bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Low Density Bi-2223 Superconductors via Co-Precipitation Method
Authors: Syuhaida I.N. , Azhan H. , Azman K. , Azura C.M.N. , Robaiah M.
Published: June 2015

High temperature Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca2Cu3Oδ of low density has been synthesized via co-precipitation method and its electrical and structural properties have been studied. The optimum porosity of the samples was obtained using variety amount of sucrose C12H22O11 which is used as supplementary filler. The electrical properties of superconductor such as critical temperature, Tc and critical current density, Jc were determined using the four-probe method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the structural properties of the samples. The density of samples was measured using densitometer. The obtained results have revealed a significant influence of the pore presence in superconducting samples on the electrical properties. The Tc for low density Bi-2223 with 0.1g sugar sucrose is much higher compared to 0.05g, 0.15g and standard sample which is Tc zero is 98 K. The Jc for low density Bi-2223 with 0.1g sugar sucrose is 6 A/cm2 at 60 K which is higher than high density samples. The crystallographic structure remains in the tetragonal form where a=b≠c for all samples.
The Influence of Sintering Time in High and Low Density Bi-2223 Superconductor
Authors: Robaiah M. , Azhan H. , Azman K. , Syuhaida I.N. , Azura C.M.N. , Mustaqim M.M.
Published: June 2015

The effects of sintering time in high and low density Bi-2223 phase formation have been investigated. The samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method at various sintering times ranging from 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Sucrose was added during palletization and after heated at 400°C for two hours the sucrose was removed and hence low density sample was created. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and critical current density. The transition temperature varies between 102 K and 96 K with increasing of sintering times. The optimal sintering time of the samples Bi-2223 system was found at 850°C for 72 hours. The critical current density, JC of high density and low density Bi-2223 was measured to be 7.547 A/cm2 and 8.333 A/cm2 respectively at 77 K under zero magnetic field. The critical current density, JC and superconductivity transition temperature, TC of low density were found to be higher than the pure samples. The critical transition temperature increased with a short gap between TConset and TC zero. The most intense peak in the XRD pattern of sample at sintering time 72 hours belong to the high-TC phase which also indicates an increase in the volume fraction of the high-TC phase with optimum sintering time.
Effect of Duty Cycle on Pulse Electrodeposited Tin Seleno Telluride Semiconductor Thin Film
Authors: Chia Chew Ping , Zainal Zulkarnain , Sulaiman Yusran , Chang Sook Keng
Published: June 2015

Tin seleno telluride thin film was deposited by pulse electrodeposition onto fluorine doped tin oxide coated glass from aqueous solution containing Sn-EDTA, Na2SeO3 and TeO2. The sample was deposited at a potential of-0.40 V vs Ag/AgCl with various duty cycle between 10% to 90% followed by annealing under nitrogen gas at 250°C for 30 minutes. The crystalline structure, morphology and photoresponse of the thin film was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and linear sweep photovoltammetry techniques. The XRD pattern shows polycrystalline cubic structure of SnSe0.4Te0.6 for film deposited at 50% duty cycle. The domain peak at 2θ=28.82o shows a high intensity and a better photoresponse due to the small crystalline size. The tin seleno telluride thin film reflects the loose short rod type aggregates at 10%-50% duty cycle and dendritic structure was formed at deposition of 75% and above. The deposited tin seleno telluride is a p-type semicoductor and the band gap was found to be 1.60 eV with direct transition.
Effect of Morphology on SnO2/MWCNT-Based DSSC Performance with Various Annealing Temperatures
Authors: Mahalingam Savisha , Abdullah Huda , Omar Azimah , Md Nawi Nurul Ain , Shaari Sahbudin , Muchtar Andanastuti , Asshari Izamarlina
Published: June 2015

Development of tin/multi-walled carbon nanotube (SnO2/MWCNTs) thin films were prepared by sol-gel method. The synthesis of tin oxide (SnO2) was carried out by dissolving tin (II) chloride (SnCl3) in a solvent of 2-methoxyethanol. Different annealing temperatures of 400 °C, 450 °C, 500 °C, 550 °C and 600 °C were proposed in this study. The changes in the structural properties were analyzed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. AFM results indicated very rough surface area of SnO2/MWCNTs thin films where roughness values increased linearly from 1.8 nm to 11 nm by increasing the annealing temperatures from 400 °C to 600 °C. The SnO2/MWCNTs-based DSSC exhibited good photovoltaic performance with power conversion efficiency (η), photocurrent density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF) of 0.62 %, 5.6 mA cm-2, 0.55 V and 0.65 respectively. The obtained structural and photovoltaic performance analysis was proposed as a suitable benchmark for Sn/MWCNTs based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application.
Effect of RF Power on the Chemical Bonding and Humidity Sensing Properties of a-CNx Thin Films
Authors: Aziz N.F.H. , Ritikos Richard , Kamal S.A.A. , Azman N.I. , Awang Rozidawati
Published: June 2015

