diesel fuel blend with the additive of 2% of the total volume, the optimum mixing ratio was achieved, at which the bench diesel engine testing showed a significant decrease in exhaust gas. Bosch smoke number was reduced by 55%, HC emission by 70%, and CO emission by 45%, at 13 kW/1540 r/min. However, ethanol-diesel fuel blends produced a few ppm acetaldehydes and more ethanol in exhaust gas.

Blending of palm oil, palm stearin and palm kernel oil in the preparation of table and pastry margarine.

PubMed

Norlida, H M; Md Ali, A R; Muhadhir, I

1996-01-01

Palm oil (PO ; iodin value = 52), palm stearin (POs1; i.v. = 32 and POs2; i.v. = 40) and palm kernel oil (PKO; i.v. = 17) were blended in ternary systems. The blends were then studied for their physical properties such as melting point (m.p.), solid fat content (SFC), and cooling curve. Results showed that palm stearin increased the blends melting point while palm kernel oil reduced it. To produce table margarine with melting point (m.p.) below 40 degrees C, the POs1 should be added at level of < or = 16%, while POs2 at level of < or = 20%. At 10 degrees C, eutectic interaction occur between PO and PKO which reach their maximum at about 60:40 blending ratio. Within the eutectic region, to maintain the SFC at 10 degrees C to be < or = 50%, POs1 may be added at level of < or = 7%, while POs2 at level of < or = 12%. The addition of palm stearin increased the blends solidification Tmin and Tmax values, while PKO reduced them. Blends which contained high amount of palm stearin showed melting point and cooling curves quite similar to that of pastry margarine.

A randomised controlled trial of blended learning to improve the newborn examination skills of medical students.

PubMed

Stewart, Alice; Inglis, Garry; Jardine, Luke; Koorts, Pieter; Davies, Mark William

2013-03-01

To evaluate the hypotheses that a blended learning approach would improve the newborn examination skills of medical students and yield a higher level of satisfaction with learning newborn examination. Undergraduate medical students at a tertiary teaching hospital were individually randomised to receive either a standard neonatology teaching programme (control group), or additional online access to the PENSKE Baby Check Learning Module (blended learning group). The primary outcome was performance of newborn examination on standardised assessment by blinded investigators. The secondary outcomes were performance of all 'essential' items of the examination, and participant satisfaction. The recruitment rate was 88% (71/81). The blended learning group achieved a significantly higher mean score than the control group (p=0.02) for newborn examination. There was no difference for performance of essential items, or satisfaction with learning newborn examination. The blended learning group rated the module highly for effective use of learning time and ability to meet specific learning needs. A blended learning approach resulted in a higher level of performance of newborn examination on standardised assessment. This is consistent with published literature on blended learning and has implications for all neonatal clinicians including junior doctors, midwifes and nurse practitioners.

Effect of polymer blend types and gamma radiation on the physico-chemical properties of polycarbonate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nouh, S. A.; Magida, M. M.; Al-Shekify, L. S.; Bashter, I. I.

2016-12-01

Samples from polycarbonate (PC) were classified into two main groups. The first group was blended with Abietic acid (Rosin) with different compositions, while the second group was blended with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer with almost the same composition. A comparative study of the effect of both Rosin and EVA concentration on the thermal stability of PC has been investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that blending with Rosin causes the dominance of degradation. Samples from PC with 20% Rosin blend were irradiated with gamma at the dose of range 20-300 kGy. The resultant effect of gamma radiation on the structural properties of the 20% Rosin/ 80%PC blend has been investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared FTIR spectroscopy. The results indicate that degradation of the polymer blend dominates, thus increases the creation of hot free radicals that leads to the formation of color centers in PC. In addition, the transmission of the 20% Rosin/80%PC samples as well as color changes was studied. The color intensity ΔE was greatly increased with increasing the gamma dose up to 300 kGy, accompanied by a significant increase in the blue color component.

Alternative Fuels Data Center

Science.gov Websites

Diesel Fuel Blend Tax Exemption The biodiesel or ethanol portion of blended fuel containing taxable diesel is exempt from the diesel fuel tax. The biodiesel or ethanol fuel blend must be clearly identified . (Reference Texas Statutes, Tax Code 162.2

Blended Retirement System: Effects on Physician Retention

DTIC Science & Technology

as the military switches to a new Blended retirement system. This research paper will evaluate the financial differences between the current military...retirement system and the new Blended retirement system which takes effect January of 2018. Three critical decision points in a military physicians

BioBlend.objects: metacomputing with Galaxy.

PubMed

Leo, Simone; Pireddu, Luca; Cuccuru, Gianmauro; Lianas, Luca; Soranzo, Nicola; Afgan, Enis; Zanetti, Gianluigi

2014-10-01

BioBlend.objects is a new component of the BioBlend package, adding an object-oriented interface for the Galaxy REST-based application programming interface. It improves support for metacomputing on Galaxy entities by providing higher-level functionality and allowing users to more easily create programs to explore, query and create Galaxy datasets and workflows. BioBlend.objects is available online at https://github.com/afgane/bioblend. The new object-oriented API is implemented by the galaxy/objects subpackage. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press.

Investigative Study to Determine Effects of Hydro-Treated Renewable JP-8 Jet Fuel Blend in Existing Fuels Infrastructure

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

blended fuel be certified for use in USAF facilities. The introduction of the new fuel does have a few measureable effects that warrant monitoring: The...in surge suppressors and control valves. The blends may also cause shrinkage in certain seals which may result in short term leakage when the new...Agency (AFPA) and Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA) have been tasked by AFCO to certify HRJ/JP-8 blended fuels for use in existing

An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Computer-based Training for Newly Commissioned Surface Warfare Division Officers

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-24

expect from CBT. - x - For the most part, students prefer face-to-face learning to mediated instruction, with “ blended solutions” (a combination...in the era of correspondence courses.” 5. Blended Learning The concept of blended learning has existed at least as long as two classic meta...Zimmerman, 2001), blended learning is seen by a majority of critics as superior to CBT. Mackay and Stockport (2006) point out that e- learning

Thermodynamic aspects of reformulation of automotive fuels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zudkevitch, D.; Murthy, A.K.S.; Gmehling, J.

1995-09-01

A study of procedures for measuring and predicting the RVP and the initial vapor emissions of reformulated gasoline blends which contain one or more oxygenated compounds, viz., Ethanol, MTBE, ETBE, and TAME is discussed. Two computer simulation methods were programmed and tested. In one method, Method A, the D-86 distillation data on the blend are used for predicting the blend`s RVP from a simulation of the Mini RVPE (RVP Equivalent) experiment. The other method, Method B, relies on analytical information (PIANO analyzes) on the nature of the base gasoline and utilizes classical thermodynamics for simulating the same RVPE, Mini experiment.more » Method B, also, predicts the composition and other properties of the initial vapor emission from the fuel. The results indicate that predictions made with both methods agree very well with experimental values. The predictions with Method B illustrate that the admixture of an oxygenate to a gasoline blend changes the volatility of the blend and, also, the composition of the vapor emission. From the example simulations, a blend with 10 vol % ethanol increases the RVP by about 0.8 psi. The accompanying vapor emission will contain about 15% ethanol. Similarly, the vapor emission of a fuel blend with 11 vol % MTBE was calculated to contain about 11 vol % MTBE. Predictions of the behavior of blends with ETBE and ETBE+Ethanol are also presented and discussed. Recognizing that quite some efforts have been invested in developing empirical correlations for predicting RVP, the writers consider the purpose of this paper to be pointing out that the methods of classical thermodynamics are adequate and that there is a need for additional work in developing certain fundamental data that are still lacking.« less

Microstructure and in vitro cellular response to novel soy protein-based porous structures for tissue regeneration applications.

PubMed

Olami, Hilla; Zilberman, Meital

2016-02-01

Interest in the development of new bioresorbable structures for various tissue engineering applications is on the rise. In the current study, we developed and studied novel soy protein-based porous blends as potential new scaffolds for such applications. Soy protein has several advantages over the various types of natural proteins employed for biomedical applications due to its low price, non-animal origin and relatively long storage time and stability. In the present study, blends of soy protein with other polymers (gelatin, pectin and alginate) were added and chemically cross-linked using the cross-linking agents carbodiimide or glyoxal, and the porous structure was obtained through lyophilization. The resulting blend porous structures were characterized using environmental scanning microscopy, and the cytotoxicity of these scaffolds was examined in vitro. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds was also evaluated in vitro by seeding and culturing human fibroblasts on these scaffolds. Cell growth morphology and adhesion were examined histologically. The results show that these blends can be assembled into porous three-dimensional structures by combining chemical cross-linking with freeze-drying. The achieved blend structures combine suitable porosity with a large pore size (100-300 µm). The pore structure in the soy-alginate scaffolds possesses adequate interconnectivity compared to that of the soy-gelatin scaffolds. However, porous structure was not observed for the soy-pectin blend, which presented a different structure with significantly lower porosities than all other groups. The in vitro evaluation of these porous soy blends demonstrated that soy-alginate blends are advantageous over soy-gelatin blends and exhibited adequate cytocompatibility along with better cell infiltration and stability. These soy protein scaffolds may be potentially useful as a cellular/acellular platform for skin regeneration applications. © The Author(s) 2015.

Development of a mosquito attractant blend of small molecules against host-seeking Aedes aegypti.

