Non-Fourier heat conduction in a hollow sphere with periodic surface heat flux

Presented is the analysis of non-Fourier effect in a hollow sphere exposed to a periodic boundary heat flux. The problem is studied by deriving an analytical solution of the hyperbolic heat conduction equation. Using the obtained analytical expression, the temperature profiles at outer and inner surfaces of the sphere are evaluated for various thermal relaxation times. By comparing the results of non-Fourier model with those obtained from Fourier heat conduction equation, the transition process from parabolic model to hyperbolic one is shown. The phase difference and amplitude ratio of boundary surfaces are calculated as functions of the thermal relaxation time and the results are depicted graphically.     

Adaptive response of Listeria monocytogenes to heat and its impact on food safety

Listeria monocytogenes is an important food associated pathogen because of its relatively high heat resistance and ability to multiply in refrigeration temperatures. Its thermotolerance can be increased when its cells are subjected to heat shock. One- to eight-fold increase of D values of L. monocytogenes have been reported, depending on the heat shock duration, the temperature and the heating menstrum. This acquisition of heat tolerance is related to the induction of the synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs).The adaptive response of food pathogens has important consequences on the safety of thermally processed foods. It is believed that this is responsible for the frequent occurrence of deviations (tails and shoulders) during heat treatments that are observed in the exponential model of microbial inactivation. These deviations from log-linear kinetic especially encountered under mild heat treatments, mean that prediction of food safety can no longer rely upon D and z values. Adaptive response to heat must be considered when quantifying and modeling microbial inactivation during thermal processing in order to achieve microbiologically safe products without overly conservative heat processes. Therefore a more mechanistic approach is needed for more accurate predictions of thermal inactivation. Prerequisite to this model are thorough studies to understand how L. monocytogenes and other pathogens adapt their cellular physiology to overcome heat and other stresses.     

Synthesis and microphase separation of polystyrene‐b‐polylactide block copolymers aimed at preparation of ordered nanoparticle/block copolymer hybrid materials

A new nanoparticle/block copolymer (NP/BCP) hybrid material combining the unique properties of BCP poly(styrene)‐b‐poly(d ‐lactide) (PS‐b‐PDLA) and inorganic NP quantum dots CdSe was developed. A systematic study on the microphase separation of a series of PS‐b‐PDLAs by small‐angle X‐ray scattering showed that the degree of order of the separated microdomains depended on the initial state of the BCP and the measurement temperature and can be improved through isothermal crystallization of PDLA, thermal annealing and shear field etc. Incorporating a small amount of NPs into the BCP matrix can improve the mobility of the polymer chains and thus promote self‐assembly of the BCP, which leads to hierarchically ordered structures. Excess NPs, however, cannot be completely incorporated into the PDLA domains, resulting in the phase transformation of the BCP, destruction of the ordered structure and even macroscopic phase separation due to the aggregation of NPs. An important observation is that stereocomplexation between PDLA and poly(l ‐lactide) could provide a driving force to promote microphase separation of the BCP. The strategy presented in the current work has potential applications for developing highly ordered NP/BCP hybrid materials. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Mentha pulegium,Juniperus phoenicea,and Cyperus longus essential oils from Morocco

The present study evaluates the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils (EOs) of Mentha pulegium L., Juniperus phoenicea L. and Cyperus longus L. from Morocco. The composition of these species was analyzed by GC/MS and 84 components were identified. M. pulegium EO showed a great similarity with EOs coming from other regions, as pulegone, the major component, accounted for about 70% of the EO. The EO of J. phoenicea had as main components α-pinene (24.9%), β-phellandrene (24.4%) and α-terpinyl acetate (12.9%). The EO extracted from C. longus was remarkably rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (83.2%), which included β-himachalene (46.6%), α-humulene (16.9%), and γ-himachalene (10.1%). The antimicrobial activity of these EOs has been evaluated against seven bacteria of significant importance for food hygiene. According to the results, M. pulegium showed the best bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect, followed by J. phoenicea and C. longus. So far as we know, this is the first report on the quantitative composition and biological activity of the essential oil from C. longus. The tested EOs showed a variable degree of antimicrobial activity being M. pulegium the most effective one.     

