Chemotherapy services have expanded over recent years. Mothers remain concerned about the safety of their unborn babies while handling hazardous materials. Most chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic. This means they may be mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic in nature. How toxic they can be during pregnancy is not absolutely clear. Therefore, handling such drugs may not be 100% safe in pregnancy. Although several chemotherapeutic agents have been proven to be safe for the fetus after the organogenesis period, there is limited information on their use during the first trimester of pregnancy.TAJ 2015; 28(1): 12-15

The technology to produce compatibilized blends of liquid crystalline polymer and highly amorphous cyclic olefin copolymers through two novel approaches were studied. The first approach was to use silane-functionalized halloysite nanotube as nonspecific compatibilizer and the second method was reactive compatibilization. The study of blends and their resulting microstructure; their thermal, mechanical, and viscoelastic properties were investigated. The kinetic study of blends compatibilized through both routes was performed. [GRAPHICS]

This work explored the structural and morphological changes of poly ether ether ketone/liquid crystal polymer blend system, caused due to combined effect of polyphosphazene and acid-modified halloysite nanotubes. Surface modification of halloysite nanotubes gave these the adequate potential to make an effective combination with polyphosphazene. These were became the most promising factor on enhancement of thermophysical properties of blend system. Surface-treated halloysite nanotubes added nanocomposite drastically improves thermal stability than that of the other untreated nanofiller-based nanocomposites and pure blend. The storage modulus, tensile modulus, and tensile strength values increase due to the superior dispersion of the modified halloysite nanotubes in polymer matrix.

The effects of expanded graphite (EG)/carbon black (CB) hybrid nanofillers on the physical, mechanical, thermo-mechanical, electrical and barrier properties of butyl rubber (IIR) vulcanizates have been widely investigated in the present study. Chemical treatment followed by a thermal exfoliation of natural graphite flakes have been done to synthesize EG. EG was further modified by treating it with mixed acid that resulted in an increase in the number of polar groups on its surface which indeed improves interfacial adhesion between the EG and rubber matrix as well as facilitates the curing reaction. The presence of different functional groups on the surface of modified EG (MEG) is confirmed by fourier transforms infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) analysis. Significant increase in the d-spacing of MEG was observed from the wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis. The morphology of the IIR based hybrid nanocomposites have been investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). EG and MEG loaded IIR based nanocomposites with and without CB show an increase in the mechanical, thermo-mechanical, electrical, thermal and barrier properties compared to the neat polymer.

In the present study, we report a simple method to synthesize silver (Ag)-polypyrrole (PPy)/graphene (Gr) nanocomposite as efficient electrode materials for supercapacitor application. The probable interaction between Ag nanoparticles with both PPy and Gr were characterized by FTIR, UV-visible, and Raman spectroscopies. The morphological analysis confirmed that the Gr sheets are uniformly coated by PPy and in the coated Gr sheets there is the presence of Ag nanoparticles. The Ag-PPy/Gr nanocomposite achieved the highest specific capacitance of 472 F/g at a 0.5 A/g current density. Better energy and power density also obtained for the nanocomposite. The presence of both Ag nanoparticles and Gr is the main reason for the enhancement of the electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite. Based on the superior electrochemical properties, the nanocomposite can be used for next-generation supercapacitor electrode material. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In recent years, supercapacitors have been considered as one of the auspicious energy storage devices. In this work, two different kinds of mixed metal oxide NiMoO4 nanoflakes arrays were directly grown on 3D Ni foam. The electrode exhibited high specific capacitance of 2004 F/g at the current density of 2 A/g in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Additionally, it also exhibited low equivalent series resistance of 0.62 Ω and excellent cycling stability (80% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles). With these extraordinary electrochemical properties, the electrode material can be considered as potential candidate for supercapacitor applications.

This article explores the synergistic effect of halloysite nanotubes along with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene on the physical, mechanical, and thermo-mechanical properties of polycarbonate/cyclic olefin copolymer polymer blend system. Halloysite nanotubes filled polycarbonate/cyclic olefin copolymer blend nanocomposites were prepared in the presence and absence of polymeric compatibilizer by melt blending. Besides the constructive outcome of nanotubular fillers, the maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene played a complementary role in improving the properties of the nanocomposites. Structural changes of blend matrix, nanofiller distributions, nanofiller-polymer matrix interaction, nucleating effect, storage modulus, and thermal stability were widely investigated with various sophisticated instruments.

We demonstrate a straightforward process for the synthesis and fabrication of a hybrid-type asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) by combining Mn3O4 nanoparticle-supported multi-wall carbon nanotube (Mn3O4@MWCNT) composite as positive and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as negative electrodes. A controlled hydrothermal synthesis of Mn3O4 in the presence of MWCNT resulted in a well-distributed Mn3O4 nanoparticles on the MWCNT backbone in the Mn3O4@MWCNT composite. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared materials have been investigated by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The electrochemical characterizations were carried out in terms of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. The constructed ASC with 1 M KOH-supporting electrolyte was able to provide high-specificity capacitance of 173.36 F/g at 2 mV/s scan rate and high-energy density of 26.8 Wh/kg accompanied by high cycle stability with 79.3% capacitance retention over 3000 GCD cycles.

