The Effect of Hands Free - Cell Phone Conversation on Visual Fields
It is a known fact that using a cell phone while driving can lead to reckless driving. According to research done by the World Health Organisation (2011) thousands of car accidents occur worldwide, each day, due to cell phone use whilst driving. Many of these car accidents result in serious injury or death of drivers, passengers or pedestrians. According to the Automobile Association (2012), cell phones are the number one cause of traffic accidents in South Africa. The high rate of car accidents due to cell phone use has led to legislation being passed, in most countries, banning hand-held cell phone use while driving. Hands-free phone equipment is not prohibited as it is widely regarded as a safe means of making and taking a phone call while behind the wheel. The purpose of this study was to show that the act of talking on a cell phone and not the method of talking (hand-held versus hands-free) increases accident probability. This study used a Friedman Visual field analyser which measures subject’s visual fields with and without engaging in hands-free cellular conversation. The results showed a significant constriction of the visual fields when subjects were conversing on a cell phone. These results were and can be explained by the fact that the test subject experiences cognitive distraction. Cognitive distraction occurs because the driver has to divide his/her attention between the cell phone conversation and the tasks relating to driving. These results have significant ramifications for road safety in a driving environment.
Fabrication of Hydrophobic Coatings Using the Sol-Gel Method
The aim of our research is to produce superhydrophobic coatings on both glass and cloth substrates in order to achieve high contact angles and low sliding angles for self-cleaning. In addition, we aim to modify these coatings to be as transparent as possible so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the objects which will be coated. To achieve this goal, we synthesised a solution using 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (a type of FAS), silica nanoparticles (SiO2), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (Glymo) and deionised water. Using the convenient sol-gel method, coatings of 20% and 30% by weight of FAS-SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared on glass and cotton substrates. It was found that coatings containing 30% by weight of FAS-modified SiO2 nanoparticles on glass slide produced coatings with water contact angle as high as 162.8° and sliding angle as low as 4°. It can also be seen that for glass substrates, the hydrophobicity increased with an increase in percentage of FAS-modified SiO2 nanoparticles. Although the highest percentage transmittance was about 30%, texts and pictures beneath the coated glass slides were clearly readable. The cotton substrates also exhibited excellent hydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 150° and sliding angle of 22°. Furthermore, the substrates showed good retention of colour and durability after simulated washing and 72 hours of ultraviolet (UV) weathering chamber test. These results show that the effects of washing and UV on the important properties of the cloth were insignificant.
超通用水分子形交換方塊之FPGA設計
本研究提出一個新的超通用、每邊w個端點的四邊形水分子形交換方塊(Water-Molecule-Shaped Switch Block; WMSB)架構，以應用在FPGA之多點連線（multipoint interconnection）和諸多交換網路的設計上。超通用交換方塊(HUSB)的領域中，Fan[2]提出當前唯一一個(4, w)-HUSB，但Fan’s (4, w)-HUSB所需的開關個數大約是6.3w個開關，在接下來的篇幅之中，我們將證明(4, w)-WMSB是只需6w個開關的HUSB；此外，我們還證明沒有(4, w)-HUSB可以使用小於6w個開關。本研究中還使用VPR（一種CAD）及其內建的大量標準線路以證明(4, w)-WMSB不僅是理論上最佳的亦是實用性佳的交換方塊。鑑此，(4, w)-WMSB開關效率高(switch-efficiency)的設計十分適用於其他的交換網路設計，如公共電話網路(Public Switched Telephone Network)。
First photochromic diarylethenes with cyclohexenone ethene "bridge"
Photochromism is determined as reversible transformation between two chemical species, induced by action of light [1]. Herewith, initial form and photoinduced isomer have different properties, first of all, spectral. The phenomenon is attractive for the design of hi-tech materials for different applications, including optical memory elements and molecular switches. Diarylethenes are the most promising class of organic photochromic compounds due to outstanding thermal stability of both isomers and high photostability [2, 3]. Photochromism of diarylethenes explained by reversible electrocyclic reaction of hexatriene system, provoked by UV light, back reaction is induced by visible light. In this work we have proposed a new class of photochromic diarylethenes with cyclohexenone ethene “bridge” 4. The key stage of the synthesis is “one-pot” reaction of ketoesters 1 and chalkones 2 in ethanol in the presence of sodium ethoxide that includes Michael reaction and subsequent intramolecular condensation of the resulting product. The final decarboxylation of semi-product 3 results in target diarylethenes 4. We have prepared a wide range of photochromic diarylethenes with thiophene, oxazole, imidazole and benzene derivatives as aryl moieties. The spectral characteristics of compounds obtained have also been discussed.
Antimicrobial and Heavy Metal Sequestration Capacities of Graphene Polymer Nanofilms
Membrane bioreactors (MBR) are important components in the production of effluent in wastewater treatment systems. However, MBR are susceptible to biofouling, a process by which bacteria colonize the surface of the membrane in contact with water. Graphene could be a solution to biofilm formation. In this study, the graphene polymer nanocomposite’s antimicrobial and heavy metal removal properties and the mechanisms behind the properties were investigated. Five different films of nanocomposites with a form of graphene and a polymer were synthesized: Graphene, Graphene Oxide, PVK-GO, PVK-G, PVK. A Büchner funnel and a vacuum pump were used to coat membrane filters with solutions of each nanomaterial. Using the Büchner funnel, E. coli and B. subtilis bacteria were filtered through the filter and both the filtrate and the filter were examined for bacterial content. Similarly, a Pb2+ solution was filtered through the coated filters and percentage removal of the ion was calculated using Atomic Absorbtion Spectrometry. Further analysis from SEM data, ATR-IR, and an Oxidative Stress test revealed that the PVK-GO nanocomposite inactivates bacteria by causing oxidative stress and the carboxyl group binds to lead ions. PVK-GO was most effective at removing the highest percentage of heavy metal and inactivated the most bacteria and displayed the most antimicrobial properties. PVK-GO coatings provide an efficient and economical alternative to the current wastewater industry standard and can save millions of dollars and reduce environmental waste. Also, the coatings have applications in indwelling medical devices and can reduce the risks associated with biofilm formational and bacterial infections.