PubMed

Saratha, R; Mathew, Nisha

2016-04-01

A mosquito's dependence on olfaction in the hunt for human host could be efficiently exploited to protect humans from mosquito bites. The present study is undertaken to make the most attractant compound blend for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to lure them to traps. Eleven molecules (M1-M11) at different dilutions were screened for attractancy against non-blood-fed adult female mosquitoes in an olfactometer. The results showed that the attractancy was dependent on both the chemical nature of the molecule and the strength of the odor. Out of 11 molecules screened, 9 showed significant attractancy (P < 0.05) when tested individually. The attractancy was in the order of M11 > M7 > M6 > M10 > M9 > M3 > M2 > M1 > M4 with attractancy indices (AIs) 86.11, 55.93, 55.17, 54, 52.94, 52, 50, 43.64, and 32, respectively, at the optimum dilutions. Seven blends (I-VII) were made and were screened for attractancy against Ae. aegypti. All the blends showed significant attractancy (P < 0.05). The attractancy was in the order of blend VII > III > IV > I > VI > V > II with AIs 96.63, 89.19, 65, 57.89, 56.1, 47.13, and 44.44, respectively. Among the seven blends, blend VII with constituent molecules M6, M9, M10, and M11 is the most promising with an AI value of 96.63. This blend will be useful in luring the host-seeking mosquitoes to traps. The field efficacy of these attractant blends may be explored in the future.

Zein/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) electrospun blend fiber scaffolds: Preparation, characterization and cytocompatibility.

PubMed

Zhijiang, Cai; Qin, Zhang; Xianyou, Song; Yuanpei, Liu

2017-02-01

In the present work, a series of Zein/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) blend fiber scaffolds have been prepared by electrospinning method. The electrospun fibers showed a circular and uniform morphology with random distribution. The blend fiber scaffolds possessed well interconnected porous fibrous network structure with high porosity and large aspect surface areas. The FTIR and XPS spectra of Zein/P(3HB-co-4HB) blend fibers demonstrated the same characteristics to that of pure Zein and P(3HB-co-4HB) electrospun fibers. However, Zein might hinder the crystallization of P(3HB-co-4HB) owing to the formation of weak intermolecular interactions, which can affect the preferential orientation of P(3HB-co-4HB) molecules. Only one glass transition temperature (Tg) can be detected for electrospun Zein/P(3HB-co-4HB) blend fiber scaffolds implying the miscibility of Zein and P(3HB-co-4HB) in the blend fibers. The Zein/P(3HB-co-4HB) blend fiber scaffolds showed about 50% of improvement in tensile strength and 400% of increase in elongation at break by increasing P(3HB-co-4HB) content from 20% to 80%. The cytocompatibility of the Zein/P(3HB-co-4HB) blend fiber scaffolds was preliminarily evaluated by cell culture in vitro. The as-prepared electrospun Zein/P(3HB-co-4HB) blend fiber scaffolds with the characteristics of good biocompatibility, excellent pore characteristic as well as sufficient mechanical properties should be more promising for applications as tissue engineering scaffold. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: High-Percentage Hydrogen/CNG Blend Ford F-150 Operating Summary - January 2003

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karner, D.; Francfort, J.E.

2003-01-22

Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline engines that were converted to runmore » CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service's Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity. The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents the results of 4,695 miles of testing for one of the blended fuel vehicles, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, operating on up to 50% hydrogen-50% CNG fuel.« less

Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: Low-Percentage Hydrogen/CNG Blend, Ford F-150 -- Operating Summary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karner, D.; Francfort, James Edward

2003-01-01

Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline engines that were converted to runmore » CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service’s Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents results of 16,942 miles of testing for one of the blended fuel vehicles, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, operating on up to 30% hydrogen/70% CNG fuel.« less

Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: Low-Percentage Hydrogen/CNG Blend Ford F-150 Operating Summary - January 2003

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karner, D.; Francfort, J.E.

2003-01-22

Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline engines that were converted to runmore » CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service's Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity. The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents results of 16,942 miles of testing for one of the blended fuel vehicles, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, operating on up to 30% hydrogen/70% CNG fuel.« less

Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity: High-Percentage Hydrogen/CNG Blend, Ford F-150 -- Operating Summary

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Don Karner; Francfort, James Edward

2003-01-01

Over the past two years, Arizona Public Service, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity, tested four gaseous fuel vehicles as part of its alternative fueled vehicle fleet. One vehicle operated initially using compressed natural gas (CNG) and later a blend of CNG and hydrogen. Of the other three vehicles, one was fueled with pure hydrogen and two were fueled with a blend of CNG and hydrogen. The three blended-fuel vehicles were originally equipped with either factory CNG engines or factory gasoline engines that were converted to runmore » CNG fuel. The vehicles were variously modified to operate on blended fuel and were tested using 15 to 50% blends of hydrogen (by volume). The pure-hydrogen-fueled vehicle was converted from gasoline fuel to operate on 100% hydrogen. All vehicles were fueled from the Arizona Public Service’s Alternative Fuel Pilot Plant, which was developed to dispense gaseous fuels, including CNG, blends of CNG and hydrogen, and pure hydrogen with up to 99.9999% purity. The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the safety and reliability of operating vehicles on hydrogen and blended hydrogen fuel, and the interface between the vehicles and the hydrogen fueling infrastructure. A secondary objective was to quantify vehicle emissions, cost, and performance. Over a total of 40,000 fleet test miles, no safety issues were found. Also, significant reductions in emissions were achieved by adding hydrogen to the fuel. This report presents the results of 4,695 miles of testing for one of the blended fuel vehicles, a Ford F-150 pickup truck, operating on up to 50% hydrogen–50% CNG fuel.« less

Biodegradation of diesel/biodiesel blends by a consortium of hydrocarbon degraders: effect of the type of blend and the addition of biosurfactants.

PubMed

Owsianiak, Mikołaj; Chrzanowski, Łukasz; Szulc, Alicja; Staniewski, Jacek; Olszanowski, Andrzej; Olejnik-Schmidt, Agnieszka K; Heipieper, Hermann J

2009-02-01

Biodegradation experiments for diesel/biodiesel blends in liquid cultures by-petroleum degrading microbial consortium showed that for low amendments of biodiesel (10%) the overall biodegradation efficiency of the mixture after seven days was lower than for petroleum diesel fuel. Preferential usage of methyl esters in the broad biodiesel concentration range and diminished biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons for 10% biodiesel blend was confirmed. Rhamnolipids improved biodegradation efficiency only for blends with low content of biodiesel. Emulsion formation experiments showed that biodiesel amendments significantly affected dispersion of fuel mixtures in water. The presence of rhamnolipids biosurfactant affected stability of such emulsions and altered cell surface properties of tested consortium.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Sodium Alginate and Lignosulphonic Acid Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakur, Amrita; Reddy, Giridhar

2017-08-01

A simple method based on the principles of green chemistry has been developed to synthesize stable silver nanoparticles (AgNP) for possible biomedical applications. Blend of sodium alginate (SA) and lignosulphonic acid (LS) prepared in the ratio of 80/20 mass percent respectively was used as reducing and stabilizing agent. This blend is biocompatible and has shown drug release ability under physiological conditions. Use of blend has an added advantage as LS has the ability to reduce silver while the blend matrix acts as a stabilizing agent. Effect of precursor concentration (AgNO3) and temperature was investigated. Progress of synthesis was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Higher temperature and lower silver nitrate concentration showed better synthesis of AgNP.

Pyrolysis kinetics of coking coal mixed with biomass under non-isothermal and isothermal conditions.

PubMed

Jeong, Ha Myung; Seo, Myung Won; Jeong, Sang Mun; Na, Byung Ki; Yoon, Sang Jun; Lee, Jae Goo; Lee, Woon Jae

2014-03-01

To investigate the kinetic characteristics of coking coal mixed with biomass during pyrolysis, thermogravimetric (TG) and thermo-balance reactor (TBR) analyses were conducted under non-isothermal and isothermal condition. Yellow poplar as a biomass (B) was mixed with weak coking coal (WC) and hard coking coal (HC), respectively. The calculated activation energies of WC/B blends were higher than those of HC/B blends under non-isothermal and isothermal conditions. The coal/biomass blends show increased reactivity and decreased activation energy with increasing biomass blend ratio, regardless of the coking properties of the coal. The different char structures of the WC/B and HC/B blends were analyzed by BET and SEM. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Ethanol Blends and Batching Operations on SCC of Carbon Steel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-02-08

This is the draft final report of the project on blending and batching (WP#325) of the Consolidated Program on Development of Guidelines for Safe and Reliable Pipeline Transportation of Ethanol Blends. The other two aspects of the consolidated progra...

The Basics of Blended Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tucker, Catlin R.

2013-01-01

Even though many of teachers do not have technology-rich classrooms, the rapidly evolving education landscape increasingly requires them to incorporate technology to customize student learning. Blended learning, with its mix of technology and traditional face-to-face instruction, is a great approach. Blended learning combines classroom learning…

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GASOLINE BLENDING COMPONENTS THROUGH THEIR LIFE CYCLE

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of this study is to access the contribution of the three major gasoline blending components to the potential environmental impacts (PEI), which are the reformate, alkylate and cracked gasoline. This study accounts for losses of the gasoline blending components due to...

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF GASOLINE BLENDING COMPONENTS THROUGH THEIR LIFE CYCLE

EPA Science Inventory

The purpose of this study is to assess the contribution of the three major gasoline blending components to the potential environmental impacts (PEI), which are the reformate, alkylate and cracked gasoline. This study accounts for losses of the gasoline blending components due to ...

