Flammability characteristics at applied heat flux levels up to 200 kW/m2

This paper documents the first of the two interrelated studies that were conducted to more fundamentally understand the scalability of flame heat flux, the motivation being that it has been reported that flame heat flux back to the burning surface in bench‐scale experiments is not the same as for large‐scale fires. The key aspect was the use of real scale applied heat flux up to 200kW/m² which is well beyond that typically considered in contemporary testing. The main conclusions are that decomposition kinetics needs to be included in the study of ignition and the energy balance for steady burning is too simplistic to represent the physics occurring. An unexpected non‐linear trend is observed in the typical plotting methods currently used in fire protection engineering for ignition and mass loss flux data for several materials tested and this non‐linearity is a true material response. Using measured temperature profiles in the condensed phase shows that viewing ignition as an inert material process is inaccurate at predicting the surface temperature at higher heat fluxes. The steady burning temperature profiles appear to be invariant with applied heat flux. This possible inaccuracy was investigated by obtaining the heat of gasification via the ‘typical technique’ using the mass loss flux data and comparing it to the commonly considered ‘fundamental’ value obtained from differential scanning calorimetry measurements. This comparison suggests that the ‘typical technique’ energy balance is too simplified to represent the physics occurring for any range of applied heat flux. Observed bubbling and melting phenomena provide a possible direction of study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of color in fats stabilized with amino-hexose-reductones

Summary Amino reductones derived from hexoses were evaluated for color development in heated, oxidizing fat systems. Browning was observed to some extent with all the amino-hexose-reductones. The brown color frequently faded upon long heating of the oils. The density of color increased with reductone concentration and varied markedly among the different amino reductones. Morpholino-hexose-reductone could be used in lard and vegetable oils at concentrations up to 0.01% without introducing visually detectable amounts of color. Heating soybean oil solutions of the amino reductones at 100°C. under vacuum slowly destroyed the reductone but did not cause development of color. Air or oxygen was required for color production. Addition of citric acid along with the reductone reduced the amount of color developed. Reductones in fat systems show similarities in browning to reductones in aqueous systems. New considerations for the mechanism of antioxidation by polyphenols and reductones in oils are presented. Presented at the spring meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society. New Orleans, La., April 28-May 1, 1957.     

Purity of Aluminum Hydroxide Derived from Triethylaluminum

Aluminum hydroxide obtained by hydrolysis of triethylaluminum is free of uranium and thorium at detection limits of 1 to 9 parts per billion (ppb). Other impurities commonly associated with aluminum oxides are present at low levels (Fe, ∼ 1 ppm; Si, 3 to 6 ppm). When the organoaluminum is intentionally contaminated with an iron salt, purity is restored by a simple distillation.     

Separation and determination of mono-, Di-, and triglycerides in monoglyceride concentrates

Summary Monoglyceride concentrates are quantitatively separated into mono-, di-, and triglyceride components on silica gel columns by an adsorption chromatographic technique. The separated glycerides are determined gravimetrically. The adsorption on silica gel is dependent on the number of hydroxyl groups in the molecule, and the influence of unsaturation and chain length is minimized. Combinations of benzene and ethyl ether are used for elution, thus preventing isomerization, which frequently results when polar solvents such as alcohols are used. The procedure for the chromatographic separation is simple and straightforward. The equipment used is easily obtainable. The silica gel adsorbent requires only adjustment of its water content before use. Mixtures of both saturated and unsaturated glycerides and those having different fatty acid chain length have been separated. Known mixtures have also been analyzed. For a known mixture containing 15% tripalmitin, 45% distearin, and 38% monopalmitin the average deviations from the calculated values were 0.4%, 0.2%, and 0.6%, respectively     

Optimal infinite scheduling for multi-priced timed automata

This paper is concerned with the derivation of infinite schedules for timed automata that are in some sense optimal. To cover a wide class of optimality criteria we start out by introducing an extension of the (priced) timed automata model that includes both costs and rewards as separate modelling features. A precise definition is then given of what constitutes optimal infinite behaviours for this class of models. We subsequently show that the derivation of optimal non-terminating schedules for such double-priced timed automata is computable. This is done by a reduction of the problem to the determination of optimal mean-cycles in finite graphs with weighted edges. This reduction is obtained by introducing the so-called corner-point abstraction, a powerful abstraction technique of which we show that it preserves optimal schedules. This work has been mostly done while visiting CISS at Aalborg University in Denmark and has been supported by CISS and by ACI Cortos, a program of the French Ministry of Research.     

National and International Water Law

Abstract

The exchange of data and information relating to transboundary water resources is widely accepted as being an appropriate starting point for more comprehensive cooperation. This paper examines under what conditions data and information exchange occur in relation to shared water resources, and hence examines when it can be used as a confidence building measure. An overview of several major international river basins together with more detailed case studies of the Mekong. Rio Grande, and Rhine River basins suggest that factors that promote data and information exchange include the presence of compatible needs, absence of legacies of mistrust, increasing water resources stress, perceptions that cooperation is of mutual benefit, external pressure and funding, comparable levels of institutional capacity, popular and political concern about water resources management, and functional formal or informal cooperative arrangements. Analysis of the situation prevailing between Israel and the Palestinians with regard to shared water resources suggests that data and information exchange does not seem likely in the short term, even though other forms of cooperation have been established with mixed results. This suggests that in some situations, at least, data and information exchange relating to shared water resources may not be useful as a first step in establishing more comprehensive cooperation.     

Replacing dichromate with hydrogen peroxide in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) test

The widely used standard method for chemical oxygen demand (COD) involves hazardous chromium species, and its two-hour heating protocol entails a substantial amount of energy expenditure. In the present work we report a proof of concept for a major modification of this method in the range 10-800 mgCOD/L, whereby H2O2 is proposed as a replacement oxidizer. This modification not only reduces the use of unsafe chromium species but also allows for the use of milder conditions that decrease the total energy outlay. The results are comparable with those obtained either with the standard method or with a commercial Hach? kit.     

Inverse Analysis of Impact Test Data: Experimental Study on Polymeric Materials Displaying Brittle Behaviour

This paper deals with the influence of the testing equipment on impact load measurements. A previously developed method of analysis and processing of the experimental data based on a refined analogical model of the impact event and inverse problem techniques is used. This method makes it possible to obtain the mechanical response of the material, notwithstanding the disturbance of the dynamic effects associated to the test. Results from tests carried out both on falling weight and swing pendulum instrumented testing machines are compared. It is shown that this method can give an accurate estimation of the actual bending force in impact testing independent of the testing equipment.     

Near-Complete Remission of Glioblastoma in a Patient Treated with an Allogenic Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine: The Role of Tumor-Specific CD4+T-Cell Cytokine Secretion Pattern in Predicting Response and Recurrence

Immunotherapy has brought hope to the fight against glioblastoma, but its efficacy remains unclear. We present the case of CST, a 25-year-old female patient with a large right-hemisphere glioblastoma treated with a dendritic–tumor cell fusion vaccine. CST showed a near-complete tumor response, with a marked improvement in her functional status and simultaneous increases in tumor-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Two months before recurrence, the frequency of tumor-specific T cells decreased, while that of IL-17 and CD4+ T cells increased. CST passed away 15 months after enrollment. In this illustrative case, the tumor-specific CD4+ T-cell numbers and phenotype behaved as treatment efficacy biomarkers, highlighting the key role of the latter in glioblastoma immunotherapy.