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CNx) thin films were deposited using radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (rf-PECVD) technique. A set of a-CNx thin films were prepared using pure methane (CH4) gas diluted with nitrogen (N2) gas. The rf power was varied at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 W. The characterization techniques used were Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Humidity sensing properties of the a-CNx thin films were investigated by recording their electrical response to relative humidity (RH) at room temperature. Chemical bonding analysis clearly showed the presence of nitrile bands in the deposited films. The FESEM images of the films show a porous, granule-like and dendritic morphology. The average resistance of the a-CNx thin film is changed from 23.7 kΩ to 5.8 kΩ in the range of 5 to 95%RH. The films show a good response and repeatability as a humidity sensing materials. This work showed that rf power has a significant effects on the chemical bonding, morphology and electrical properties of the a-CNx films.
Naphthoyl-Thiourea Thin Film as Potential OLED Featuring Methyl Pyridine Moiety
Authors: Khairul Wan Mohd , Jasman Siti Maryam , Tagg Tei , Kubulat K.
Published: June 2015

Thiourea derivatives have attracted great attention as potential materials to be used in molecular electronics application due to their fairly rigid p-system properties. Thus, in this study N-((6-metylpyridin-3-yl)carbamothioyl)-1-naphtamide (NT) has been successfully designed, synthesized and characterized by typical spectroscopic techniques namely Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), UV-Vis, Four Point Probe to measure its conductivity and finally ab initio quantum mechanical evaluation at the theoretical level of DFT B3LYP/6-31G (d,p). In turn, NT was coated on the ITO substrate by using electrochemical deposition method. The electrical conductivity of this compound as a thin film exhibited good and ideal result which was 1.7x10-4Scm-1. Owing to this outstanding result, this single molecular system candidate has wide possibilities to be applied in many molecular rectification applications such as Organic Light Emitting diodes (OLED). Further investigation can be carried out by conducting and analyse the I-V curve to measure the efficiency of this compound and other similar molecular frameworks in the near future.
Synthesis and Characterization of PVA-Ag Doped Metals (Co, Al) Nanocomposite Thin Films Biosensors for Detection of E. coli in Water
Authors: Mohammad Naim Norshafadzila , Abdullah Huda , Noor Azmy Noor Azwen , Abdul Hamid Aidil , Yarmo Mohd Ambar , Ali Umar Akrajas , Shaari Sahbudin , Wan Mokhtar Wan Hanna Melini , Osman Zurina
Published: June 2015

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped with Ag thin films were synthesized from aqueous solution via sol gel method. The nanoparticle of silver was synthesized by chemical reduction using hydrazine hydrate. PVA-Ag thin films were deposited on the glass substrate by spin coating technique. Samples were varied with different combinations of metals such as Ag-Co and Ag-Al. The solutions and the films were characterized by using XRD, UV-Visible spectroscopy, AFM and TEM. XRD analysis indicates the formation of the single crystal Ag, Co and Al nanoparticles laid on (111) lattice planes. The crystallite sizes decrease when Co and Al are added to the PVA-Ag. UV-Vis absorption spectra confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles in the PVA matrix and the resonance plasmon band located at 417, 421 and 429 nm. Surface roughness of PVA-Ag nanocomposite thin film increased with the addition of Co and Al. TEM images show the non-agglomerated spherical particles in all samples. The performance of the sensor has been fabricated using I-V measurement with and without incubated the sensor electrode into E. coli. The result shows PVA-Ag nanocomposite thin film performed the higher sensitivity.
Evaluation of Bulk Etch Rate of Solid State Nuclear Track Detector CR-39
Authors: Al-Hamzawi Anees A. , Jaffar M.S. , Tawfiq Nada F. , Aswood Murtadha Sh.
Published: June 2015

In the current study, the bulk etch rate VB of solid state nuclear track detectors SSNTDs CR-39 have been examined at different concentrations of NaOH solution ranged from 4N to 8N and different temperatures of NaOH solution (50, 60, 70, 80 °C) for various time intervals of etching (1-10 h); this is done by determination of mass variation via etching time. The results indicate that the bulk etch rate VB increases with the increase of etchant solution concentration and the temperature of solution. This can be attributed to the increase the thickness of the removed layers h of the detector.
Corrosion Behavior of Fe-12Cr-2Mo Stainless Steel in Na2SO4-50%NaCl with Flowing Ar-20%O2 Environments at High Temperature
Authors: Sahri Muhamad Izhar , Othman Norinsan Kamil , Daud Abdul Razak , Jalar Azman
Published: June 2015

The behavior of Fe-12Cr-2Mo stainless steel exposed isothermally in tube furnace at 700°C for 10 h had been studied in different environments; of mixed environment (Ar-20%O2 with coated Na2SO4-50%NaCl salts), molten salt (Na2SO4-50%NaCl) and dry oxygen (Ar-20%O2) atmospheres. The exposed samples were characterized by using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicated that, sample exposed in mixed environments undergoes highest corrosion rate compared with other samples. The main phase exists in all samples generally were iron-rich oxides which non-protective and thick. Conversely, EDX analysis on cross-sectional samples revealed the Cr-enrichment developed underneath the iron-rich oxide scales as the chromium concentration increases towards near the substrate. In presence of salt mixture, the oxide scales undergo spallation, however there is no crack observed. The catastrophic corrosion sample was occurred in combined environment due to the oxidation induced by the chloridation and sulfidation phenomena as well.
Effect of Calcination Temperature on Metal Oxides and their Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Nadarajan Renugambaal , Wan Abu Bakar Wan Azelee , Ali Rusmidah
Published: June 2015