Green emitting phosphors and blends thereof

DOEpatents

Setlur, Anant Achyut; Siclovan, Oltea Puica; Nammalwar, Prasanth Kumar; Sathyanarayan, Ramesh Rao; Porob, Digamber G.; Chandran, Ramachandran Gopi; Heward, William Jordan; Radkov, Emil Vergilov; Briel, Linda Jane Valyou

2010-12-28

Phosphor compositions, blends thereof and light emitting devices including white light emitting LED based devices, and backlights, based on such phosphor compositions. The devices include a light source and a phosphor material as described. Also disclosed are phosphor blends including such a phosphor and devices made therefrom.

Blended Learning: An Innovative Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lalima; Dangwal, Kiran Lata

2017-01-01

Blended learning is an innovative concept that embraces the advantages of both traditional teaching in the classroom and ICT supported learning including both offline learning and online learning. It has scope for collaborative learning; constructive learning and computer assisted learning (CAI). Blended learning needs rigorous efforts, right…

Interactions of coal gangue and pine sawdust during combustion of their blends studied using differential thermogravimetric analysis.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Zhezi; Zhu, Mingming; Cheng, Fangqin; Zhang, Dongke

2016-08-01

The interactions between coal gangue and pine sawdust during the combustion process were studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of the blending ratio, oxygen concentration and heating rate on the weight loss (TG) and differential thermogravimetric (TGA) profiles was examined. The TG and DTG curves of the blends were not additives of those of the individual materials, suggesting that interactions between coal gangue and pine sawdust had occurred during the combustion, especially in the temperature range of 400-600°C. Kinetic analysis confirmed that the combustion of coal gangue, pine sawdust and their blends was chemical reaction controlled. Further analysis revealed that the interactions between coal gangue and pine sawdust were primarily due to thermal effects rather than structural changes, with the thermal inertia of coal gangue dominating over the behaviour of the blends. The interactions decreased with decreasing the coal gangue ratio in the blend, oxygen concentration and heating rate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Blended Refuge and Insect Resistance Management for Insecticidal Corn

PubMed Central

Crespo, Andre L B; Pan, Zaiqi; Crain, Philip R; Thompson, Stephen D; Pilcher, Clinton D; Sethi, Amit

2018-01-01

Abstract In this review, we evaluate the intentional mixing or blending of insecticidal seed with refuge seed for managing resistance by insects to insecticidal corn (Zea mays). We first describe the pest biology and farming practices that will contribute to weighing trade-offs between using block refuges and blended refuges. Case studies are presented to demonstrate how the trade-offs will differ in different systems. We compare biological aspects of several abstract models to guide the reader through the history of modeling, which has played a key role in the promotion or denigration of blending in various scientific debates about insect resistance management for insecticidal crops. We conclude that the use of blended refuge should be considered on a case-by-case basis after evaluation of insect biology, environment, and farmer behavior. For Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Ostrinia nubilalis, and Helicoverpa zea in the United States, blended refuge provides similar, if not longer, delays in the evolution of resistance compared to separate block refuges. PMID:29220481

Preparation and characterization of collagen/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) blend film.

PubMed

Ding, Cuicui; Zhang, Min; Li, Guoying

2015-03-30

This study aimed to prepare and characterize the collagen/HPMC blend film (1/1). Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were used to investigate the thermal properties of the film. Both thermal decomposition temperature and denaturation temperature of the blend film were higher than those of the collagen film due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between collagen and HPMC, which was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, the morphologies, mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of films were examined. The blend film exhibited a more homogeneous and compact structure compared with that of the collagen film, as observed from scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The tensile strength, ultimate elongation and hydrophilicity of the blend film were superior to those of the pure collagen film. Furthermore, the introduction of polyethylene glycol 1500 had almost no influence on the thermal properties of the blend film but obviously improved its stretch-ability and smoothness. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanofibrous nonmulberry silk/PVA scaffold for osteoinduction and osseointegration.

PubMed

Bhattacharjee, Promita; Kundu, Banani; Naskar, Deboki; Maiti, Tapas K; Bhattacharya, Debasis; Kundu, Subhas C

2015-05-01

Poly-vinyl alcohol and nonmulberry tasar silk fibroin of Antheraea mylitta are blended to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds for bone regeneration. Nanofibrous matrices are prepared by electrospinning the equal volume ratio blends of silk fibroin (2 and 4 wt%) with poly-vinyl alcohol solution (10 wt%) and designated as 2SF/PVA and 4SF/PVA, respectively with average nanofiber diameters of 177 ± 13 nm (2SF/PVA) and 193 ± 17 nm (4SF/PVA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms retention of the secondary structure of fibroin in blends indicating the structural stability of neo-matrix. Both thermal stability and contact angle of the blends decrease with increasing fibroin percentage. Conversely, fibroin imparts mechanical stability to the blends; greater tensile strength is observed with increasing fibroin concentration. Blended scaffolds are biodegradable and support well the neo-bone matrix synthesis by human osteoblast like cells. The findings indicate the potentiality of nanofibrous scaffolds of nonmulberry fibroin as bone scaffolding material. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

blend4php: a PHP API for galaxy

PubMed Central

Wytko, Connor; Soto, Brian; Ficklin, Stephen P.

2017-01-01

Galaxy is a popular framework for execution of complex analytical pipelines typically for large data sets, and is a commonly used for (but not limited to) genomic, genetic and related biological analysis. It provides a web front-end and integrates with high performance computing resources. Here we report the development of the blend4php library that wraps Galaxy’s RESTful API into a PHP-based library. PHP-based web applications can use blend4php to automate execution, monitoring and management of a remote Galaxy server, including its users, workflows, jobs and more. The blend4php library was specifically developed for the integration of Galaxy with Tripal, the open-source toolkit for the creation of online genomic and genetic web sites. However, it was designed as an independent library for use by any application, and is freely available under version 3 of the GNU Lesser General Public License (LPGL v3.0) at https://github.com/galaxyproject/blend4php. Database URL: https://github.com/galaxyproject/blend4php PMID:28077564

Preparation and characterization of reactive blends of poly(lactic acid), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), and poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Warangkhana, Phromma; Rathanawan, Magaraphan, E-mail: rathanawan.k@chula.ac.th; Jana Sadhan, C., E-mail: janas@uakron.edu

The ternary blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH), and poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (EGMA) were prepared. The role of EGMA as a compatibilizer was evaluated. The weight ratio of PLA:EVOH was 80:20 and the EGMA loadings were varied from 5-20 phr. The blends were characterized as follows: thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry, morphology by scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical properties by pendulum impact tester, and universal testing machine. The glass transition temperature of PLA blends did not change much when compared with that of PLA. The blends of PLA/EGMA and EVOH/EGMA showed EGMA dispersed droplets where the latter ledmore » to poor impact properties. However, the tensile elongation at break and tensile toughness substantially increased upon addition of EGMA to blends of PLA and EVOH. It was noted in tensile test samples that both PLA and EVOH domains fibrillated significantly to produce toughness.« less

Assessment of the physical, mechanical, and moisture-retention properties of pullulan-based ternary co-blended films.

PubMed

Pan, Hongyang; Jiang, Bo; Chen, Jie; Jin, Zhengyu

2014-11-04

Multi-component substances made through direct blending or blending with co-drying can form films on the surfaces of intermediate moisture foods (IMFs), which help retain moisture and protect food texture and flavor. An IMF film system based on pullulan, with glycerol serving as the plasticizer, was studied using alginate and four different types of polysaccharides (propyleneglycol alginate, pectin, carrageenan, and aloe polysaccharide) as the blend-modified substances. The physical, mechanical, color, transparency, and moisture-retention properties of the co-blended films with the polysaccharides were assessed. A new formula was established for the average moisture retention property, water barrier, tensile strength, elongation at break, and oxygen barrier property of the ternary co-blended films using the Design Expert software. The new model established for moisture content measurement used an indirect method of film formation on food surfaces by humectants, which should expedite model validation and allow a better comprehension of moisture transfer through edible films. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Whey protein aerogel as blended with cellulose crystalline particles or loaded with fish oil.

PubMed

Ahmadi, Maede; Madadlou, Ashkan; Saboury, Ali Akbar

2016-04-01

Whey protein hydrogels blended with nanocrystalline and microcrystalline cellulose particles (NCC and MCC, respectively) were prepared, followed by freeze-drying, to produce aerogels. NCC blending increased the Young's modulus, and elastic character, of the protein aerogel. Aerogels were microporous and mesoporous materials, as characterized by the pores sizing 1.2 nm and 12.2 nm, respectively. Blending with NCC decreased the count of both microporous and mesoporous-classified pores at the sub-100 nm pore size range investigated. In contrast, MCC blending augmented the specific surface area and pores volume of the aerogel. It also increased moisture sorption affinity of aerogel. The feasibility of conveying hydrophobic nutraceuticals by aerogels was evaluated through loading fish oil into the non-blended aerogel. Oil loading altered its microstructure, corresponding to a peak displacement in Fourier-transform infra-red spectra, which was ascribed to increased hydrophobic interactions. Surface coating of aerogel with zein decreased the oxidation susceptibility of the loaded oil during subsequent storage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative analysis of emission characteristics and noise test of an I.C. engine using different biodiesel blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossain, Md. Alamgir; Rahman, Fariha; Mamun, Maliha; Naznin, Sadia; Rashid, Adib Bin

2017-12-01

Biodiesel is a captivating renewable resource providing the potential to reduce particulate emissions in compressionignition engines. A comparative study is conducted to evaluate the effects of using biodiesel on exhaust emissions. Exhaust smokiness, noise and exhaust regulated gas emissions such as carbon di oxides, carbon monoxide and oxygen are measured. It is observed that methanol-biodiesel blends (mustard oil, palm oil) cause reduction of emissions remarkably. Most of the harmful pollutants in the exhaust are reduced significantly with the use of methanol blended fuels. Reduction in CO emission is more with mustard oil blend compared to palm oil blend. Comparatively clean smoke is observed with biodiesel than diesel. It is also observed that, there is a decrease of noise while performing with biodiesel blends which is around 78 dB whereas noise caused by diesel is 80 dB. Biodiesel, more importantly mustard oil is a clean burning fuel that does not contribute to the net increase of carbon dioxide.

