Optimal linear approximation in project compression

When the cost of reducing the duration of activities is convex and nonlinear, it may be advisable (to reduce the computing burden) to seek a “satisficing” answer, in which the project is compressed to a desired completion time with a prespecified tolerable relative error. We treat the problem of constructing the optimal first degree interpolating linear spline that guarantees such maximal error and consider various possible refinements.     

Adaptational changes in cellular fatty acid branching and unsaturation of Aeromonas species as a response to growth temperature and salinity

The effects of growth temperature and salinity on the cellular fatty acids were investigated on Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria. Under optimal growth conditions, fatty acids patterns were dominated by even-numbered chains C(16:0), C(16:1cis9), C(18:1cis11), C(12:0) and C(14:0). Growth temperature modifications induced, in the three Aeromonas species, important changes in fatty acid (i) unsaturation, (ii) branching and (iii) chain length. An important decrease in the C(18:1cis11) fatty acid content was observed for the three species below 15 degrees C and above 25 degrees C. The evolution of C(18:1cis11) and C(16:0) showed a mirror image for the three Aeromonas species. Low NaCl concentrations did not elicit significant changes in the fatty acids content of the three Aeromonas species. However, for high NaCl concentration in the medium, the growth ability was related to an important decrease of the unsaturated to saturated fatty acids ratio indicating a membrane rigidification. Thermal and salinity adaptations were branched fatty acid-dependent for A. caviae, whereas this phenomenon was less significant for A. hydrophila and A. sobria.     

Detection of technical fraud in brickmaking by mineralogical analysis

X-ray diffraction analysis was utilized to investigate the mineralogical composition of red bricks as affected by the used raw materials. The data indicate that the bricks are composed of spinel, hematite, cristobalite, feldspars and quartz. The relative abundance of each of these minerals depends on the nature of the raw materials. Bricks made out of bentonite sediments contain more quar-tz and less feldspars compared with those made out of soil materials. It is suggested that the intensity ratio of quartz reflection at 3.34 Å to that of feldspars at 3.2 Å may be used to distinguish between bentonitic red bricks from those made out of soil materials. Therefore, the law which forbids using soil materials for brickmaking can be implemented on sound legal and technical grounds.     

Fatigue of cold worked ribbed reinforcing bar—a fracture mechanics approach

A theoretical method for the prediction of fatigue life of structural members containing external stress raisers has been developed. The method is based on a linear elastic fracture mechanics approach to fatigue. The theory has been applied to fatigue of Torbar steel in concrete beams. The required parameters for such application were obtained from fatigue tests on samples and finite element analysis of cracked bars. Comparisons between the theory and experimental data taken from other investigations have shown that the theory predicts a reasonable lower limit fatigue life of Torbar in concrete beams. The theory has also successfully predicted the effect of the minimum stress on the fatigue life of this type of bar.     

Fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with factorial discriminant analysis technique to identify sheep milk from different feeding systems

Rapid measurements of milk properties and discrimination of milk origin are necessary techniques for quality control of milk products. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of using front face fluorescence spectroscopy (FFFS) and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) for monitoring the quality of forty-five ewe’s milk samples originating from different feeding systems. Physico-chemical analyses and fluorescence spectra were conducted on samples during lactation periods (the first 11 weeks). The principal component analysis (PCA) separately applied to the physico-chemical and fluorescence spectral data showed only small discrimination between milk samples based on lactation periods and diet compositions. Similar results were obtained by separately applying factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) on each technique. In a second step, concatenation technique were applied to FFF spectra acquired after excitation set at 250, 290, 380 nm and emission set at 410 nm. Results obtained showed a good discrimination among milk samples with regard to feeding systems given to the ewes throughout the lactation periods. In addition, a better discrimination was observed with FFFS than with SFS.     

Symposium review: The importance of the ruminal epithelial barrier for a healthy and productive cow