The effects of calcination temperature on the microstructures and photocatalytic activity of sol-gel synthesized TiO2, WO3, SnO2 and ZnO metal oxides were investigated. The synergistic effect of the phase structure, surface area, and crystallinity of the photocatalysts after calcination and on the photocatalytic activity was investigated. 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) was used as a model contaminant in this study. The highest photocatalytic activity was obtained using TiO2 calcined at 900oC with large particle size, could be ascribed to the enhancement by the presence of defect site. Similarly, WO3 calcined at 900oC exhibited the best photocatalytic activity in the series of calcination temperature ranging from 400-1000oC. SnO2 calcined at 800oC showed the best photocatalytic activity while ZnO was found to give the lowest percent of DCB degradation. In this study, sudden increase in the surface area at higher temperature was correlated with the enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of each catalyst.
Characteristics of Porous Sb-Doped Barium Titanate Ceramics Fabricated by Adding Graphite
Authors: Ayub Nurafizalwani , Omar Ramli , Deraman Mohamad , Abutalib Ibrahim , Zainuddin Zalita , Abdul Aziz Atiqah
Published: June 2015

Porous Sb-doped barium titanate (Sb-BaTiO3) ceramics were fabricated by adding various amounts of graphite powders. The density, structure, microstructure, porosity and electrical resistivity of the porous Sb-BaTiO3 ceramics produced without and with graphite were investigated. All the sintered ceramics showed a tetragonal perovskite structure, irrespective of the amount of graphite added. The porosity of the ceramics increased and the grain size decreased with increasing graphite addition which mainly due to the exothermic reactions of the graphite and oxygen molecules in the ceramics. The prepared porous Sb-BaTiO3 ceramics exhibit PTCR behavior where the PTCR jump of the ceramics with graphite was about 103 which is higher than that of the ceramics without graphite. The increasing in the PTCR jump with increasing graphite addition was attributed mainly due to the increase in the electrical barrier height of grain boundaries and the porosity. It was found that the graphite is an effective pore forming agent for fabricating porous BaTiO3-based ceramics.
Comparative Study Based on Activation Procedure Using Air and Nitrogen Gas to Synthesis Nanoparticles Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Abie Jamil Arvyvie , Idris Rubia , Asik Jahimin A. , Bernard Brian Brandon , Gindana Bryan , Tan Florinna
Published: June 2015

Cu nanoparticles on Al2O3 catalyst were prepared via impregnation method and two different activation conditions were examined. The morphology of the catalyst has been characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); while, the crystallography was determined by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal stability of the catalyst was analysed by using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Overall, from the XRD pattern, it was revealed that the nanoparticles Cu catalyst produced in air and nitrogen conditions is CuO and Cu active phase. At 400°C under air condition, the crystal size of CuO produced are in between 23.57 and 23.61 nm, while in nitrogen condition the crystal size was 30.24 to 30.31 nm. These results indicate that the size of the Cu nanoparticles catalyst produced under nitrogen flow was slightly bigger compared to air conditions. The results were further confirmed using SEM image in which catalyst activation under nitrogen flow has produced abundance microcrystal structure than under air condition. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of the nano-Cu catalyst shows that the both activation procedure was a single stage of thermal degradation at 260°C.
Blocking Properties of Superparamagnetic Magnetite Nanoparticles and Gold/Superparamagnetic Magnetite Composite Nanoparticles
Authors: Sodipo Bashiru Kayode , Aziz Azlan Abdul
Published: June 2015

The UV and IR block properties of superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (SPMN) and SPMN/gold composite nanoparticles are investigated. The composite nanoparticles were prepared via sonochemical assisted reduction of gold precursor and deposition of gold nanoparticles (GNP) on amine functionalized SPMN. Protective properties of the SPMN and the composite nanoparticles were demonstrated via spectrophotometer measurements. Unlike in the visible and infrared region, there was 0% transmission of radiation through bare SPMN in the UV region. The presence GNP in the composites nanoparticles affects the protecting properties of the SPMN with almost 40% transmission in the UV region. The SPMN/GNP composite nanoparticles were able to block some radiation in the visible region. On the other hand, there was nearly uniform 90% and continuous transmission of infrared rays in naked SPMN and SPMN/GNP composite nanoparticles, respectively.
Conduction Mechanism of Enhanced CMC-NH4Br Biopolymer Electrolytes
Authors: Samsudin A.S. , Isa M.I.N.
Published: June 2015

This study deals with the ionic conduction mechanism of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) – NH4Br biopolymer electrolytes (BPEs) plasticized with ethylene carbonate (EC) prepared via solution-casting technique. The ionic conductivity of BPEs system was characterized by using impedance spectroscopy and shows the highest conductivity at ambient temperature for CMC–NH4Br BPEs is 1.12 x 10-4S/cm and enhanced to 3.31 x 10-3S/cm with the addition of 8 wt. % EC. The conductivity–temperature plot of the BPEs system obeys Arrhenius law whereR2~1. The dielectric values were found to increase with increasing temperature thus divulged that the BPEs system to be non-Debye type. The temperature dependence of the power law exponent shows the CMC–NH4Br–EC BPEs system follows the quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) model of conduction mechanism, where the enhanced protonation of NH4Br with addition of EC makes the charge transfer (polarons) able to tunnel through the potential barrier that exists between the lone pair electrons in carboxyl group of CMC and NH4Br.
Glucose-Reduced MnO2/Graphene Composites Electrode for Supercapacitor
Authors: Kamisan Ainnur Sherene , Kamisan Ainnur Izzati , Al-Irsyad Tunku Kudin Tunku Ishak , Ali Ab Malik Marwan , Hassan Oskar Hasdinor , Yahya Muhd Zu Azhan
Published: June 2015

