Vapor-liquid equilibrium in the ethane-carbon dioxide system

Vapor-liquid equilibrium compositions were measured at four isothermal conditions from ?60°F to 60°F over the pressure range from 101.5 to 827.0 psia for the binary system ethane-carbon dioxide. A forced recirculation apparatus was employed for the determination. The data obtained were found to be thermodynamically consistent, and were compared favorably with the values predicted by means of a modified Redlich-Kwong equation of state especially at the lower temperatures.     

Microstructure and refractory properties of spinel containing castables

The bauxite-based and kaolin-based refractory castables investigated were carefully prepared. They are composed of 90 wt.% well-graded (coarse, medium, and fine) bauxite or kaolin aggregates, 10 wt.% binding matrix and adequate amount of distilled water. The binder mixture was calcium aluminate cement (CAC) containing 80% alumina and magnesium-aluminate spinel (MA-spinel) either preformed or in situ. The castable batches were cast into cubes (25 mm × 25 mm × 25 mm), left at 100% relative humidity for 24 h cured for 7 days under water, and dried at 110 °C for 24 h. The samples were then subjected to firing at 1550 °C for a soaking time of 1 h.     

Effect of formulated zimmu (Allium cepa L. × Allium sativum L.) extract in the management of grain mold of sorghum

BACKGROUND: The in vitro antifungal activity of zimmu (Allium cepa L. × Allium sativum L.) extract against Aspergillus flavus Link., Fusarium moniliforme Sheld, Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn and Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, the fungi associated with grain mold of sorghum, was evaluated. An emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation of zimmu extract was prepared and its efficacy in controlling grain mold was tested under field conditions. RESULTS: The leaf extract of zimmu exhibited strong antifungal activity against A. flavus, F. moniliforme, C. lunata and A. alternata and caused in vitro fungal growth inhibition of 73.3%, 71.1%, 70.0% and 74.4%, respectively. Foliar application of zimmu formulation 50 EC at 3 mLL^?1 (v/v) concentration 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing significantly reduced the incidence of grain mold and increased the grain weight and grain hardness. A significant reduction in the aflatoxin B1 content in sorghum grains was observed when sorghum plants were sprayed with zimmu formulation 50 EC at 0.3% concentration. Western blot analysis revealed that a thaumatin‐like protein (TLP) a molecular mass of 23 kDa that cross‐reacted with zeamatin antiserum was expressed at higher levels in sorghum grains after treatment with zimmu formulations. CONCLUSION: The leaf extract of zimmu exhibited antifungal activity against sorghum grain mold fungi. The formulated zimmu extract was significantly effective in reducing the grain mold incidence in sorghum under field conditions. This formulated zimmu extract offers a novel alternative for eco‐friendly management of grain mold of sorghum. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Performance of generic and proprietary corrosion inhibitors in chloride-contaminated silica fume cement concrete

This paper presents the results of a study conducted to evaluate the improvement in corrosion-resistance of chloride-contaminated silica fume cement concrete due to the use of corrosion inhibitors. Three proprietary and one generic corrosion inhibitors were evaluated for their performance in inhibiting reinforcement corrosion in the silica fume cement concrete specimens contaminated with 0.4%, 1%, and 2% chloride concentration, by weight of cement. Some of the specimens were subjected to wetting and drying cycles and reinforcement corrosion was monitored by measuring corrosion potentials and corrosion current density. Another batch of concrete specimens was partially immersed in the chloride solution and reinforcement corrosion was accelerated by impressing an anodic potential of 2 V. The extent of corrosion increased with increasing chloride contamination in the concrete specimens. Incorporation of inhibitor generally decreased the rate of reinforcement corrosion. The rate of reinforcement corrosion in the concrete specimens incorporating an organic inhibitor that was added to the concrete during mixing was the least followed by that in the concrete specimens on which a penetrating corrosion inhibitor was applied. Further, the accelerated impressed current technique was noted to be suitable for quickly screening the performance of corrosion inhibitors.     

Transient thermal hydraulic modeling and analysis of ITER divertor plate system

A mathematical model has been developed/updated to simulate the steady state and transient thermal-hydraulics of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) divertor module. The model predicts the thermal response of the armour coating, divertor plate structural materials and coolant channels. The selected heat transfer correlations cover all operating conditions of ITER under both normal and off-normal situations. The model also accounts for the melting, vaporization, and solidification of the armour material. The developed model is to provide a quick benchmark of the HEIGHTS multidimensional comprehensive simulation package. The present model divides the coolant channels into a specified axial regions and the divertor plate into a specified radial zones, then a two-dimensional heat conduction calculation is created to predict the temperature distribution for both steady and transient states. The model is benchmarked against experimental data performed at Sandia National Laboratory for both bare and swirl tape coolant channel mockups. The results show very good agreements with the data for steady and transient states. The model is then used to predict the thermal behavior of the ITER plasma facing and structural materials due to plasma instability event where 60 MJ/m² plasma energy is deposited over 500 ms. The results for ITER divertor response is analyzed and compared with HEIGHTS results.     

Transdisciplinarity of Smart Health Care: Transmedical E-volution

The paper discusses various aspects of modern health care transdisciplinarity, comprising of three important scientific domains: biomedicine and molecular biosciences, social sciences and information and communications technologies. The transdisciplinarity gives support not only to inclusion policy of European Commission, but also to increased efficiency and quality of the health care for everyone in the system. Some of available SHC wireless technologies, as well as possible applications, are discussed in the paper.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl residues in the golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) from Tunis Bay,Mediterranean sea (Tunisia)

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determinated in the muscle tissues of mullets (Liza aurata) caught from two coastal marine areas in Tunis bay, “Raoued” and “Radès”. Twenty congeners were detected in all the fish samples analyzed, among which were 4 congeners recommended by the European Union for assessing pollution and 4 “dioxin-like” congeners. Residue levels of total PCBs ranged from 45 to 194 ng/g wet wt in the mullet from “Radès” and from 43 to 65 ng/g w wt in specimens from “Raoued”. Hexachlorobiphenyls were predominant in fishes caught from both “Raoued” and “Radès” areas, accounting for 43% and 40%, respectively. The individual PCB profiles were dominated by congeners 153 in mullet from “Raoued” and PCB 200 in fishes from “Radès”. The levels of TEQs of “dioxin-like” congeners were 3.4 pg/g w wt for fishes from “Raoued” and 2.5 pg/g w wt for specimens from “Radès”.     

On the optimization of solar-driven refrigerators

The thermodynamic optimization of a solar driven refrigerator, that is, a refrigerator driven by use of the solar Rankine power cycle, is studied in this paper. The system is totally irreversible, i.e. externally and internally irreversible. The effect of the operating conditions on the overall efficiency of the system is evaluated.     

Electricity consumption and economic growth,the case of Lebanon

In this paper we investigate the causal relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth for Lebanon, using monthly data for Lebanon covering the period January 1995 to December 2005. Empirical results of the study confirm the absence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth in Lebanon but the existence of unidirectional causality running from electricity consumption to economic growth when examined in a bivariate vector autoregression framework with change in temperature and relative humidity as exogenous variables. Thus, the policy makers in Lebanon should place priority in early stages of reconstruction on building capacity additions and infrastructure development of the electric power sector of Lebanon, as this would propel the economic growth of the country.