Effect of EPDM-g-MAH on properties of HDPE/OBC blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, M.; Yu, L. Y.; Li, P. F.; Bin, Y. H.; Zhang, H. J.

2017-04-01

In this paper, we take the HDPE as the matrix material, OBC as the toughening material, and EDPM-g-MAH as the compatibility agent, HDPE/OBC/EPDM-g-MAH blends were prepared by high speed mixing, melt extrusion, injection molding and so on. The effects of OBC and EPDM-g-MAH on mechanical properties, crystalline properties, fracture surface structure and rheological properties of HDPE were analyzed by universal tensile tester, melt mass flow rate test machine, DSC and SEM. Experimental results show that: with the addition of EPDM-g-MAH, the notched impact strength of the blends increased first and then decreased; HDPE/OBC blend containing 4% EPDM-g-MAH, OBC dispersion in the matrix is more uniform, particle size is significantly refined, melt flow has some improvement, Compared with HDPE/OBC blend materials, notched impact strength and elongation at break increased by 41.07% and 107.28% respectively, the toughness of the blend was greatly improved.

Quantitative assessment of specific defects in roasted ground coffee via infrared-photoacoustic spectroscopy.

PubMed

Dias, Rafael Carlos Eloy; Valderrama, Patrícia; Março, Paulo Henrique; Dos Santos Scholz, Maria Brigida; Edelmann, Michael; Yeretzian, Chahan

2018-07-30

Chemical analyses and sensory evaluation are the most applied methods for quality control of roasted and ground coffee (RG). However, faster alternatives would be highly valuable. Here, we applied infrared-photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) on RG powder. Mixtures of specific defective beans were blended with healthy (defect-free) Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora bases in specific ratios, forming different classes of blends. Principal Component Analysis allowed predicting the amount/fraction and nature of the defects in blends while partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis revealed similarities between blends (=samples). A successful predictive model was obtained using six classes of blends. The model could classify 100% of the samples into four classes. The specificities were higher than 0.9. Application of FTIR-PAS on RG coffee to characterize and classify blends has shown to be an accurate, easy, quick and "green" alternative to current methods. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Effect of hyaluronic acid on the thermogelation and biocompatibility of its blends with methyl cellulose.

PubMed

Mayol, Laura; De Stefano, Daniela; De Falco, Francesca; Carnuccio, Rosa; Maiuri, Maria Chiara; De Rosa, Giuseppe

2014-11-04

Aim of this work was to investigate the influence of hyaluronic acid (HA) molecular weight on the thermogelation and biocompatibility of its blends with methyl cellulose in view of a possible application in drug delivery and/or wound healing. We found out that it was possible to obtain MC/HA blends showing a rheological behavior typical of a viscous solution at 20 °C and of a weak gel at 37 °C only when blending MC with low molecular weight HA. Moreover, the blends containing low molecular weight HA did not affect human foreskin fetal fibroblasts viability, proliferation and migration. On the contrary, the cell incubation with high molecular weight HA resulted in a marked and significant reduction of cell viability, compared to control cells. Finally, the optimized blends, in terms of rheological properties and biocompatibility, proved to be able to control and prolong bovine serum albumin release by a combined mechanism of platform dissolution and drug diffusion. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mechanical and thermal properties of promising polymer composites for food packaging applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdellah Ali, S. F.

2016-07-01

Blending starches with biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was used as a route to make processable thermoplastics. When developing biodegradable polymer composites it is important to use high concentrations of starch for legislative and cost reasons. The addition of starch has a significant effect on all physical properties including toughness, elongation at break and the rheological behaviour of the melt. To enhance the physical properties, we used cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) as a cellulose derivative with high amylase starch and PCL blends. It is suggested that the PCL/starch/CAP blends are partially miscible. It was found that the yield tensile strengths of most PCL/Starch/CAP blends were higher than that of pure PCL itself. There was a big difference between glass transition temperature values of PCL/Starch/CAP blends and the pure PCL glass transition temperature which indicates that no phase separation occurs. Addition of CAP to starch and PCL blends improved the mechanical and thermal properties even at high content of starch.

Simultaneous perception of a spoken and a signed language: The brain basis of ASL-English code-blends

PubMed Central

Weisberg, Jill; McCullough, Stephen; Emmorey, Karen

2018-01-01

Code-blends (simultaneous words and signs) are a unique characteristic of bimodal bilingual communication. Using fMRI, we investigated code-blend comprehension in hearing native ASL-English bilinguals who made a semantic decision (edible?) about signs, audiovisual words, and semantically equivalent code-blends. English and ASL recruited a similar fronto-temporal network with expected modality differences: stronger activation for English in auditory regions of bilateral superior temporal cortex, and stronger activation for ASL in bilateral occipitotemporal visual regions and left parietal cortex. Code-blend comprehension elicited activity in a combination of these regions, and no cognitive control regions were additionally recruited. Furthermore, code-blends elicited reduced activation relative to ASL presented alone in bilateral prefrontal and visual extrastriate cortices, and relative to English alone in auditory association cortex. Consistent with behavioral facilitation observed during semantic decisions, the findings suggest that redundant semantic content induces more efficient neural processing in language and sensory regions during bimodal language integration. PMID:26177161

Thermochemical and trace element behavior of coal gangue, agricultural biomass and their blends during co-combustion.

PubMed

Zhou, Chuncai; Liu, Guijian; Cheng, Siwei; Fang, Ting; Lam, Paul Kwan Sing

2014-08-01

The thermal decomposition behavior of coal gangue, peanut shell, wheat straw and their blends during combustion were determined via thermogravimetric analysis. The coal gangue/agricultural biomass blends were prepared in four weight ratios and oxidized under dynamic conditions from room temperature to 1000 °C by various heating rates. Kinetic models were carried out to evaluate the thermal reactivity. The overall mass balance was performed to assess the partition behavior of coal gangue, peanut shell and their blends during combustion in a fixed bed reactor. The decomposition processes of agricultural biomass included evaporation, release of volatile matter and combustion as well as char oxidation. The thermal reactivity of coal gangue could be improved through the addition of agricultural biomass in suitable proportion and subsequent appropriate heating rate during combustion. In combination with the heating value and base/acid ratio limitations, a blending ratio of 30% agricultural biomass is conservatively selected as optimum blending. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Co-combustion characteristics and blending optimization of tobacco stem and high-sulfur bituminous coal based on thermogravimetric and mass spectrometry analyses.

PubMed

Zhang, Kaihua; Zhang, Kai; Cao, Yan; Pan, Wei-ping

2013-03-01

Despite much research on co-combustion of tobacco stem and high-sulfur coal, their blending optimization has not been effectively found. This study investigated the combustion profiles of tobacco stem, high-sulfur bituminous coal and their blends by thermogravimetric analysis. Ignition and burnout performances, heat release performances, and gaseous pollutant emissions were also studied by thermogravimetric and mass spectrometry analyses. The results indicated that combustion of tobacco stem was more complicated than that of high-sulfur bituminous coal, mainly shown as fixed carbon in it was divided into two portions with one early burning and the other delay burning. Ignition and burnout performances, heat release performances, and gaseous pollutant emissions of the blends present variable trends with the increase of tobacco stem content. Taking into account the above three factors, a blending ratio of 0–20% tobacco stem content is conservatively proposed as optimum amount for blending. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method to study the effect of blend flowability on the homogeneity of acetaminophen.

PubMed

Llusá, Marcos; Pingali, Kalyana; Muzzio, Fernando J

2013-02-01

Excipient selection is key to product development because it affects their processability and physical properties, which ultimately affect the quality attributes of the pharmaceutical product. To study how the flowability of lubricated formulations affects acetaminophen (APAP) homogeneity. The formulations studied here contain one of two types of cellulose (Avicel 102 or Ceollus KG-802), one of three grades of Mallinckrodt APAP (fine, semi-fine, or micronized), lactose (Fast-Flo) and magnesium stearate. These components are mixed in a 300-liter bin blender. Blend flowability is assessed with the Gravitational Displacement Rheometer. APAP homogeneity is assessed with off-line NIR. Excluding blends dominated by segregation, there is a trend between APAP homogeneity and blend flow index. Blend flowability is affected by the type of microcrystalline cellulose and by the APAP grade. The preliminary results suggest that the methodology used in this paper is adequate to study of the effect of blend flow index on APAP homogeneity.

Serological changes induced by blend of sunset yellow, metanil yellow and tartrazine in swiss albino rat, rattus norvegicus.