Green composites of Glucose-reduced graphene oxide (GrGO) and manganese (IV) oxide (MnO2) were prepared in a typical chemical synthesis route assisted with ultrasonic irradiation. Conductivity studies conducted via 2-point probe method shows GrGO/MnO2(4:1) possessed electrical conductivity of 30.29 S cm-1with energy band gap of 8.47×10-1eV. The increase of D/G intensity ratio of GrGO with increase MnO2loading indicates more disorder carbon or defects are introduced from the reaction of carbon with MnO4-.
Various Flow Regimes and Permeabilities for Packed-Spheres Porous Media
Authors: Bağcı Özer , Dukhan Nihad , Özdemir Mustafa
Published: June 2015

Flow in porous media occurs in many naturally-occurring and engineered systems. One of the key properties for understanding the fluid flow and pressure drop in porous media is permeability, which is varies widely among researchers. The current work presents systematic experimental data for packed spheres of uniform size (3 mm) having a porosity of 36.6% subjected to water flow. The experiments covered a sufficiently broad range of flow Reynolds number such that all flow regimes are encountered: pre-Darcy, Darcy, Forchheimer and Turbulent. The pre-Darcy regime is very scarce or non-present in the literature. As a necessary initial step, flow regimes were identified and different permeabilities exhibited by the porous medium in each flow regime were calculated. The length scales in defining the Reynolds number included the diameter of the sphere and the square root of the various permeabilities in order to study the transitional Reynolds numbers among the flow regimes. It is shown that the permeability in the Darcy regime is most appropriate and produces results consistent with accepted understanding in the literature of porous media.
Morphological Evolution in Heteroepitaxial Thin Film Structures at the Nanoscale
Authors: Grekov Mikhail A. , Kostyrko Sergey A.
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study is to resolve the phenomenon of formation of mesoscopic structures on the surface of heteroepitaxial thin film system due to surface diffusion by considering the effects of both surface and interface stresses. Elastic stress field caused by curved surface is solved by using the constitutive equations of linear elasticity for the bulk and surface phases. Based on the method of superposition, a boundary perturbation technique, Goursat-Kolosov complex potentials and Muskhelishvili representations, the boundary value problem is reduced to the successive solution of a system of singular and hypersingular integral equations for any order of approximation. This solution and thermodynamic approach allows us to derive a governing equation which gives the amplitude changing of a surface roughness with time.
Non-Destructive Evaluation Methods of Materials and Structures
Authors: Chilibon Irinela
Published: June 2015

This paper presents some non-destructive evaluation methods of materials and structures, such as: pulse method, resonance method, direct measurement of the propagation velocity, pulse-echo method, impact-echo method, acoustic emission evaluation, interferometry and infrared thermography. The methods are suitable for non-metallic materials, with rugged and non-homogeneous structure, high attenuation coefficients for ultrasound propagation waves into materials, composites multilayer structures, etc. Some relevant measurement parameters are presented too.
Effect of Ultrasonic Nanocrytalline Surface Modification on Hardness and Microstructural Evolution of Cu-Sn Alloy
Authors: Li Ke Jian , He Yin Sheng , Cho In Shik , Shin Kee Sam
Published: June 2015

In this study, a Cu-Sn sintered bronze, used largely for con-rod bushing and automotive transmission, was treated by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM). Then, Vickers hardness and microstructural evolution of the treated region were investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The hardness of the treated surface doubled, which is attributed to the developed of nanoscale grains, deformation twins, and high density of dislocations induced by the UNSM. Microstructural modification beneath the UNSM treated surface was typically characterized with increase of the depth: (i) nanoscale grains (top surface), (ii) intersection of deformation twins (~30 μm), (iii) high density nanoscale twin/matrix lamellae (~50 μm), (iv) interception of micro band and deformation twins (~100 μm), (v) dislocation arrays (~200 μm), (vi) low density dislocations (~300 μm) and (vii) pre-existing coarse grains and annealing twins in unaffected region (400 μm ~deeper).
Physical and Chemical Characterization of Raw and Mechanochemically Treated Humine and Humic Acid from Brown Coals
Authors: Karabaev S. , Kharchenko A. , Lokshina I. , Gainullina I. , Dzhunushalieva A. , Lugovskoy Svetlana , Pendin A.
Published: June 2015

Comparable analysis of the morphology of surface, IR-spectra and X-ray spectroscopy of source and mechanochemical dispersed samples of humic acid and humine of Kara-Keche coal has been made. Selective adsorption of ferricinium cation from water solutions of perchloric acid on the source and mechanochemical dispersed samples of humic acid and humine of Kara-Keche coal has been established.
Microgeometry Modelling of Magnesium Alloy Polished Surfaces by Means of Cone-Based Manifolds
Authors: Golabczak Andrzej , Konstantynowicz Andrzej , Golabczak Marcin
Published: June 2015

