Asian Journal of Physical and Chemical Sciences

The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements of Sol-gel synthesized ZnO, CuO and their respective hydrogenated phases (ZnO:H and CuO:H) for  a proton-type battery model has been reported for the first time. The XRD patterns confirmed that CuO and ZnO were phase pure with minor impurities. However, that of CuO:H showed mixed phases of CuO and Cu₂O with the later  appearing prominent. The estimated particle sizes of ZnO, ZnO:H, CuO and CuO:H obtained using Scherrers’ equation were 17.83, 17.75, 21.63 and 15.42 nm respectively, showing remarkable particle size reductions upon hydrogenation as oxygen vacancies were substituted with smaller hydrogen ions. Nyquist plots from the EIS experimental data recorded over a frequency range of 100 kHz – 5 mHz showed expected flat semicircles at the high frequency region and straight lines at the low frequency regions while resistance estimations from the intercepts of the Bode plots were 12.10, 7.80, 16.00 and 10.80 Ω for ZnO, ZnO:H, CuO and CuO:H respectively. It also indicated high gain margins suggesting impressive electrochemical properties for battery applications.

We report structure and electronic properties of Au-Pd, Au-Pt and Au-Ag bimetallic atomic chains absorbed on NiAl(110) and Cu(110) substrate. It is found that the presence of substrate significantly influences the electronic structure of the chains. Atoms of single chains of Au-Pd, Au-Pt and Au-Ag bind more strongly with Ni atoms of NiAl substrate, as compared with Cu atoms in Cu(110). The interaction between chain atoms is found stronger than the chain-substrate atoms, when chains are placed on Cu substrate, while it is other way round in case of chains on NiAl substrate. Effect of change in positions of atoms in bimetallic chains in presence of substrate is studied by placing double chains of Au-Pd, Au-Pt and Au-Ag on Cu (110) substrate in three different configurations. It is found that Au-Pd and Au-Pt bimetallic chains stabilize in double zigzag topology, when placed on Cu (110) substrate. While Au-Ag chains exhibit ladder topology on Cu(110) substrate. Ferromagnetism that is observed in ground state of free standing chains of Au-Pd and Au-Pt is not found when chains are absorbed on NiAl(110) and Cu(110) substrate. It is likely that the interaction between chain and substrate atoms results to zero magnetic moment.

Water samples labeled A, B, C, D and E from five different boreholes in Unwana were analyzed to assess the level of toxicity and essential trace elements present. The results obtained showed slight variation in temperature for all the samples, having sample B, recording the highest values of 28^oC. As for pH, sample B recorded a pH of 6.58 which lies within the limits recommended by WHO. For the trace metals, Cd(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Cr(III) and Zn(II) were present in all the five samples. Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cr(III) concentrations in mg.L^-1 exceeded  the WHO maximum allowed contaminant limit in all the five samples except for Zn (II) that recorded values in all the five samples that were  within the maximum allowed contaminant limit proposed by WHO. From the results obtained therefore, it is evident that some toxic trace elements were present beyond acceptable limits making the borehole water unfit for human consumption and hence will require treatments.

Maize plants have different aerial roots from those that serve as an anchor and develop on the stem and live in the atmosphere. Much literature has reported that aerial roots are able to absorb moisture from the air, and even reduce water loss. But very little is known about the exchange of condensed atmospheric water between the aerial roots and the surrounding air. The main purpose of this article is to simulate the absorption of condensed atmospheric moisture by the aerial roots of corn plants. The evaluation of the amount of dew deposited on the roots and the radial water flow through the root is made using the Penman-Monteith equation and the Fick’s law correlated with the Ohm’s law respectively. The various simulations prove that the aerial roots condense atmospheric humidity and that the latter have expressed the transpiration function for certain angles of inclination with a particularity for the inclination of 30° which, from a certain amount of dew expressed the function of dew absorption. On the other hand, for other inclinations, the roots expressed the function of the absorption of humidity with an optimization for the inclination of 60 °. The absorption and transpiration mechanism needs further studies in the future about the characteristics of the radial conductivity through the parameters which influence the coefficient of radial conductivity in the terminal parts of the root than in the lateral parts. In addition, the comparative study of the Priestley-Taylor and Penman-Monteith models is necessary to better understanding of the specific parameters.

Aims: In the determination of the effect of Parity on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Surface Area (BSA).

Study Design: Pregnant Women Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Surface Area (BSA) measurements, Number were used in this study.

Place and Duration of Study: The data on the various measurements on pregnant women were collected from the Radiology department of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Methodology: The Two-way Classification Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was employed to obtain the MANOVA test statistics for Wilk’s, Pillai, Lawley-Hotelling and Roy’s Largest Root.

Results: Results showed that the MANOVA test statistics for Wilk’s statistics showed no significant effect for the Parity level categorized on BMI (Factor A) and the Parity level categorized on BMI and BSA (Factor AB), while Lawley-Hotelling Root test showed no significant effect for the effect of the Parity level categorized on BSA (Factor B). However, two MANOVA test statistics (Pillai and Roy’s Largest Root statistics) gave significant effect on BMI or BSA or both (or all Factors A, B and AB). These results confirmed that the effect of the Parity level has a significant effect on BMI or BSA or both in terms of the categories (normal, overweight and obese). These results are in agreement with known results by medical practitioners.