Improvement in the methylene blue adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity of H2-reduced rutile-TiO2 caused by Ni(II)porphyrin preadsorption

in Applied Catalysis B : Environmental (2011), 106

H2-reduced rutile-TiO2 xerogel (Ti-700), obtained via the sol–gel process, was found to strongly adsorb the Ni(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (NiTCPP) from a methanolic solution ... [more ▼]

H2-reduced rutile-TiO2 xerogel (Ti-700), obtained via the sol–gel process, was found to strongly adsorb the Ni(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (NiTCPP) from a methanolic solution, despite its very low specific surface area (SBET ≈ 2 m2 g−1). UV/vis spectroscopy analysis showed that after calcination at 700 ◦C and reduction under H2 flow at 400 ◦C, the TiO2-xerogel increased its NiTCPP-adsorption capacity by surface area unit by up to 120 times. The effect of the porphyrin presence in the catalytic performances of TiO2-xerogels was studied through three kinetics models: (i) the pseudo-first-order kinetic model; (ii) the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which are used to describe the adsorption rate based on the adsorption capacity of the catalysts; and (iii) the Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model which is used to describe the photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue (MB). A significant improvement in the efficiency of Ti-700 was observed after the porphyrin-adsorption process (NiTCPP/Ti-700): MB-adsorption capacity at equilibrium and the apparent MB-photoconversion constant, kapp, of NiTCPP/Ti-700 were both up to 2 times higher than those observed for the Ti-700. [less ▲]

Improvement in Thixoforging of 7075 Aluminium Alloys at High Solid Fraction

in Solid State Phenomena (2008), 141-143

Thixoforging is a type of semi-solid metal processing at high solid fraction (0.5<1). 7075 aluminium alloys have been used as a feedstock for thixoforging in order to investigate thixoformability of a ... [more ▼]

Thixoforging is a type of semi-solid metal processing at high solid fraction (0.5<1). 7075 aluminium alloys have been used as a feedstock for thixoforging in order to investigate thixoformability of a high performance aluminium alloy at high solid fraction. Higher solid fraction of 7075 alloy is less sensitive to temperature, avoids metal splash at high speed and allows laminar flow at high speed. Hot tool combined with lubricant tool coating are used to slow down the solidification rate of the high solid fraction metal by decreasing thermal exchanges with the tool. Improved thermal and forming parameters [1-2] will be applied to produce an automotive component by thixoforging and mechanical properties have been measured from tensile samples. High mechanical properties are obtained after T6 thermal treatment. [less ▲]

Improvement of a syllabus on environmental protection designed for mineral and mining engineering students in Bulgaria

in 6th International auDes Conference Bridging Minds & Markets, Venice, 5 – 7 April 2001 (2001)

The University of Mining and Geology in Sofia as a unique academic Institution engaged in training graduates to work in the field of mining and geological prospecting faces the need for modification and ... [more ▼]

The University of Mining and Geology in Sofia as a unique academic Institution engaged in training graduates to work in the field of mining and geological prospecting faces the need for modification and updating its curriculum, for being able to meet the challenges of European educational standards like Institution accreditation, ECTS, etc. In a smaller scale, this is particularly relevant to the Department of Mineral Processing which is one of the largest Departments (in the University) and is engaged in training students for the entire raw materials (non-petroleum) industry: ores, coal and industrial minerals. Despite the drastic reduction in great number undergraduate specialisations, the specialization “Mineral Processing” remains in the Governmental Register released by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technologies. Therefore in this new situation, there is a necessity to verify and to parallel the existing syllabus to the one practiced in a similar Departments in the EU countries and more precisely to develop undergraduate and graduate courses to include risk and hazard assessment, environmental protection and related matters. [less ▲]

Improvement of autobiographical memory in schizophrenia patients

Poster (2006, September)

Improvement of Buildings' Structural Quality by New Technologies - Outcome of the Cooperative Activities within COST C12

Book published by A.A. Balkema Publishers (2005)

Improvement of culture condition of Tetrahymena rostrata (Protozoa) for Biomass and g linolenic production.

Poster (1988, July)

Improvement of fed batch mass culture for g linolenic biosynthesis by Tetrahymena rostrata (Protozoa).

in Biotechnology Letters (1989), 11(6), 423-426

Improvement of Gc-Rich Template Amplification by Inverse Pcr

in BioTechniques (1994), 17(2), 232-4

Improvement of He ion induced SiGe layer relaxation by a thin Si:C layer

Conference (2008)

Improvement of insulin-induced glucose disposal in obese patients with NIDDM after 1-wk treatment with d-fenfluramine.

in Diabetes Care (1991), 14(4), 325-32

OBJECTIVE: To study the short-term effects of the serotoninergic anorectic drug d-fenfluramine on insulin-induced glucose disposal. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized double-blind placebo ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To study the short-term effects of the serotoninergic anorectic drug d-fenfluramine on insulin-induced glucose disposal. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial with 1-wk treatment periods (2 x 15 mg/day d-fenfluramine) was conducted. Twenty obese subjects, 10 with normal oral glucose tolerance and 10 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), were all treated with a weight-maintaining diet. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic glucose clamps with measurement of glucose kinetics with D-[3-3H]glucose were performed at either two (patients without NIDDM, 0.05 and 0.10 U.kg-1.h-1) or three (patients with NIDDM, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 U.kg-1.h-1) insulin delivery rates. RESULTS: In the nondiabetic subjects, no significant changes in any metabolic or hormonal parameter were measured in the basal state or during the clamp despite a slight reduction in body weight (-1.2 +/- 0.5 kg, P less than 0.05). In the diabetic patients, no significant changes in body weight or basal plasma insulin levels were observed, but fasting blood glucose levels (8.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 9.4 +/- 1.1 mM, P less than 0.005) and plasma free fatty acid concentrations (1150 +/- 227 vs. 1640 +/- 184 microM, P less than 0.05) were significantly reduced after d-fenfluramine compared with placebo. During the clamp, insulin metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was similar after both placebo and d-fenfluramine; endogenous (hepatic) glucose production was similarly and almost completely suppressed, whereas glucose disposal was remarkably enhanced after d-fenfluramine (average increase of glucose MCR 35 +/- 12%, P less than 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Whatever the mechanism(s) involved, a 1-wk treatment with d-fenfluramine induces better blood glucose control and improves insulin sensitivity in obese patients with NIDDM independent of significant weight reduction; this last effect is not present in obese subjects with normal oral glucose tolerance. [less ▲]