In this paper a new methology for surface microgeometry modelling is presented, taking the surface of a polished magnesium alloy as an example . The proposed method essentially is based on the usage of the mathematical concept of the continuous non-differentiable manifold composed of cones. The cones’ aperture, eccentricity, height and angular orientation are model parameters, as well as the cones spread over the modelled surface. The spread of cones might be of very different nature ranging from simple deterministic patterns to purely random distribution accordingly to the theory of spatial point processes. The statistical parameters estimated in the model are: Rp, Rv, Rt, Ra, Rq, Rskew, Rkurt, the roughness distribution histogram and the bearing curve. The geometrical parameters are: surface area, surface development, surface capacity and volume. All of the computational methods have been carefully examined from the perspective of use on discrete grids. The simulated surfaces have been compared with experimental results obtained with the used AFM technique on samples of the polished AZ31 magnesium alloy. The very high level of conformity achieved between the results from the modeled surface and the experimentally obtained results gives us a promising prognosis for further use.
Gas- and Shrinkage Porosities in Al-Si High-Pressure Die-Castings - Virtualization and Experimental Validation
Authors: Ignaszak Zenon , Hajkowski Jakub
Published: June 2015

The porosity (void caused by technological reasons) in engineering materials always decrease their mechanical characteristics and usually affects the deterioration of the functional mechanical characteristics of the finished products. In the castings the porosity resulting from the specific casting processes phenomena occurs inevitably in the matrix structure. The paper shows this problem in relation to the High-Pressure-Die-Casting (HPDC) technology of Al-Si alloy. The analysis of the experimental results and the results from virtualization of HPDC process allowed to assess the effectiveness of this mixed scenario and improve the quality predictions probability for HPDC, with particular consideration of shrinkage and gas porosities. The problem of the tolerance (admissibility) of porosity occurrence in castings and the castings made of liquid Al-Si alloy to which the gas (hydrogen) was introduced intentionally are signalized.
Subsurface stratigraphy and structure of Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Waterton-Castle River area, Alberta
Authors: Havard C J
Published: June 2015

Subsurface mechanical logs and samples of the Lower Cretaceous were studied to gain an under­standing of the sediments and fault geometry which would enable the construction of a palin­spastic base. Thicknesses of the various units within the Blairmore Group and
the Crowsnest Formation are presented on a base which approximates the position of the original sedi­mentary wedge. The restoration of faulted subsurf ace sections in the Pincher·creek, Lookout Butte, and Waterton gas fields has provided inform­ation on the nature of the Blairmore Group and the
Crowsnest Formation. The non-marine Blairmore Group is generally thin to the east and thickest in the western part of the area studied, but shows great irregularity in thickness over most of the area.
Stratigraphy, sedimentology and palynology of the Kootenay-Blairmore transition in southwestern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia
Authors: Ricketts B D , Sweet A R
Published: June 2015

In the Kananaskis region, the transition between the Kootenay and Blairmore groups encompasses the Elk Formation and the overlying Pocaterra Creek Member of the Cadomin Formation. The Pocaterra Creek Member is not recognized in the Fernie region where the Elk
Formation is succeeded by undifferentiated conglomeratic strata of the Cadomin Formation. The Pocaterra Creek Member appears to be the same age as strata at the top of the Elk Formation in the Fernie area. Based on the microfloral assemblage, a Berriasian age was determined for this stratigraphie
interval. Based on sedimentological and palynological criteria, it is suggested that there is no discernible hiatus at the Kootenay-Blairmore transition at Coal Creek (Fernie Basin). Similarly, the transition at Mount Allan and Highwood Pass appears essentially conformable, although a hiatus between
the Pocaterra Creek Member and the Kootenay Group probably increases in magnitude southwards toward Cat Creek, where the Cadomin directly overlies Kootenay strata. At all of these localities, the Elk and Cadomin formations represent a northward prograding braid plain and alluvial fan, across which
coarse grained sediment was dispersed by braided rivers.
Surficial geology of Coats and Mansel islands, Northwest Territories
Authors: Aylsworth J M , Shilts W W
Published: June 2015

The surficial materials of Coats and Mansel islands fall into five genetic categories rock, till, glaciofluvial, marine, and alluvial sediments. Marine sediments, particularly nearshore sediments, are predominant and raised beaches comprise the most outstanding
landforms on these islands. Unusual transverse gravel bars that are oriented perpendicular to the shoreline on and around Mansel Island are the result of wave refraction initiated by local bedrock protuberances in the generally smooth, gently sloping, and isostatically emerging offshore bottom.
During most of the last glaciation ice flow was northeasterly across Coats Island and northerly across Mansel Island as ice moved out of Hudson Bay into Hudson Strait. Distribution of "dark" erratics from Quebec and "red" erratics from District of Keewatin indicates that Mansel Island was glaciated
exclusively by ice flowing away from the Quebec-Labrador Ice Divide and that Coats Island was glaciated by ice flowingfrom the Keewatinlce Divide. At least once Labrador ice encroached on Coats Island. The contact between Keewatin and Labrador ice lay between Coats and Mansel islands, sometimes
overlapping onto Coats Island as the relative strength of the two ice masses waxed and waned. Petrological evidence suggests that similar ice flow conditions may have existed during earlier glaciations as well. Deglaciation began with the opening of a marine reentrant between Coats and Mansel
islands, leading to drastic shifts in ice flow directions due to the drawdown effect of this reentrant. Most of the area was submerged during deglaciation. As one of the first areas in Hudson Bay region to be deglaciated, the relatively low elevation of marine limit ( 124 m) on northeastern Coats
Island implies that the Laurentide Ice Sheet was thln near the outlet of Hudson Bay prior to deglaciation.
Gisements ferrifères situés près de la Baie d'Ungava, Québec
Authors: Gross G A
Published: June 2015