The stratified squamous ruminal epithelium is the main site for absorption of key nutrients (e.g., short-chain fatty acids; SCFA) and electrolytes (e.g., sodium and magnesium). The absorptive function has to be highly selective to prevent simultaneous entry of microbes and toxins from the rumen into the blood. As such, epithelial absorption is primarily transcellular, whereas the paracellular pathway appears rather tightly sealed. A network of tight junction (claudin-1, claudin-4, and occludin) and tight junction-associated proteins (e.g., zonula occludens) accomplishes the latter. When microbial fermentation activity is high such as with highly fermentable diets, rumen epithelial functions are often challenged by acidity, high osmolarity, toxins (e.g., endotoxin and histamine), and immune mediators (inflammatory mediators and cytokines) released during local and systemic inflammation. Epithelial damage by low pH in combination with high luminal SCFA concentrations is not immediately reversible and may initially aggravate upon return to physiological pH. In contrast, barrier opening upon hyperosmolarity is acutely transient. The initial insults set by luminal acidity and SCFA and the increasing concentrations of microbial-associated molecular patterns such as lipopolysaccharides are key factors that trigger inflammation not only in the rumen but also in the hindgut (cecum and colon), which reach out to the liver and other organs, causing systemic inflammation. Low feed intake during parturition, transportation, heat stress, or disease is the second most relevant challenge for the ruminal epithelial barrier. The barrier opening is usually only transient and quickly restored upon refeeding. Due to a rapid, dose-dependent, and prolonged decrease in absorption capacity for SCFA, however, any feed restriction increases the odds for postrestriction subacute ruminal acidosis. Inflammation due to acidosis can be alleviated by supplemental thiamine, yeasts, and plant bioactive (phytogenic) compounds. Butyrate is used in weaning calves to support ruminal barrier development; however, excess butyrate may promote hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and epithelial injury in the fully developed rumen of adult cows. Further research is needed to enhance the understanding of the various factors that counteract barrier impairment and help barrier restoration during acidogenic feeding, especially when concurring with unavoidable periods of feed restriction.     

Numerical modeling of the output and operations of semiconductor lasers subject to strong optical feedback and its dependence on the linewidth‐enhancement factor

Influence of the linewidth‐enhancement factor on the output and operations of InGaAs/InP pumping lasers emitting at a wavelength of 980 nm under strong optical feedback is investigated numerically. The investigations are performed based on intensive numerical integration of an improved time‐delay rate equations of semiconductor lasers over wide ranges of the linewidth‐enhancement factor and optical feedback strength. The results show that the semiconductor laser operates under strong optical feedback in continuous wave and pulsation at small values of the linewidth‐enhancement factor. Under large values of the linewidth‐enhancement factor, the laser happens to exhibit chaos and pulsation. We predict that semiconductor laser subjected to strong optical feedback exhibits much more stable pulsing operation under higher values of the linewidth‐enhancement factor, which indicates that the laser is locked at the external cavity frequency. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Can lanthanum doping enhance catalytic performance of silver in direct propylene epoxidation over NaMoAg/SiO_2?

In the attempt to reduce surface free energy of silica to improve interaction of silica with silver, silica was doped by different amounts of low surface energy lanthanum, La_2O_3, through impregnation. The doped and undoped silica were used as supports for preparation of Na/Ag/Mo/La_2O_3-SiO_2 catalysts. Catalytic performances of the catalysts were evaluated in direct epoxidation of propylene(DPO) using molecular oxygen under atmospheric pressure and without adding hydrogen. Adding 5 wt%La to the Na/Ag/Mo/SiO_2 catalyst improves both the catalysts electivity in DPO and its stability over 20h of time-on-stream.The characterization results show that La_2O_3 species interact strongly with silver particles on the silica surface which result in significant improvement in the dispersion profile of silver and marked decrease in the size of silver nanoparticles(AgNPs). The estimated mean diameter of AgNPs is ca. 4.0 nm in Na/Ag/Mo/5 wt%La_2O_3-SiO_2, which is smaller than that(53.9 nm) found in Na/Ag/SiO_2. The presence of subnanometer AgNPs on Ag/La_2O_3-SiO_2 prior addition of MoO_3 and NaCl to the sample can enhance the mutual electronic synergism between Ag, MoO_3 and Na for selective production of propylene oxide.     

Electrodeposition of lead dioxide on Fe electrode: application to the degradation of Indigo Carmine dye

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - The modification of an iron electrode was carried out according to the following two steps. In a first step, a cathodic reduction is performed to form a film...     

Identification of factors that accelerate hydrogen production by Clostridium butyricum RAK25832 using casamino acids as a nitrogen source

The ability of Clostridium butyricum RAK25832 to use casamino acids as a nitrogen source was investigated. Strain RAK25832 showed the capacity to utilize different types of carbon sources. With glucose as a carbon source (10 g/L), the preferred final concentration of casamino acids was 26.67 g/L, with a cumulative hydrogen production, production rate, and yield of 2505 mL H₂/L, 160 mL/h, and 1.81 mol H₂/mol glucose, respectively. Eighteen metal elements were screened to identify the most important metals for biohydrogen production, and four elements were optimized. The optimal medium composition was MgCl₂·6H₂O (0.1 g/L), K₂HPO₄·3H₂O (6.67 g/L), NaHCO₃ (2.6 g/L), and FeCl₂·4H₂O (0.002 g/L). Vitamin supplementation of the medium showed no significant effect on hydrogen production. Under the optimized conditions, cumulative hydrogen production reached 3074 mL H₂/L. This is the first study to demonstrate the use of casamino acids as a nitrogen source by C. butyricum.