We have demonstrated the feasibility of using electrospinning method to fabricate long and continuous composite nanofiber sheets of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO). Such PAN/ZnO composite nanofiber sheets represent an important step toward utilizing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as materials to achieve remarkably enhanced physico-chemical properties. In an attempt to derive these advantages, we have used a variety of techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) to obtain quantitative data on the materials. The CNFs produced are in the diameter range of 100 to 350 nm after carbonization at 1000℃. Electrical conductivity of the random CNFs was increased by increasing the concentration of ZnO. A dramatic improvement in porosity and specific surface area of the CNFs was a clear evidence of the novelty of the method used. This study indicated that the optimal ZnO concentration of 3 wt% is enough to produce CNFs having enhanced electrical and physico-chemical properties.

This study was carried out to identify how soybean seed protein concentration is influenced by climatic factors. Twelve lines selected for seed protein concentration were studied in 13 environments of North Carolina. Sensitivity of seed protein concentration, total seed protein, and seed yield to climatic variables was investigated using a linear regression model. Best response models were determined using two stepwise selection methods, Maximum R-square and Stepwise Selection. There were wide climatic effects in seed protein concentration, total protein and seed yield. The highest protein concentration environment was characterized by the most high temperature days(HTD) and the smallest variance of average daily temperature range (VADTRg), while the lowest protein concentration environment was distinguished by the fewest HTD and the largest VADTRg. For protein concentration, all lines responded positively to average maximum daily temperature(MxDT), HTD, and average daily temperature range(ADTRg) and negatively to ADRa, while they responded positively or negatively to average daily temperature(ADT), variance of average minimum daily temperature (VMnDT), and VADTRg, indicating that genotypes may greatly differ in degrees of sensitivity to each climatic variable. Eleven lines seemed to have best response models with 2 or 3 variables. Exceptionally, NC106 did not show a significant sensitivity to any climatic variable and thus did not have a best response model. This indicates that it may be considered phenotypically more stable. For total seed protein and seed yield, all the lines responded negatively to both ADTRg and VADRa, suggesting that synthesis of seed components may increase with less daily temperature range and less variation in daily rainfall.