Les gisements de fer des environs de la baie d'Ungava appartiennent à la partie septentrionale de la bande de roches protérozoïques qui forme le géosynclinal du Labrador. Le long des limites occidentale et septentrionale du géosynclinal,
les roches de cette bande recouvrent en discordance des gneiss et du granite. Quant au Centre et au Sud-Est, elles y sont hautement métamorphisées. La formation ferrifère se trouve surtout à la bordure occidentale et du côte Nord-Est du géosynclinal, elle fait partie
d'une série de roches sédimentaires qui, suivant l'ordre ascendant, se compose de schiste micacé, de quartzite, de la formation ferrifère, d'ardoise et argilite noires, de dolomie et de phyllite. Dans la partie orientale de la région, ces sédiments sont inter
stratifiés avec des roches volcaniques, et ii y a intrusion de diabase, de gabbro et de roches ultramafiques. Les structures locales et la stratigraphique de la formation ferrifère sont décrites avec assez de détails dans le cas des principales régions ou l'on a examiné
des gites de fer, soit, au sud du lac Leaf, dans la région du lac Ford à l'ouest de la baie Hopes Advance, dans la région située au sud de la baie Pay ne, et dans la région du lac Roberts au nord de la baie Payne. Les gisements de fer de ces régions représentent
des zones particulières métamorphisées de la formation ferrifère. Dans ces zones, le grain est relativement grossier et la formation ferrifère est composée d'hématite spéculaire, magnétite, et quartz, et de quartz à magnétite. Ces associations
peuvent être enrichies de façon a produire des concentres de minerai de fer de haute qualité. Le niveau de l'oxyde de fer de la formation ferrifère représente ce qui pourrait devenir du minerai de fer, et on lui donne le nom de metataconite. L'épaisseur de ce niveau
varie de 50 a plus de 200 pieds, et, là ou ii y a répétition du niveau due à des failles de pousse ou des plis Serres, ii forme de gros gites de fer au sein de certaines masses tectoniques. L'auteur décrit les caractéristiques textuaires et métamorphiques de la
formation ferrifère et les autres caractéristiques géologiques qui ont de l'importance pour l'évaluation économique et la mise en valeur possible de ces gisements de minerai de fer. Dans la région située au sud de la baie Payne, le volume de minerai reconnu se
chiffre par plus d'un milliard (1,000 millions) de tonnes de minerai brut, d'une teneur qui varie de 24.5 à 35.5 p. 100 en fer. De plus, les travaux géologiques et géophysiques ont indiqué la présence possible d'un autre milliard de tonnes, et l'on peut supposer qu'il existe
encore d'autres forts quantiles de minerai.
Spiritwood Buried Valley 3D geological modelling - part of a multidisciplinary aquifer characterization workflow
Authors: Logan C E , Hinton M J , Sharpe D
R , Oldenborger G A , Russell H A
J , Pugin A J -M
Published: June 2015

A three dimensional (3D) digital geological model of the Spiritwood buried-valley aquifer complex in southwestern Manitoba is developed to support quantitative hydrogeological modelling. The model maps the bedrock surface and delineates the various
hydrostratigraphic units in three-dimensions. The model is based on borehole logs, surficial geological maps, a helicopter time-domain electromagnetic (HTEM) survey covering 1062 km2 as well as 63.5 line-km of high-resolution seismic reflection (HRSR) profiles. A 3360 km2 model area was selected
within a larger data capture area of ~12000 km2. The methodologies used for preparing and interpreting various subsurface datasets to construct the geological model are presented. The 3D geological surfaces were modelled using Leapfrog Hydro software. Multiple episodes of glacial erosion and
sedimentation superimposed on a broad pre-glacial bedrock valley have resulted in a complex configuration of buried channels and valleys. The bedrock surface shows major erosional features: i) the broad Spiritwood buried valley, ii) deep valleys incised into shale bedrock within the broad Spiritwood
buried valley, iii) narrow, steep-sided valleys both within and outside the broad buried valley, and iv) the modern Souris and Pembina river valleys. This bedrock surface detail is only possible because of the spatial continuity of the geophysical data sets and could not have been practically
obtained from borehole records alone. The geological model includes 13 hydrostratigraphic units including sandstone, unfractured and fractured shale bedrock, 3 coarse sediment aquifers, 4 till units and 3 thin, near-surface units. Coarse sediment aquifers include the deep buried-valley aquifer,
deep sands and gravels both within and outside the broad buried valley and inter-till aquifers at variable depths throughout the model. The model indicates potential hydraulic connections from surface recharge to the deep buried-valley aquifer and for discharge from the deep buried-valley aquifer to
streams. Two digital versions of the model are provided - a 'view-only' format accessible with the freely available Leapfrog Viewer and a Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) that can be imported to many 3D modelling applications.
Levelling utilities
Authors: Dumont R , Bardossy Z
Published: June 2015