PubMed

Saxena, Beenam; Sharma, Shiv

2014-01-01

The present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effect of blend of some food colors on Swiss albino rats. A blend (1:1:1) of sunset yellow, metanil yellow and tartrazine showed additive effects on serological parameters which indicate that addition of these dye together in food stuff may give rise to more toxic effects than are produced by each dye individually. Animals were divided into four groups (I, II, III, and IV). First group was treated as control and respective group of animals received 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg body weight blend of food colors by gavaging up to 30 days. The serological study showed a decrease in total protein and albumin and an increase in alkaline phosphatase, SGPT and total bilirubin. The results revealed that oral administration of these blend did not affect the body weight gain. The prolonged consumption of the blend may cause adverse effect on human health.

Optimization of a polymer top electrode for inverted semitransparent organic solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, Yinhua; Cheun, Hyeunseok; Choi, Seungkeun

We report on semitransparent organic solar cells using a single-layer blend based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the top electrode. The PEDOT:PSS blend was prepared by mixing a high-conductivity formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS PH-1000) and another formulation of PEDOT:PSS (H.C. Starck CLEVIOS CPP 105D). The PEDOT:PSS blend yields good wetting properties on the hydrophobic surface of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with phenyl-C 61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 60 BM), and shows a conductivity over 400 S cm -1. Semitransparent organic solar cells using the PEDOT:PSS blend as the top electrode with a structure of glass/ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PC 60BM/PEDOT:PSS-blend exhibited anmore » average power conversion efficiency of 2.4% estimated for 100 mW cm -2 AM 1.5G illumination.« less

Effect of blending and nanoparticles on the ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolyte systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjunatha, H.; Damle, R.; Kumaraswamy, G. N.

2018-05-01

In the present work, a polymer electrolyte blend containing polymers Poly ethylene oxide (PEO) and Poly (vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) was prepared. The polymer blend was complexed with potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate (KCF3SO3), and titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2) (10nm size) were dispersed in to the complex at different weight percentages. The conductivity due to ions in the blend is determined by Ac impedance measurements in the frequency range of 10Hz-1MHz. The nano composite polymer blend containing 5wt% of TiO2 shows a conductivity of 7.95×10-5Scm-1, which is almost 1.5 orders more than polymer electrolyte with PEO as a polymer. XRD studies show a decrease in the coherence length of XRD peaks on addition of nanoparticles, which is due to increase the amorphous phase in the systems. Temperature dependence conductivity studies of the systems shows that, activation energy decreases with increase in the percentage of nanoparticles in the blend.

Blended learning: strengths, challenges, and lessons learned in an interprofessional training program.

PubMed

Lotrecchiano, G R; McDonald, P L; Lyons, L; Long, T; Zajicek-Farber, M

2013-11-01

This field report outlines the goals of providing a blended learning model for an interdisciplinary training program for healthcare professionals who care for children with disabilities. The curriculum blended traditional face-to-face or on-site learning with integrated online interactive instruction. Credit earning and audited graduate level online coursework, community engagement experiences, and on-site training with maternal and child health community engagement opportunities were blended into a cohesive program. The training approach emphasized adult learning principles in different environmental contexts integrating multiple components of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program. This paper describes the key principles adopted for this blended approach and the accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned. The discussion offers examples from training content, material gathered through yearly program evaluation, as well as university course evaluations. The lessons learned consider the process and the implications for the role of blended learning in this type of training program with suggestions for future development and adoption by other programs.

A dark brown roast coffee blend is less effective at stimulating gastric acid secretion in healthy volunteers compared to a medium roast market blend.

PubMed

Rubach, Malte; Lang, Roman; Bytof, Gerhard; Stiebitz, Herbert; Lantz, Ingo; Hofmann, Thomas; Somoza, Veronika

2014-06-01

Coffee consumption sometimes is associated with symptoms of stomach discomfort. This work aimed to elucidate whether two coffee beverages, containing similar amounts of caffeine, but differing in their concentrations of (β) N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides (C5HTs), chlorogenic acids (CGAs), trigonelline, and N-methylpyridinium (N-MP) have different effects on gastric acid secretion in healthy volunteers. The intragastric pH after administration of bicarbonate with/without 200 mL of a coffee beverage prepared from a market blend or dark roast blend was analyzed in nine healthy volunteers. Coffee beverages were analyzed for their contents of C5HT, N-MP, trigonelline, CGAs, and caffeine using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS. Chemical analysis revealed higher concentrations of N-MP for the dark brown blend (87 mg/L) compared to the market blend coffee (29 mg/L), whereas concentrations of C5HT (0.012 versus 0.343 mg/L), CGAs (323 versus 1126 mg/L), and trigonelline (119 versus 343 mg/L) were lower, and caffeine concentrations were similar (607 versus 674 mg/mL). Gastric acid secretion was less effectively stimulated after administration of the dark roast blend coffee compared to the market blend. Future studies are warranted to verify whether a high ratio of N-MP to C5HT and CGAs is beneficial for reducing coffee-associated gastric acid secretion. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Health risk assessment of arsenic from blended water in distribution systems.

PubMed

Zhang, Hui; Zhou, Xue; Wang, Kai; Wang, Wen D

2017-12-06

In a water distribution system with different sources, water blending occurs, causing specific variations of the arsenic level. This study was undertaken to investigate the concentration and cancer risk of arsenic in blended water in Xi'an city. A total of 672 tap water samples were collected from eight sampling points in the blending zones for arsenic determination. The risk was evaluated through oral ingestion and dermal absorption, separately for males and females, as well as with respect to seasons and blending zones. Although the arsenic concentrations always fulfilled the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO) (≤10 μg L -1 ), the total cancer risk value was higher than the general guidance risk value of 1.00 × 10 -6 . In the blending zone of the Qujiang and No.3 WTPs (Z2), the total cancer risk value was over 1.00 × 10 -5 , indicating that public health would be affected to some extent. More than 99% of the total cancer risk was from oral ingestion, and dermal absorption had a little contribution. With higher exposure duration and lower body weight, women had a higher cancer risk. In addition, due to several influential factors, the total cancer risk in the four blending zones reached the maximum in different seasons. The sensitivity analysis by the tornado chart proved that body weight, arsenic concentration and ingestion rate significantly contributed to cancer risk. This study suggests the regular monitoring of water blending zones for improving risk management.

[Study of new blended chemical absorbents to absorb CO2].

PubMed

Wang, Jin-Lian; Fang, Meng-Xiang; Yan, Shui-Ping; Luo, Zhong-Yang; Cen, Ke-Fa

2007-11-01

Three kinds of blended absorbents were investigated on bench-scale experimental bench according to absorption rate and regeneration grade to select a reasonable additive concentration. The results show that, among methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and piperazine (PZ) mixtures, comparing MDEA : PZ = 1 : 0.4 (m : m) with MDEA : PZ = 1 : 0.2 (m : m), the absorption rate is increased by about 70% at 0.2 mol x mol(-1). When regeneration lasting for 40 min, regeneration grade of blended absorbents with PZ concentration of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 is decreased to 83.06%, 77.77% and 76.67% respectively while 91.04% for PZ concentration of 0. MDEA : PZ = 1 : 0.4(m : m) is a suitable ratio for MDEA/PZ mixtures as absorption and regeneration properties of the blended absorbents are all improved. The aqueous blends with 10% primary amines and 2% tertiary amines could keep high CO2 absorption rate, and lower regeneration energy consumption. Adding 2% 2-Amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) to 10% diethanolamine (DEA), the blended amine solvents have an advantage in absorption and regeneration properties over other DEA/AMP mixtures. Blended solvents, which consist of a mixture of primary amines with a small amount of tertiary amines, have the highest absorption rate among the three. And mixed absorbents of secondary amines and a small amount of sterically hindered amines have the best regeneration property. To combine absorption and regeneration properties, blends with medium activator addition to tertiary amines are competitive.

Study of biodegradable polylactide/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends.

PubMed

Jiang, Long; Wolcott, Michael P; Zhang, Jinwen

2006-01-01

Both polylactide (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) are biodegradable polymers. They are thermoplastics which can be processed using most conventional polymer processing methods. PLA is high in strength and modulus (63 MPa and 3.4 GPa, respectively) but brittle (strain at break 3.8%) while PBAT is flexible and tough (strain at break approximately 710%). In view of their complementary properties, blending PLA with PBAT becomes a natural choice to improve PLA properties without compromising its biodegradability. In this study, PLA and PBAT were melt blended using a twin screw extruder. Melt elasticity and viscosity of the blends increased with the concentration of PBAT. Crystallization of the PLA component, phase morphology of the blend, mechanical properties, and toughening mechanism were investigated. The blend comprised an immiscible, two-phase system with the PBAT evenly dispersed in the form of approximately 300 nm domains within the PLA matrix. The PBAT component accelerated the crystallization rate of PLA but had little effect on its final degree of crystallinity. With the increase in PBAT content (5-20 wt %), the blend showed decreased tensile strength and modulus; however, elongation and toughness were dramatically increased. With the addition of PBAT, the failure mode changed from brittle fracture of the neat PLA to ductile fracture of the blend as demonstrated by tensile test and scanning electron microcopy (SEM) micrographs. Debonding between the PLA and PBAT domains induced large plastic deformation in PLA matrix ligaments.

The banana code-natural blend processing in the olfactory circuitry of Drosophila melanogaster.