The field experiment was conducted at the Hill Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Khagrachari for the two consecutive years (2009-10 and 2010-11) to find out the wheat variety suitable for hilly environment and investigate the interaction of sowing dates and varieties to recommend the promising variety with proper sowing time. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications where three dates of sowing (Nov. 20, Nov. 30 and Dec. 10) were assigned in the main plots and five modern wheat varieties (Shatabdi, Sufi, Sourav, Bijoy and Prodip) were tested in the sub-plots. The yield responses of wheat varieties during the two years showed that there were significant varietal differences under the experimental soil and environmental conditions. The variety Bijoy gave maximum grain yield closely followed by Sourav in both years. Shatabdi produced higher yield under early sowing (Nov. 20) but yield was decreased due to late sowing (Dec. 10). Initially the plant population and finally spikes/m2 were affected by late sowing that caused less yield in Shatabdi. The mean yield of all varieties pulled over the sowing time indicated that wheat yield was not affected due to delay sowing up to 10th December. The experimental result demonstrated that Shatabdi could be recommended only for early sowing whereas Bijoy and Sourav could be recommended both for early and late sowing under the experimental soil and environmental conditions at hilly region of Khagrachari.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 40(4): 521-528, December 2015

The present research work demonstrated the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the physical, mechanical, thermo-mechanical etc., properties of neoprene (CR) and chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) vulcanizates. CR and CSPE based nanocomposites were prepared by both solution intercalation and melt intercalation methods. The changes obtained in the morphology, cure characteristics, mechanical, thermal, thermo-mechanical properties of the rubber nanocomposites have been widely investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis of the samples revealed partial exfoliated structure of GO containing rubber composites. Mechanical, thermal, cure and thermo-mechanical properties of the elastomeric nanocomposites were improved compared to the neat rubbers.

In this present communication, copolymer of polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy) that is poly (aniline-co-pyrrole) [poly(An-co-Py)], copper chloride (CuCl2) doped poly(aniline-co-pyrrole) [poly (An-co-Py) Cu], and CuCl2 doped poly(aniline-co-pyrrole)/multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) [poly(An-co-Py) Cu CNT] nanocomposite have been prepared by a simple and inexpensive in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization method, using ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as dopant and investigated as high performance supercapacitor electrode materials. The possible interaction between CuCl2 with copolymers and MWCNTs was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopy analysis. The morphological characteristic of all the electrode materials were analyzed by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study. The electrochemical characterizations of all the electrode materials were carried out by three electrode probe method where, standard calomel electrode and platinum were used as reference and counter electrodes, respectively. Among all the electrode materials, poly(An-co-Py) Cu CNT nanocomposite achieved highest specific capacitance value of 383 F/g at 0.5 A/g scan rate. The nanocomposite showed better electrical conductivity at room temperature and also attained nonlinear current-voltage characteristic. Based on the superior electrochemical as well as other properties the as prepared nanocomposite can be used for high performance supercapacitor electrode materials. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In the present study, a simple, inexpensive and novel synthetic procedure was used for the preparation of Silver-Polyaniline/Graphene [Ag-PANI/Gr] nanocomposite as superior supercapacitor electrode material. The probable interaction of Ag with PANI and Gr were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible, and Raman spectroscopies. The formation of Ag nanoparticles in the PANI coated Gr sheets were confirmed by morphological study. The maximum specific capacitance of 591 F/g has been achieved for the nanocomposite at 5 mV/s scan rate in 1 M KCl electrolyte. The nanocomposite also attained superior energy as well as power density. Here, both Ag nanoparticles and Gr take part for the increment of specific capacitance of the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite showed enhanced electrical conductivity of 5.17 S/cm and also reached nonlinear current-voltage characteristics. The higher thermal stability also observed for the nanocomposite. Depending on those superior properties the Ag-PANI/Gr nanocomposite can be used for supercapacitor electrode material.

In this study we have prepared Cr-doped polyaniline/MWCNTs [Cr-PANI-CNT] nanocomposite by simple in-situ polymerization method where ammonium persulphate used as oxidant in HCl medium. The probable interaction between the Cr with both MWCNTs and PANI is investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The morphological analysis of the nanocomposite was studied by FESEM and TEM analysis. The electrochemical performance of the nanocomposite was characterized by three electrode method. The nanocomposite showed the highest specific capacitance of 328 F/g at 10 mV/s scan rate.

Ni foam@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hydrogelNi(3)S(2) and Ni foam@rGO hydrogelCo(3)S(4) composites have been successfully synthesized with the aid of a two-step hydrothermal protocol, where the rGO hydrogel is sandwiched between the metal sulfide and Ni foam substrate. Sonochemical deposition of exfoliated rGO on Ni foam with subsequent hydrothermal treatment results in the formation of a rGO-hydrogel-coated Ni foam. Then second-time hydrothermal treatment of the dried Ni@rGO substrate with corresponding metal nitrate and sodium sulfide results in individual uniform growth of porous Ni3S2 nanorods and a Co3S4 self-assembled nanosheet on a Ni@rGO substrate. Both Ni@rGONi(3)S(2) and Ni@rGOCo(3)S(4) have been electrochemically characterized in a 6 M KOH electrolyte, exhibiting high specific capacitance values of 987.8 and 1369 F/g, respectively, at 1.5 A/g accompanied by the respective outstanding cycle stability of 97.9% and 96.6% at 12 A/g over 3000 chargedischarge cycles. An advanced aqueous asymmetric (AAS) supercapacitor has been fabricated by exploiting the as-prepared Ni@rGOCo(3)S(4) as a positive electrode and Ni@rGONi(3)S(2) as a negative electrode. The as-fabricated AAS has shown promising energy densities of 55.16 and 24.84 Wh/kg at high power densities of 975 and 13000 W/kg, respectively, along with an excellent cycle stability of 96.2% specific capacitance retention over 3000 chargedischarge cycles at 12 A/g. The enhanced specific capacitance, stupendous cycle stability, elevated energy density, and a power density as an AAS of these electrode materials indicate that it could be a potential candidate in the field of supercapacitors.