The Transition from Paramagnetic to Ferromagnetic States as Influenced by Evolving Microstructure of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4

In this paper the effect of sintering temperature on Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ is examined closely. The evolution of toward magnetically ordered materials was to be tracked with the parallel evolving microstructure subjected to sintering temperatures in an ascending order. The starting powder of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ was prepared via mechanical alloying and later molded into toroidal samples. After each sintering, we observed the resulting changes in the materials. The XRD data showed a single phase being formed as early as 600 °C and the peak intensity was increasing with the sintering temperature indicating an increase in the degree of crystallinity. The BH hysteresis loops showed the evolution from paramagnetism to moderate ferromagnetism to strong ferromagnetism with microstructural changes. For lower sintering temperatures, the samples showed paramagnetic behavior dominating the samples. As sintering temperature increased, paramagnetic states decreased and, at 900 °C, a moderately ferromagnetic state appeared. Sintering at 1000 °C produced a strongly ferromagnetic state giving a well-formed sigmoid-shape hysteresis loop.     

Robust compensation of elastic deformations in ball screw drives

Elastic deformations occur in ball screw drives typically due to inertial forces, guideway friction, and cutting forces. This results in elongation and compression of the ball screw, which deteriorates the dynamic linear positioning accuracy. Closing the control loop with a linear encoder helps to alleviate this problem to a certain extent. However, linear scales cost significantly more than rotary encoders and their installation also brings about additional costs. This paper presents a new strategy for mitigating the detrimental effect of elastic deformations, in order to improve the translational accuracy of ball screw drives when only rotational feedback is available. A simple and physically intuitive model is developed, which is used to offset the position commands that are fed to the servo control law. Compensation is proposed using a closed-loop scheme, which is found to be robust against cutting forces, as well as variations in the table mass and guideway friction. These effects are detected as equivalent disturbances that cause an elastic deformation. The proposed closed-loop compensation strategy has been validated in machining and high-speed tracking experiments, as well as simulations, which demonstrate its effectiveness in terms of improving the ball screw drive’s final translational accuracy.     

Indicators and Aspects of Hydrological Drought in Lebanon

Change in climate conditions has become a global issue that has given a serious concern by many researchers. However, the availability of data in this regard is considered as a major element for optimum comparative analysis. The Mediterranean region is influenced by climate change, which is reflected mainly by its impact on water sources supply and flow regime. In Lebanon, these water sources are witnessing obvious quantitative decrease, thus affected the supply side, the so-called “hydrologic drought”. Therefore, many studies have been made to figure out a comprehensive understanding on water resources in Lebanon and their interrelation with climatic trends, but they often analyze one component of the water cycle. This study involves different indices of surface and subsurface water, thus, followed a comparative analysis of different hydrologic records. This was achieved by applying graphical illustrations of the numerical values adopted from available records. In this regard, different tools of analysis were used, and more certainly remotely sensed data were helpful for monitoring approaches. Therefore, results of the obtained comparative analysis revealed a clear regression in the amount of available water from different sources in Lebanon. These sources, which are under the impact of human like rivers and groundwater, showed a 23–29% decrease in the amounts of water since the last four decades. While sources, with less human interference, like snow cover and precipitation have been decreased by 12–16%. However, in both cases, the status is quite alarming and needs immediate water management plans to conserve water resources in Lebanon.     

Liquefaction of empty palm fruit bunch (EPFB) in alkaline hot compressed water

Effect of alkalis (NaOH, KOH and K₂CO₃) on liquefaction of EPFB (empty palm fruit bunch) biomass liquefaction was investigated under subcritical water conditions in a batch reactor operating at 270 °C and 20 bars for a period of 20 min. Catalytic performance and suitable biomass to water ratio that supported higher EPFB conversion, liquid hydrocarbons yield and lignin degradations were screened. Analytical results indicate that maximum of 68 wt% liquids were produced along with 72.4 wt% EPFB mass conversions and 65.6 wt% lignin degradation under 1.0 M K₂CO₃/2:10 (biomass/water) conditions. In comparison, the experiments that were performed in the absence of alkalis yielded only 30.4 wt% liquids, converted 36 wt% EPFB and degraded 24.3 wt% lignin. Furthermore, biomass to water ratios >2:10 decreased both solid mass conversion and liquid hydrocarbons' yield. The reactivity of the alkalis was in the order of K₂CO₃ > KOH > NaOH. The liquid compositions were dominantly phenols and esters; the highest value of phenol (60.1 wt% of liquid yield) was achieved in the case of K₂CO₃ (1.0 M) with 5 g EPFB/25 ml water ratio while 1.0 M NaOH yielded maximum esters (86.4 wt% of liquid yield). The alkali promoted process assisted with hot water treatments seemed promising for production of bio-oils from EPFB.