PubMed

Schubert, Marco; Hansson, Bill S; Sachse, Silke

2014-01-01

Odor information is predominantly perceived as complex odor blends. For Drosophila melanogaster one of the most attractive blends is emitted by an over-ripe banana. To analyze how the fly's olfactory system processes natural blends we combined the experimental advantages of gas chromatography and functional imaging (GC-I). In this way, natural banana compounds were presented successively to the fly antenna in close to natural occurring concentrations. This technique allowed us to identify the active odor components, use these compounds as stimuli and measure odor-induced Ca(2+) signals in input and output neurons of the Drosophila antennal lobe (AL), the first olfactory neuropil. We demonstrate that mixture interactions of a natural blend are very rare and occur only at the AL output level resulting in a surprisingly linear blend representation. However, the information regarding single components is strongly modulated by the olfactory circuitry within the AL leading to a higher similarity between the representation of individual components and the banana blend. This observed modulation might tune the olfactory system in a way to distinctively categorize odor components and improve the detection of suitable food sources. Functional GC-I thus enables analysis of virtually any unknown natural odorant blend and its components in their relative occurring concentrations and allows characterization of neuronal responses of complete neural assemblies. This technique can be seen as a valuable complementary method to classical GC/electrophysiology techniques, and will be a highly useful tool in future investigations of insect-insect and insect-plant chemical interactions.

Sonochemical synthesis of PVA/PVP blend nanocomposite containing modified CuO nanoparticles with vitamin B1 and their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Mallakpour, Shadpour; Mansourzadeh, Soheila

2018-05-01

The aim of this paper was to blend the polymers, poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to produce a novel composite materials possessing the benefits of both. CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a suitable filler to fabricate the blend nanocomposites (NCs) with desired properties. First, the surface of NPs, was modified with vitamin B 1 (VB 1 ) as a bio-safe coupling agent. Then, the blend NCs with various ratios of modified CuO (3, 5, and 7 wt%) were fabricated under ultrasonic irradiations followed by casting/solvent evaporation method. These processes are fast and green way to disperse the NPs sufficiently. Several techniques were applied for the characterization of the obtained NCs. morphology examination demonstrated the morphology of NCs and compatibility of NPs with the blend polymer. EDX results indicated the weight and atomic percentage of the achieved materials. TGA analysis verified that the NCs show higher thermal properties than the neat blend polymer. Also embedding the modified NPs into the blend polymer had effected on optical absorbance of the obtained NCs. The contact angle measurements confirmed that the hydrophilicity decreased for different proportions of the modified NPs loaded in the blend polymer. Finally, NCs show better bactericidal effects against gram-positive than gram-negative bacteria. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Can blended learning and the flipped classroom improve student learning and satisfaction in Saudi Arabia?

PubMed Central

Sajid, Muhammad R.; Abothenain, Fayha; Salam, Yezan; AlJayar, Dina; Obeidat, Akef

2016-01-01

Objectives To evaluate student academic performance and perception towards blended learning and flipped classrooms in comparison to traditional teaching. Methods This study was conducted during the hematology block on year three students. Five lectures were delivered online only. Asynchronous discussion boards were created where students could interact with colleagues and instructors. A flipped classroom was introduced with application exercises. Summative assessment results were compared with previous year results as a historical control for statistical significance. Student feedback regarding their blended learning experience was collected. Results A total of 127 responses were obtained. Approximately 22.8% students felt all lectures should be delivered through didactic lecturing, while almost 35% felt that 20% of total lectures should be given online. Students expressed satisfaction with blended learning as a new and effective learning approach. The majority of students reported blended learning was helpful for exam preparation and concept clarification. However, a comparison of grades did not show a statistically significant increase in the academic performance of students taught via the blended learning method. Conclusions Learning experiences can be enriched by adopting a blended method of instruction at various stages of undergraduate and postgraduate education. Our results suggest that blended learning, a relatively new concept in Saudi Arabia, shows promising results with higher student satisfaction. Flipped classrooms replace passive lecturing with active student-centered learning that enhances critical thinking and application, including information retention.  PMID:27591930

A blended design in acute care training: similar learning results, less training costs compared with a traditional format.

PubMed

Dankbaar, Mary E W; Storm, Diana J; Teeuwen, Irene C; Schuit, Stephanie C E

2014-09-01

Introduction There is a demand for more attractive and efficient training programmes in postgraduate health care training. This retrospective study aims to show the effectiveness of a blended versus traditional face-to-face training design. For nurses in postgraduate Acute and Intensive Care training, the effectiveness of a blended course design was compared with a traditional design. Methods In a first pilot study 57 students took a traditional course (2-h lecture and 2-h workshop) and 46 students took a blended course (2-h lecture and 2-h online self-study material). Test results were compared for both groups. After positive results in the pilot study, the design was replicated for the complete programme in Acute and Intensive Care. Now 16 students followed the traditional programme (11 days face-to-face education) and 31 students did the blended programme (7 days face-to-face and 40 h online self-study). An evaluation was done after the pilot and course costs were calculated. Results Results show that the traditional and blended groups were similar regarding the main characteristics and did not differ in learning results for both the pilot and the complete programme. Student evaluations of both designs were positive; however, the blended group were more confident that they had achieved the learning objectives. Training costs were reduced substantially. Conclusion The blended training design offers an effective and attractive training solution, leading to a significant reduction in costs.

Mechanisms of Morphology Development and Control in Polymer- Polymer Blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macosko, Christopher W.

1998-03-01

Polymer-polymer blends continue to be the most important method for achieving optimization of properties in plastics products. Over 30 percent of all plastics are blends. While miscible blends generally give average properties between the components, immiscible blends offer synergistic possibilities such as high modulus with high toughness; high flow with high impact strength or diffusion barriers with good mechanical properties and low cost. The key to performance of these immiscible blends is their morphology. There are several important types of morphology which can lead to valuable property improvement: emulsion - small polymer spheres well dispersed in a polymer matrix. double emulsion - spheres inside spheres which are dispersed in another matrix. microlayer - thin, parallel layers of one polymer in a matrix. cocontinuous - two (or more) continuous, interpenetrating polymer phases. To be economical it is desirable to create these morphologies via melt mixing of powder or pellets in conventional compounding equipment. The melting stage during compounding is very important for morphology development. This presentation will demonstrate the role of melting or softening of each phase as well as their viscosity, elasticity and interfacial tension in morphology development. Interfacial modification with premade block copolymers or reactively formed copolymers can greatly alter morphology formation and stability. Experimental results will be presented which quantify the role of these additives. References to recent work in this area by our group are listed below: DeBrule, M. B., L. Levitt and C.W. Macosko, "The Rheology and Morphology of Layered Polymer Melts in Shear," Soc. Plastics Eng. Tech Papers (ANTEC), 84-89 (1996). Guegan, P., C. W. Macosko, T. Ishizone, A. Hirao and S. Nakahama, "Kinetics of Chain Coupling at Melt Interfaces, Macromol. 27, 4993-4997 (1994). Lee, M. S., T.P. Lodge, and C. W. Macosko, "Can Random Copolymers Serve as Effective Polymeric Compatibilizers?" accepted for publication by Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Physics Edition, 1997. Levitt, L. and C. W. Macosko, "Extensional Rheometry of Polymer Multilayers: A Sensitive Probe of Interfaces," J. Rheol, 41, 3, 671-685, (1997). Levitt, L., C.W. Macosko and S.D. Pearson, "Influence of Normal Stress Difference on Polymer Drop Deformation," Polym. Eng. Sci., 36, Part 12, 1647-1655 (1996). Nakayama, A., T. Inoue, A. Hirao, P. Guegan, A. Khandpur, and C. W. Macosko, "Compatibilization of Blends: Effect of Reaction Rate," PPS Proceedings, Sorrento, May 1996. Levitt, L., "Microlayer Morphology Via Polymer Melt Processing, Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 1997. Orr, C. A., A. Adedeji, A. Hirao, F. S. Bates, and C. W. Macosko, "Flow-Induced Reactive Self-Assembly", Macromolecules, 30, 4, 1243-1246, (1997). Orr, C. A., "Reactive Compatibilization of Polymer Blends," Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 1997. Scott, C. E., and C. W. Macosko, "Morphology Development During the Initial Stages of Polymer-Polymer Blending," Polymer, 36, 461-470 (1995). Scott, C. E. and C. W. Macosko, "Model Experiments Concerning Morphology Development During the Initial Stages of Polymer Blending," Polymer Bulletin 26, 341- 348 (1991). Sundararaj, U., C. K. Shih, and C. W. Macosko, "Evidence For Inversion of Phase Continuity During Morphology Development in Polymer Blending," Polymer Eng. and Sci., 36, 1769-1781 (1996). Sundararaj, U., and C. W. Macosko, "Drop Breakup and Coalescence in Polymer Blends: The Effects of Concentration and Compatibilization, Macromolecules, 28, 2647-2657 (1995). Sundararaj, U., Y. Dori and C. W. Macosko, "Sheet Formation in Immiscible Polymer Blends: Model Experiments on Initial Blend Morphology," Polymer, 36, 1957-1968 (1995). Sundararaj, U., C. W. Macosko, A. Nakayama, and T. Inoue, "Milligrams to Kilograms: An Evaluation of Mixers for Reactive Polymer Blending," Polym. Eng. Sci. 35, 100-114 (1995). Sundararaj, U, R. J. Rolando, H. T. Chan and C. W. Macosko, "Morphology Development in Polymer Blends," Polymer Eng. Sci. 32, 1814-1823 (1992). Utracki, L., Polymer Alloys and Blends; Hanser: New York, 1989.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BLENDS OF PAMAM DENDRIMERS WITH POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) AND POLY(VINYL ACETATE)

EPA Science Inventory

Hybrid blends of poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers with two linear high polymers, poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, and poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, are reported. The interaction between the blend components was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis, xenon nuclear magnetic resonacne ...