A series of GX utilities for Geosoft's Oasis Montaj software have been developed to facilitate the levelling of magnetic airborne survey data. The utilities and method described in this document are based on the principle of minimizing the tie line and traverse
line intersection differences. A Geosoft intersection database is used as the input source to TIELEV.GX which applies a low-pass filter to the mis-tied values along the tie lines. The GX, LOADLEV.GX, then loads the levelling corrections to the tie lines and traverse lines into the main
database.
The need for a Rehabilitation Model to address the disparities of public healthcare for people living with HIV in South Africa
Authors: Chetty Verusia , Hanass-Hancock Jill
Published: June 2015

Rehabilitation in the context of HIV management in Africa is still a neglected field which holds great promise for the improvement of the quality of life as well as integration of people living with HIV back into their communities and homes. However, rehabilitation has not been incorporated into HIV care despite the fact that a large number of people living with HIV experience disability. The dearth of literature and lack of models of care to roll out rehabilitation for people living with HIV in Africa are astounding. Well-resourced countries have emerging approaches on the management of disability in the context of HIV. However, epidemic countries are still lacking such an approach neglecting the devastating effects of disability on individual livelihoods and antiretroviral treatment adherence. Thus, rehabilitation needs to be integrated into the response to HIV. This article advocates for the development and implementation of a model of care to guide rehabilitation of people living with HIV in South Africa.
Agrammatic aphasia verb and argument patterns in Kiswahili-English spontaneous language
Authors: Sang Hillary K.
Published: June 2015

Background: The spontaneous and narrative language of Kiswahili agrammatic aphasic and non-brain-damaged speakers was analysed. The bilingual participants were also tested in English to enable comparisons of verb production in the two languages. The significance of this study was to characterise bilingual Kiswahili-English spontaneous agrammatic output. This was done by describing Kiswahili-English bilingual output data with a specific focus on the production of verbs. The description involves comparison of verb and argument production in Kiswahili and English. Methods and procedures: The participants recruited for this study were drawn from two groups of participants (six non-fluent aphasic/agrammatic speakers and six non-braindamaged). From each participant, a sample of spontaneous output was tape-recorded in English and Kiswahili based on the description and narration of the Flood rescue picture’ and the ‘Cookie theft picture’. The data elicited were compared for each subject and between the participants and relevant verb parameters have been analysed. The variables that were studied included mean length of utterance (MLU), inflectional errors, verb tokens and types, copulas and auxiliaries. Further, all verbs produced were classified as per their argument structure. Results: The results from English data supported previous findings on agrammatic output. The agrammatic participants produced utterances with shorter MLU and simpler sentence structure. However, Kiswahili data surprisingly showed reversed results, with agrammatic speakers producing longer utterances than non-brain-damaged (NBD) controls. The results also revealed selective impairment in some agrammatic speakers who made inflectional errors. The verb argument structure showed contrasting results, with agrammatic speakers preferring transitive verbs whilst the NBD speakers used more intransitive verbs.Conclusions: The study attempts for the first time to characterise English-Kiswahili bilingual spontaneous and narrative output. A quantitative analysis of verb and argument production is conducted. The results of the English data are consistent with those in the literature; agrammatic speakers produce utterances with shorter MLU and simpler sentence structure. However, Kiswahili data reveals a surprisingly reversed pattern most notably with respect to MLU with agrammatics producing longer utterances than NBD controls. Argument structure analysis revealed that agrammatics used more transitive verbs than intransitives.
Bioinformatics Data Mining Approach Suggests Coexpression of AGTPBP1 with an ALS-linked Gene C9orf72
Authors: Kitano Shouta , Kino Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Yoji , Takitani Mika , Miyoshi Junko , Ishida Tsuyoshi , Saito Yuko , Arima Kunimasa , Satoh Jun-Ichi
Published: June 2015

Background

Expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeats located in the noncoding region of the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 ( C9orf72) gene represent the most common genetic abnormality for familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Formation of nuclear RNA foci, accumulation of repeat-associated non-ATG-translated dipeptide-repeat proteins, and haploinsufficiency of C9orf72 are proposed for pathological mechanisms of C9ALS/FTD. However, at present, the physiological function of C9orf72 remains largely unknown.

Methods

By searching on a bioinformatics database named COXPRESdb composed of the comprehensive gene coexpression data, we studied potential C9orf72 interactors.

Results

We identified the ATP/GTP binding protein 1 ( AGTPBP1) gene alternatively named NNA1 encoding a cytosolic carboxypeptidase whose mutation is causative of the degeneration of Purkinje cells and motor neurons as the most significant gene coexpressed with C9orf72. We verified coexpression and interaction of AGTPBP1 and C9orf72 in transfected cells by immunoprecipitation and in neurons of the human brain by double-labeling immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between AGTPBP1 and C9orf72 mRNA expression levels in the set of 21 human brains examined.

