This paper aims to verify the possibility of utilising water-in-diesel emulsions (WiDE) as an alternative drop-in fuel for diesel engines. An 8% WiDE was produced to be tested in a four-stroke, indirect injection (IDI) diesel engine and compared to EN590 diesel fuel. An eddy current brake and an exhaust gas analyser were utilised to measure different engine parameters such as torque, fuel consumption, and emissions at different engine loads. The results show that the engine running on emulsified fuel leads to a reduction in torque and power, an increase in the specific fuel consumption, and slightly better thermal efficiency. The highest percentual increment of thermal efficiency for WiDE is obtained at 100% engine load, 5.68% higher compared to diesel. The emissions of nitric oxide (NO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are reduced, but carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) emissions are increased, compared to traditional diesel fuel. The most substantial decrease in NO and CO₂ levels was achieved at 75% engine load with 33.86% and 25.08% respectively, compared to diesel.

In this paper, spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), rod-shape AuNPs and triangular AuNPs were synthesized using CTAB as the coating reagent, and their bactericidal properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were studied. By the plate count method and turbidity method, the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and the minimum bacteriostasis concentrations (MIC) to the two kinds of bacteria were determined. The MIC of rod-shape AuNPs, triangular AuNPs and spherical AuNPs to E. coli were 0.65 μg/mL, 3.71 μg/mL, 21.21 μg/mL, and MBC were 1.30 μg/mL, 11.09 μg/mL, 21.21 μg/mL, respectively. The MIC to S. aureus were 0.26 μg/mL, 0.56 μg/mL, 2.65 μg/mL, while MBC were 0.52 μg/mL, 1.11 μg/mL, 2.65 μg/mL, respectively. The results showed that the bactericidal effect of rod-shape AuNPs on E. coli and S. aureus was higher than that of the other two forms, and the bactericidal effect of three different forms of AuNPs on S. aureus was better than that on E. coli.

We have studied the effect of the series resistance on the heating of the cathode, which is based on carbon nanotubes and serves to realize the field emission of electrons into the vacuum. The experiment was performed with the single multi-walled carbon nanotube (MCNT) that was separated from the array grown by CVD method with thin-film Ni-Ti catalyst (nickel 4 nm/Ti 10 nm). The heating of the cathode leads to the appearance of a current of the thermionic emission. The experimental voltage current characteristic exhibited the negative resistance region caused by thermal field emission. This current increases strongly with increasing voltage and contributes to the degradation of the cold emitter. The calculation of the temperature of the end of the cathode is made taking into account the effect of the phenomenon that warms up and cools the cathode. We have developed a method for processing of the emission volt-ampere characteristics of a cathode, which relies on a numerical calculation of the field emission current and the comparison of these calculations with experiments. The model of the volt-ampere characteristic takes into account the CNT’s geometry, properties, its contact with the catalyst, heating and simultaneous implementation of the thermionic and field emission. The calculation made it possible to determine a number of important parameters, including the voltage and current of the beginning of thermionic emission, the temperature distribution along the cathode and the resistance of the nanotube. The phenomenon of thermionic emission from CNTs was investigated experimentally and theoretically. The conditions of this type emission occurrence were defined. The results of the study could form the basis of theory of CNT emitter’s degradation.

In order to replace conventional materials in the existing composite world, there has been a focus on adopting coir fibres, which are lightweight, adaptable, efficient, and have great mechanical qualities. This study describes the creation of environmentally responsible bio-composites with good mechanical characteristics that employ coir powder as a reinforcement, which has good interfacial integrity with an epoxy matrix. And these epoxy-coir composites supplemented with coir particles are predicted to function as a reliable substitute for traditional materials used in industrial applications. Here, untreated and alkali-treated coir fibres powder were employed as reinforcement, with epoxy resin serving as a matrix. An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the effect of coir powder reinforcement at different weight percentages (5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, and 30 wt%). The morphological study, followed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope (OM), demonstrated that the powder and matrix had the strongest adhesion at 20 wt% coir powder-reinforced composite, with no voids, bubbles, or cracks. Based on the entire investigation, the polymer composite with 20 wt% reinforcement exhibited better mechanical qualities than the other combinations.

Objective: This research analyzed the psychometric properties of the Ambivalent Classism Inventory (ICA) in Peru. Methodology: A critical review of literature related to poverty, inequality, and structural gaps was conducted, involving 882 participants aged 14 to 89 years (M = 24.61, SD = 9.07). Results: Exploratory-confirmatory factor analyses were satisfactory, finding a similar factorial structure to the original scale and the adaptation (hostile classism, protective paternalism, and complementary class differentiation). Regarding items, there was a reduction, leaving only 12; however, comparing alternative models, the three-factor structure with 12 reagents showed adequate fit (χ² = 214.588, df = 51, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.060; SRMR = 0.033), allowing for invariance testing. Practical Implications: The scale allows for investigating attitude profiles of individuals with privileged social class. Contribution: The instrument is a valuable contribution, considering that the nation has a high poverty rate, leading to economic, political, and social inequality among the population.

New hybrid magnetic materials based on HDPE filled with Со and Ni nanoparticles have been prepared via the metal vapor synthesis. Properties of the metal-polymer composites have been elucidated as a function of MVS parameters and metal nature. The Faraday method has been applied to characterize the magnetic properties of the systems. The microstructure of the samples has been studied with a number of X-ray and synchrotron techniques, including XRD, EXAFS and SAXS. Core-level and valence band spectra were measured by XPS. The peak at binding energy of 282.8 eV characteristic of C-Ni bond was recorded in the C 1s spectrum. It was shown that properties of nanocomposite materials with similar compositions are determined both by the synthesis conditions and post-synthesis factors.