21 CFR 133.10 - Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized process cheese, cheese food, cheese spread, and related... SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS General Provisions § 133.10 Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized...

21 CFR 133.10 - Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized process cheese, cheese food, cheese spread, and related... SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS General Provisions § 133.10 Notice to manufacturers, packers, and distributors of pasteurized blended cheese, pasteurized...

16 CFR 306.5 - Automotive fuel rating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... alternative liquid automotive fuels other than biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends, you must... of biodiesel blends, you must possess a reasonable basis, consisting of competent and reliable evidence, for the percentage of biodiesel contained in the fuel, and in the case of biomass-based diesel...

16 CFR 306.5 - Automotive fuel rating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... alternative liquid automotive fuels other than biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends, you must... of biodiesel blends, you must possess a reasonable basis, consisting of competent and reliable evidence, for the percentage of biodiesel contained in the fuel, and in the case of biomass-based diesel...

16 CFR 306.5 - Automotive fuel rating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... alternative liquid automotive fuels other than biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends, you must... of biodiesel blends, you must possess a reasonable basis, consisting of competent and reliable evidence, for the percentage of biodiesel contained in the fuel, and in the case of biomass-based diesel...

Blended Instruction: Integrating the Curriculum through Projects and Curriculum Alignment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maryland State Dept. of Education, Baltimore. Div. of Career Technology and Adult Learning.

"Blended instruction" is an approach to integrating high school curriculum around broad career clusters or areas of student interest and study. Blended instruction is intended to engage students in more challenging assignments, increase attendance, and increase student academic and technical achievement. This Maryland guide contains…

Implementation of Slag Stabilized Blended Calcium Sulfate (BCS) in a Pavement Structure : Research Project Capsule

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-09-01

Blended calcium sulfate (BCS) is fl uorogypsum (FG), an industrial byproduct, : blended with lime or limestone. Approximately 90,000 metric tons (100,000 : tons) of FG are generated annually in the United States, posing a serious : problem for enviro...

Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tucker, Catlin; Umphrey, Jan

2013-01-01

Catlin Tucker, author of "Blended Learning in Grades 4-12," is an English language arts teacher at Windsor High School in Sonoma County, CA. In this conversation with "Principal Leadership," she defines blended learning as a formal education program in which a student is engaged in active learning in part online where they…

Empowering Learners through Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owston, Ron

2018-01-01

Blended learning appears to facilitate learner empowerment more readily than either face-to-face or fully online courses. This contention is supported by a review of literature on the affordances of blended learning that support Thomas and Velthouse's (1990) four conditions of empowerment: choice, meaningfulness, competence, and impact. Blended…

Blended Learning: A Dangerous Idea?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moskal, Patsy; Dziuban, Charles; Hartman, Joel

2013-01-01

The authors make the case that implementation of a successful blended learning program requires alignment of institutional, faculty, and student goals. Reliable and robust infrastructure must be in place to support students and faculty. Continuous evaluation can effectively track the impact of blended learning on students, faculty, and the…

Hypolipidemic effect of oils with balanced amounts of fatty acids obtained by blending and interesterification of coconut oil with rice bran oil or sesame oil.

PubMed

Reena, Malongil B; Lokesh, Belur R

2007-12-12

Blended oils comprising coconut oil (CNO) and rice bran oil (RBO) or sesame oil (SESO) with saturated fatty acid/monounsaturated fatty acid/polyunsaturated fatty acid at a ratio of 1:1:1 and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio of 0.8-1 enriched with nutraceuticals were prepared. Blended oils (B) were subjected to interesterification reaction using sn-1,3 specific Lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. Fatty acid composition and nutraceutical contents of the blended oil were not affected by interesterification reaction. Male Wistar rats were fed with AIN-76 diet containing 10% fat from CNO, RBO, SESO, CNO+RBO blend (B), CNO+SESO(B), CNO+RBO interesterified (I), or CNO+SESO(I) for 60 days. Serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols (TAGs) were reduced by 23.8, 32.4, and 13.9%, respectively, in rats fed CNO+RBO(B) and by 20.5, 34.1, and 12.9%, respectively, in rats fed CNO+SESO(B) compared to rats given CNO. Rats fed interesterified oils showed a decrease in serum TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and TAGs in CNO+RBO(I) by 35, 49.1, and 23.2 and by 33.3, 47, and 19.8% in CNO+SESO(I), respectively, compared to rats given CNO. Compared to rats fed CNO+RBO blended oils, rats on CNO+RBO interesterified oil showed a further decrease of 14.6, 24.7, and 10% in TC, LDL-C, and TAG. Rats fed CNO+SESO interesterified oils showed a decrease in serum TC, LDL-C, and TAG by 16.2, 19.6, and 7.8%, respectively, compared to rats given blended oils of CNO+SESO (B). Liver lipid analysis also showed significant change in the TC and TAG concentration in rats fed blended and interesterified oils of CNO+RBO and CNO+SESO compared to the rats given CNO. The present study suggests that feeding fats containing blended oils with balanced fatty acids lowers serum and liver lipids. Interesterified oils prepared using Lipase have a further lowering effect on serum and liver lipids even though the fatty acid composition of blended and interesterified oils remained same. These studies indicated that the atherogenic potentials of a saturated fatty acid containing CNO can be significantly decreased by blending with an oil rich in unsaturated lipids in appropriate amounts and interesterification of blended oil.

27 CFR 24.214 - Spanish type blending sherry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.214 Spanish type blending sherry. Blending wine made with partially caramelized grape concentrate may be produced... except pursuant to an approved formula or in the further production of this type of wine. (Sec. 201, Pub...

27 CFR 24.214 - Spanish type blending sherry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.214 Spanish type blending sherry. Blending wine made with partially caramelized grape concentrate may be produced... except pursuant to an approved formula or in the further production of this type of wine. (Sec. 201, Pub...

27 CFR 24.214 - Spanish type blending sherry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY ALCOHOL WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.214 Spanish type blending sherry. Blending wine made with partially caramelized grape concentrate may be produced... except pursuant to an approved formula or in the further production of this type of wine. (Sec. 201, Pub...

27 CFR 24.214 - Spanish type blending sherry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.214 Spanish type blending sherry. Blending wine made with partially caramelized grape concentrate may be produced... except pursuant to an approved formula or in the further production of this type of wine. (Sec. 201, Pub...

Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Halan, Deepak

2005-01-01

Blended learning basically refers to using several methods for teaching. It can be thought to be a learning program where more than one delivery mode is being used with the ultimate goal of optimizing the learning result and cost of program delivery. Examples of blended learning could be the combination of technology-based resources and…

Effectiveness of Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rao, A. V. Nageswararao

2006-01-01

The introduction of blended learning added new dimension to training, and the possibilities for delivering knowledge and information to learners at an accelerated pace and opened new vistas for knowledge management. Industry pioneers and academicians agree that blended learning will continue to become a driving force in business and in education.…

Rechargeable solid polymer electrolyte battery cell

DOEpatents

Skotheim, Terji

1985-01-01

A rechargeable battery cell comprising first and second electrodes sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte comprising a layer of a polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte adjacent said polymer blend and a layer of dry solid polymer electrolyte adjacent said layer of polymer blend and said second electrode.

Miscibility and thermal behavior of poly (ε-caprolactone)/long-chain ester of cellulose blends

Treesearch

Yuzhi Xu; Chunpeng Wang; Nicole M. Stark; Zhiyong Cai; Fuxiang Chu

2012-01-01

The long-chain cellulose ester (LCCE) cellulose laurate, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and their blends were characterized by tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The compatibility of the blends was...

Blended Learning for College Students with English Reading Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yang, Yu-Fen

2012-01-01

Most previous studies in blended learning simply involved on-site and online instruction without considering students' control of their own learning in these two different modalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate how college students with English reading difficulties integrate their conceptions of and approaches to blended learning…

Handbook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing E85 and Other Ethanol-Gasoline Blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2013-09-17

This document serves as a guide for blenders, distributors, sellers, and users of E85 and other ethanol blends above E10. It provides basic information on the proper and safe use of E85 and other ethanol blends and includes supporting technical and policy references.

Successfully Authorizing Blended Charter Schools. Authorizing Matters. Issue Brief. Cyber Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ableidinger, Joe; Hassel, Bryan C.

2012-01-01

This issue brief is part of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers' (NACSA's) "Cyber Series," which addresses issues in policy and practice that relate to authorizing online and blended charter schools. This brief aims to improve authorizer understanding and oversight of blended charter schools, which combine digital…

40 CFR 80.1500 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Additional Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1500 Definitions. The... ethanol. E10 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains at least 9.0 and no more than 10.0 volume percent ethanol. E15 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains greater than 10.0 volume percent ethanol...

40 CFR 80.1500 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Additional Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1500 Definitions. The... ethanol. E10 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains at least 9.0 and no more than 10.0 volume percent ethanol. E15 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains greater than 10.0 volume percent ethanol...

40 CFR 80.1500 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Additional Requirements for Gasoline-Ethanol Blends § 80.1500 Definitions. The... ethanol. E10 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains at least 9.0 and no more than 10.0 volume percent ethanol. E15 means a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains greater than 10.0 volume percent ethanol...

