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Synthesis, Derivatives, and Applications of Structured Nanomaterials
Get PDFNanomaterials offer abundant applications not accessible in regular bulk structures. A nanotubular structure (nanoscroll or nanotube) is a 1D architecture with distinct properties varying from that of the parent material. The new structure for example provides more surface area and presents more active sites on the structure exterior, interior, or edges. In this research, different nanotubular materials were targeted including nanopeapods (NPPs), nanoscrolls (NScs), and their various derivatives.
Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) were used as pod materials to grow noble metal NPs in their lumen. The synthesis was done rapidly, within 2 minutes at 55 ⸰C. This allows the growth of gold (Au) NPs, silver (Ag) NPs, and palladium (Pd) NPs in HNTs. Concurrently, the growth of NPs in the HNTs were studied utilizing different amounts of reducing agents.
Kaolinite has a similar chemical formula to HNTs but with a different morphology, was used as a precursor to synthesize kaolinite NScs through a microwave process. The outcome of the experiments shows that the desired NScs can be achieved within 14 hours. Alternating the final intercalating agent allowed the formation of either thin and thick outer layered NScs.
Hexaniobate (HNB) NPPs were synthesized through a solvothermal process where titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) act as peas. The nanocomposites were found to be photochemically active and were employed to degrade organic dyes in the aqueous medium after methylation of the nanocomposites.
Ultrathin vanadate nanosheets (NSs) are highly desirable in a variety of applications including batteries and capacitors. Vanadate NSs were readily made by the thermal processing of vanadate NScs. The newly synthesized NSs are well dispersed and have a 4 nm average thickness
Swamp Hell
Get PDFAfter her brother\u27s mysterious disappearance in the Louisiana swamp, a young woman goes to hell and back to uncover the truth. Does she live in a sundown town or is it something much more sinister? This 90 – minute supernatural thriller blends the tale of Eurydice, with the folklore of swamp monsters, and the horrors of racism
A Phenomenological Study of Principals’ Perceptions of Instructional Leadership in the Context of Mandated Teacher Evaluation
Get PDFThe literature on instructional leadership includes the practices in which principals can engage (Stein & Nelson, 2003) and discusses how the principal’s leadership practices can be mediated by the teacher observation tool within the teacher evaluation system (Spillane, Halverson, & Diamond, 2001). However, the literature includes less about how and why leaders enact those instructional leadership practices (Spillane et al., 2001; Spillane, 2006) and how the teacher evaluation tool might or might not be influencing that how and why. The purpose of this qualitative study is to produce a description of how principals perceive the instructional leadership they provide teachers in the context of mandated teacher evaluation. Ten participants from two school districts participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Three themes emerged from the data: the complexity of instructional leadership, the challenges of accountability, and the desire for more time. These findings were connected to the literature and the Instructional Management Framework (1987)
Tools for Predicting Emulsification Capacity of Crude Oil Exposed to Sunlight: Impact of Photoproduced Carboxylic Acids on Emulsion Stability
Get PDFThe role of acids in the formation of emulsions from sunlight exposed petroleum is not well understood. To elucidate the impact of sunlight on the formation of emulsions from petroleum, Macondo, its surrogate and NIST 1619b and 2717a were separately exposed to simulated sunlight for up to 48 hours as a film dispersed into a quartz dish, or a film spread on water. Emulsion stability was scored from 0-5. All exposures demonstrated a correlation between emulsion stability and sunlight exposure with no observable emulsification in absence of photoproduction due to sunlight exposure. Aqueous studies of DOCHC (dissolved organic carbon produced from the partitioning of hydrocarbons from oil into the water) via TOC, fluorescence, conductivity, and pH probes revealed the impact of photopartitioning on emulsification capacity such that emulsion stabilities of sunlight exposed oil on water increased with conductivity. The pH of DOCHC decreased with shifts toward higher wavelengths in fluorescence excitation and emission as larger, more highly oxidized photoproducts partitioned into the water. Since conductivity is dependent upon hydrogen ion concentration in pure water, a bottle test for petroleum emulsion stability was used to investigate the impact of carboxylic acids on emulsion stability. Findings demonstrated that emulsion formation was inhibited in absence of photoproduced carboxylic acids. Studies in which oil volume was kept constant, while acid concentration was varied between 0 and 1 molar were conducted in absence of sunlight. High concentrations of straight chain alkyl acids or branched alkyl acids formed weak emulsions while cyclic aromatic acids produced moderate to strong emulsions at lower concentrations. Solid phase extraction of irradiated oil and subsequent MAPS (modified aminopropyl silica) fractionation demonstrated a correlation between emulsion stability, aromaticity, and the mass of extracted acids since larger aromatic acids formed stronger emulsions than did smaller saturated acids. The impact of photoproduced acids on the emulsion stability of sunlight exposed petroleum highlights the significance of carboxylic acids to the formation of emulsions from oil spilt in the environment since carboxylic acids support emulsion stability. Consequently, further investigation of the impact of photoproduced carboxylic acids on the fate spilt oil is required
Supernova
Get PDFFilm making is the one of the only creative outlets that has the ability to encompass the past, present, and future. Supernova, specifically is a piece that is a reflection of the black community. The story is an analysis of the family structure, privilege, and colorism. Beyond the audience\u27s interpretation of the story, film making is a gateway to spiritual enlightenment of the inner soul for artists. The product upon completion may not be critically acclaimed. However, it is the take away as an artist that has the most meaning for passion projects
Repeated Boat Noise Exposure Damages Inner Ear Sensory Hair Cells and Decreases Hearing Sensitivity In Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias Undulatus)
Get PDFVideo Games, Grief, and the Character LINK System
Get PDFGrief can encompass more than just the loss of real-life people. It can be felt with the loss of a pet, changes in daily structure, and even the loss of video game characters. The topic of grief related to video games and video game characters comes at a time when games as a service (GaaS) continue to increase in popularity and the phenomenon where these games also inevitably terminate service. To combat this unique form of grief, the Character LINK System was created as a tool that uses simple natural language processing (NLP) techniques to offer support to the bereaved by way of a shared roleplaying experience that is noninvasive but still therapeutic and allows the bereaved to begin to heal. Users of the system expressed being interested even in topics or games they’d never known about previously and a willingness to connect with the bereaved in their grief