Conclusions

These results suggest that AGTPBP1 serves as a C9orf72 interacting partner that plays a role in the regulation of neuronal function in a coordinated manner within the central nervous system.
Milk losses and quality payment associated with somatic cell counts under different management systems in an arid climate
Authors: Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi A. , Amer P. R.
Published: June 2015

Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi, A. and Amer, P. R. 2015. Milk losses and quality payment associated with somatic cell counts under different management systems in an arid climate. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 351–360. The objectives of this research were (1) to estimate the economic benefits or new marketing opportunities due to a reduction in milk somatic cell count (SCC) for dairy producers through improved management practices and (2) to quantify the production loss associated with SCC under different management systems. A total of 38 530 average lactation SCC records for 10 216 Holstein cows gathered on 25 dairy farms from January 2009 to October 2012 in Isfahan (Iran) were analyzed under 13 types of herd management practices including 40 levels of health, milking and housing conditions. The results show that there are many well-established management practices associated with higher-quality payment for SCC that have not yet been applied in Isfahan dairy farms. The lowest and highest economic premium opportunity (US$) from SCC were estimated to be for production systems applying washable towels for teat cleaning (5.69) and production systems with no teat disinfection (31.07) per cow per lactation. Results indicate that any increase of one unit in average lactation somatic cell score is expected to cause a significant reduction in average lactation 305-d milk yield from 36.0 to 173.4 kg, depending on the level of management practices employed. In general, farmers with higher milk yield and well-managed practices for mastitis control would lose more milk when an increase occurs in SCC.
The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle economic performance in western Canada
Authors: Khakbazan Mohammad , Durunna Obioha N. , Sirski Tanis K. , Brewin Derek G. , Huang John , Berry Nathan , Iwaasa Alan D. , Scott Shannon L. , Robins Clayton D. , Block Hushton C. , Lardner Herbert A.
Published: June 2015

Khakbazan, M., Durunna, O. N., Sirski, T. K., Brewin, D. G., Huang, J., Berry, N., Iwaasa, A. D., Scott, S. L., Robins, C. D., Block, H. C. and Lardner, H. A. 2015. The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle economic performance in western Canada. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 475–486. The choice of calving date influences the net revenue of a calving operation as it affects the number of days that calves spend in each feeding phase and when they are subsequently marketed. These two factors determine the costs, revenue, and risk (variance) of each calving system for the calving phase of a beef system. The majority of cow–calf producers in western Canada have adopted early calving (EC) in spring due to management factors. However, late calving (LC) in the summer is an alternative beef calving system associated with higher returns due to lower system costs and higher beef prices. It may offer a better match between cow nutritional requirements and pasture availability. The objective of this study was to compare the revenues and risks for a traditional EC system and an alternative LC system at three sites in western Canada. Biological and economic data from three field experimental sites in western Canada (Brandon Research Centre in Manitoba, Western Beef Development Centre in Lanigan, Saskatchewan and Semi-Arid Prairie Agriculture Research Centre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan) were used to determine the costs and benefits of the alternative beef calving system. The results showed that even though the EC has higher cost than the LC, the EC is slightly better than LC in terms of higher net revenue potential, but it comes at a greater risk due to higher revenue variances. The EC system is usually more preferable for risk-neutral producers, whereas the LC system is more preferable for risk-averse producers.
Validation of molecular markers for marker-assisted pyramiding of white rust resistance loci in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)
Authors: Singh Binay K. , Nandan Divakar , Ambawat Supriya , Ram Bhagirath , Kumar Arun , Singh Tawar , Meena H. S. , Kumar Vinod , Singh V. V. , Rai P. K. , Singh Dhiraj
Published: June 2015

Singh, B. K., Nandan, D., Supriya, A., Ram, B., Kumar, A., Singh, T., Meena, H. S., Kumar, V., Singh, V. V., Rai, P. K. and Singh, D. 2015. Validation of molecular markers for marker-assisted pyramiding of white rust resistance loci in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 939–945. Successful application of molecular markers in marker-assisted pyramiding relies on effective determination of the target phenotype. In this respect, evaluation of the efficiency of markers for marker-assisted selection through cross-validation in different genetic backgrounds and in different populations is a crucial step. In the present study, the previously identified Arabidopsis-derived intron polymorphic (IP) markers At5g41560 and At2g36360, which were highly linked with AcB1-A4.1 and AcB1-A5.1, respectively, were validated in a set of 25 genotypes of Indian Mustard and in three different F2 populations. The relationships between the variation of PCR products of the two markers with the percent disease index (PDI) of the tested genotypes, and the co-segregation analysis of the markers with disease phenotype in F2 populations clearly indicated that At5g41560 and At2g36360 are genotype-nonspecific markers and are closely linked to white rust resistance loci AcB1-A4.1 and AcB1-A5.1, respectively. It also became evident from the present study that AcB1-A4.1 and an another white rust resistance locus Ac(2)t are likely the same gene locus.
Coleman hard red spring wheat
Authors: Spaner D. , Navabi A. , Strenzke K. , Iqbal M. , Beres B.
Published: June 2015

Spaner, D., Navabi, A., Strenzke, K., Iqbal, M. and Beres, B. 2015. Coleman hard red spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1037–1041. ‘Coleman’ hard red spring wheat is an awned, hollow-stemmed cultivar of high yield potential adapted to the wheat growing regions of western Canada. Averaged over 30 site-years, during 3 yr of testing in the Parkland Wheat Cooperative Registration Test (2010–2012), Coleman was higher yielding than Katepwa (8.5%) (P≤0.05), AC Splendor (5.8%) (P≤0.05), CDC Teal (2.1%) and CDC Osler (2%), exhibited maturity, height and lodging resistance similar to, or in the range of the checks, had higher test weights than the checks and showed good resistance to leaf, stem and stripe rust. Coleman exhibited Fusarium head blight resistance greater than and DON contamination levels lower than the check cultivars. Coleman exhibited susceptible reactions to common bunt and loose smut. End-use quality attributes of Coleman meet the specifications of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat market class.