RESUMO
Nickel nanoparticles supported by the yttria-stabilized zirconia (111) surface show several preferential epitaxial relationships, as revealed by in situ X-ray diffraction. The two main nanoparticle orientations are found to have their [111] direction parallel to the substrate surface normal and â¼41.3 degrees tilted from this direction. The former orientation is described by a cube-on-cube stacking at the oxide-metal interface and the latter by a so-called coherent tilt strain-relieving mechanism, which is hitherto unreported for nanoparticles in literature. A modified Wulff construction used for the 111-oriented particles results in a value of the adhesion energy ranging from 1.4 to 2.2 Jm2, whereby the lower end corresponds to more rounded particles and the upper to relatively flat geometries. Upon oxidation at 10-3 Pa of molecular oxygen and 673 K, a NiO shell forms epitaxially on the [111]-oriented particles. Only a monolayer of metallic nickel of the top (111) facets oxidizes, whereas the side facets seem to react more severely. An apparent size increase of the remaining metallic Ni core is discussed in relation to a size-dependent oxidation mechanism, whereby smaller nanoparticles react at a faster rate. We argue that such a preferential oxidation mechanism, which inactivates the smallest and most reactive metal nanoparticles, might play a role for the long-term degradation of solid oxide fuel cells.
RESUMO
Increasing the ectopic uterine motility is the major reason for primary dysmenorrhea. This motility is the basis for several symptoms including for pain is the main complaints of patients with primary dysmenorrhea. There are several mechanisms, which initiate dysmenorrhea. Therefore, different compounds can be employed to control its symptoms. In long-term therapy, combination of oestrogens and progestins may be useful. In short-term therapy, dysmenorrhea sometimes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. Most of NSAIDs in long-term therapy show severe adverse effects. In an attempt to find agents with less adverse effect the fennel essential oil (FEO) was chosen for this investigation. In this article, effects of FEO on the uterine contraction and estimation of LD(50) in rat were described. For assessment of pharmacological effects on the isolated rat uterus, oxytocin (0.1, 1 and 10 mu/ml) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) (5x10(-5) M) were employed to induce muscle contraction. Administration of different doses of FEO reduced the intensity of oxytocin and PGE(2) induced contractions significantly (25 and 50 microg/ml for oxytocin and 10 and 20 microg/ml PGE(2), respectively). FEO also reduced the frequency of contractions induced by PGE(2) but not with oxytocin. LD(50) of FEO was obtained in the female rats by using moving average method. The estimated LD(50) was 1326 mg/kg. No obvious damage was observed in the vital organs of the dead animals.