Factors That Affect Faculty Attitudes toward Adoption of Technology-Rich Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moukali, Khalid Hussain

2012-01-01

Universities worldwide are transitioning to blended learning where technology is used to enhance and augment traditional face-to-face instruction. Investigation of how well blended learning strategies are accepted and adopted in multicultural settings is needed to facilitate this transition. This study investigated factors and barriers that…

Blended Teaching & Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pape, Liz

2010-01-01

Blended learning is using online tools to communicate, collaborate and publish, to extend the school day or year and to develop the 21st-century skills students need. With blended learning, teachers can use online tools and resources as part of their daily classroom instruction. Using many of the online tools and resources students already are…

Student Engagement and Blended Learning: Making the Assessment Connection

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vaughan, Norman

2014-01-01

There is an increased focus on student engagement and blended approaches to learning in higher education. This article demonstrates how collaborative learning applications and a blended approach to learning can be used to design and support assessment activities that increase levels of student engagement with course concepts, their peers, faculty…

Knocking Down Barriers: How California Superintendents Are Implementing Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horn, Michael B.; Gu, Anna; Evans, Meg

2014-01-01

School districts across the United States are implementing blended learning to boost student achievement. The authors convened several California school district superintendents to answer the questions: "What are the barriers, real or perceived, to implementing blended learning in your district?" and "Have you found solutions to or…

40 CFR 418.70 - Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 28 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Applicability; description of the mixed... SOURCE CATEGORY Mixed and Blend Fertilizer Production Subcategory § 418.70 Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are applicable...

40 CFR 418.70 - Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2014-07-01 2012-07-01 true Applicability; description of the mixed... SOURCE CATEGORY Mixed and Blend Fertilizer Production Subcategory § 418.70 Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are applicable...

40 CFR 418.70 - Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Applicability; description of the mixed... SOURCE CATEGORY Mixed and Blend Fertilizer Production Subcategory § 418.70 Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are applicable...

40 CFR 418.70 - Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 29 2011-07-01 2009-07-01 true Applicability; description of the mixed... SOURCE CATEGORY Mixed and Blend Fertilizer Production Subcategory § 418.70 Applicability; description of the mixed and blend fertilizer production subcategory. The provisions of this subpart are applicable...

Pro-ELT; A Teacher Training Blended Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eshtehardi, Reza

2014-01-01

Pro-ELT is a blended teacher training course. The aim of Pro-ELT is to strengthen English teaching and learning through a blended training approach that includes; quality face to face delivery, supported distance learning and integrated proficiency and methodology training. It delivers quality language teaching and teacher development courses to…

40 CFR 80.340 - What standards and requirements apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur Sampling, Testing and Retention... gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? (a) Any refiner who produces...

40 CFR 80.340 - What standards and requirements apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur Sampling, Testing and Retention... gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? (a) Any refiner who produces...

40 CFR 80.340 - What standards and requirements apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur Sampling, Testing and Retention... gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? (a) Any refiner who produces...

40 CFR 80.340 - What standards and requirements apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur Sampling, Testing and Retention... gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? (a) Any refiner who produces...

40 CFR 80.340 - What standards and requirements apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur Sampling, Testing and Retention... gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG)? (a) Any refiner who produces...

40 CFR 80.1640 - Standards and requirements that apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG). 80... (CONTINUED) REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES Gasoline Sulfur § 80.1640 Standards and requirements that apply to refiners producing gasoline by blending blendstocks into previously certified gasoline (PCG...

Toxicity of Cold Lake Blend and Western Canadian Select dilbits to standard aquatic test species

EPA Science Inventory

Dilbits are blends of bitumen and natural gas condensates or crude oils with only limited toxicity data. Two dilbits, Cold Lake Blend and Western Canadian Select, were tested as either unweathered or weathered oils for acute and chronic toxicity to standard freshwater and estuari...

Student Outcomes and Design Elements in Blended Learning Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Newbury, Robert

2013-01-01

The concept of "blended learning" appears with increasing frequency in academic literature, published research and general discussion as the latest trend in pedagogy. Known also as "hybrid education" and "web-enhanced instruction", blended learning courses have been reported as the method of delivery for 80 to 90…

21 CFR 133.168 - Pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables, or meats.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables... AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Cheese and Related Products § 133.168 Pasteurized blended cheese with...

21 CFR 133.168 - Pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables, or meats.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Pasteurized blended cheese with fruits, vegetables... AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION CHEESES AND RELATED CHEESE PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Cheese and Related Products § 133.168 Pasteurized blended cheese with...

16 CFR 306.12 - Labels.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... biodiesel, biomass-based diesel, biodiesel blends, and biomass-based diesel blends. The label is 3 inches (7... biodiesel blends containing more than 5 percent and no greater than 20 percent biodiesel by volume. (i) The...” followed immediately by the numerical value representing the volume percentage of biodiesel in the fuel (e...

40 CFR 1065.1010 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... approved for § 1065.701(f). (43) ASTM D6751-12, Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100... D7039-13, Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Gasoline, Diesel Fuel, Jet Fuel, Kerosine, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Blends, and Gasoline-Ethanol Blends by Monochromatic Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence...

16 CFR 306.5 - Automotive fuel rating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... fuels other than biodiesel blends and biomass-based diesel blends, you must possess a reasonable basis... alternative liquid automotive fuel that you must disclose. In the case of biodiesel blends, you must possess a reasonable basis, consisting of competent and reliable evidence, for the percentage of biodiesel contained in...

Exploring the Effectiveness of Blended Learning in Interior Design Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Afacan, Yasemin

2016-01-01

This study explores how blended learning can contribute to interior design students' learning outcomes, their engagement with non-studio courses and affect their learning achievements. Within the framework of the study, a blended learning experience was carried out in "IAED 342 Building Performance" module at Bilkent University, Turkey.…

The Effect of Blended Learning in Mathematics Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Ya-Wen; Tseng, Chih-Lung; Chiang, Po-Jui

2017-01-01

With the advent of the digital age, traditional didactic teaching and online learning have been modified and gradually replaced by "Blended Learning." The purpose of this study was to explore the influences of blended learning pedagogy on junior high school student learning achievement and the students' attitudes toward mathematics. To…

Blended Learning in Personalized Assistive Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marinagi, Catherine; Skourlas, Christos

2013-01-01

In this paper, the special needs/requirements of disabled students and cost-benefits for applying blended learning in Personalized Educational Learning Environments (PELE) in Higher Education are studied. The authors describe how blended learning can form an attractive and helpful framework for assisting Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D-HH) students to…

How Are Universities Involved in Blended Instruction?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oh, Eunjoo; Park, Suhong

2009-01-01

The purposes of this study are to examine faculty involvement in blended instruction and their attitudes towards the instructional method. The study also explored how universities support faculty in their current practices on blended instruction and the challenges in supporting faculty. The target population of this study was Institute of Higher…

Learning to Teach a Blended Course in a Teacher Preparation Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kang, Jung Jin

2014-01-01

Teacher preparation programs have provided blended courses (a combination of online and face-to-face learning) for their students because of their availability and their convenience. Researchers need to understand how teacher educators perceive blended courses when they teach teacher candidates, because teacher preparation programs have different…

Dilemmas of Blended Language Learning: Learner and Teacher Experiences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gleason, Jesse

2013-01-01

Rapidly advancing technology continues to change the landscape of blended foreign language education. Pinpointing the differences between blended language (BL) learning environments and understanding how stakeholders experience such spaces is complex. However, learner experiences can provide a roadmap for the design and development of BL courses.…

Institutional Change and Leadership Associated with Blended Learning Innovation: Two Case Studies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrison, D. Randy; Vaughan, Norman D.

2013-01-01

This article documents the institutional change and leadership associated with blended learning innovation in higher education. Two case studies are provided that demonstrate how transformational institutional change related to blended teaching and learning approaches is predicated upon committed collaborative leadership that engages all levels of…

Anaerobic Biodegradation of soybean biodiesel and diesel blends under sulfate-reducing conditions

EPA Science Inventory

Biotransformation of soybean biodiesel and its biodiesel/petrodiesel blends were investigated under sulfate-reducing conditions. Three blends of biodiesel, B100, B50, and B0, were treated using microbial cultures pre-acclimated to B100 (biodiesel only) and B80 (80% biodiesel and ...

Blended Learning: A Disruption that Has Found Its Time

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzales, Lisa; Vodicka, Devin

2012-01-01

"Blended learning" is learning facilitated by the effective combination of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning, and applying them in an interactively meaningful learning environment. There are four standard modes of blended learning that have proven to meet student academic needs and provide flexibility with…

Blended Learning: Deficits and Prospects in Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cuesta Medina, Liliana

2018-01-01

This article examines the nature and evolution of the term blended learning (BL), which encompasses numerous connotations, including its conception as a strategy, delivery mode, opportunity, educational shift, or pedagogical approach. Although much has been said in this field, very few studies examine the different types of blends behind their…

Boron brings big benefits to bio-based blends

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The solution to the problems with bio-based lubrication can be approached by a combination of blending and additive strategies. However, many additives do not show efficacy when used in bio-based lubricants. Additive addition also lowers the bio-based content of the blend, which in turn limits the a...

27 CFR 24.214 - Spanish type blending sherry.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 27 Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Spanish type blending... BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LIQUORS WINE Production of Other Than Standard Wine § 24.214 Spanish..., produced under this section, is designated “Spanish Type Blending Sherry.” Upon removal, the shipping...

16 CFR 306.8 - Certification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... who is not a consumer. (a) In the case of gasoline, if you do not blend the gasoline with other.... If you blend the gasoline with other gasoline, you must certify consistent with your determination of the average, weighted by volume, of the octane ratings certified to you for each gasoline in the blend...