Enantiomer analysis of chiral lactones in foods by on-line coupled reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography

A new application is proposed for the on-line coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) that allows the GC chirospecific analysis of gamma-lactones in fruits and commercially available fruit-containing products. The use of a programmed temperature vaporizer as an interface with the system makes the transfer of large volume fractions (i.e., 2520 microL) of aqueous eluents from LC to GC possible (speed of sample transfer, 1800 microL/min). Relative standard deviations obtained for the investigated lactones under the experimental conditions vary from 7 to 14%. The described system enlarges the LC-GC application field and overcomes the limitations reported thus far concerning the use of typical normal-phase eluents (i.e., the transfer of rather small volume fractions at low speeds of sample introduction).     

Luminescent-dye-doped-plastics characterization for light intensitysensing

Luminescent-dye-doped-plastics are nowadays extensively used for esthetic purposes (toys, ballpoint pens, etc.). In the early 1980's, these materials were investigated to be used as sunlight concentrators in energy generation. Recent developments in fiber optic technology, beyond mere data transmission, lead us to consider the feasibility of using such materials for light intensity sensing in fiber optic sensors networks. The sensor described in this work has proved to show high linearity, reproducibility and stability, and low directivity, however it lacks high sensitivity. Further optimization of some design parameters will definitely help to improve it     

Assessment of service induced microstructural damage and its rejuvenation in turbine blades

Correlations between service induced microstructural degradation and creep properties in investment cast IN738LC turbine blades are discussed. Microstructural degradation in the form of γ’ coarsen-ing, MC carbide degeneration, formation of continuous networks of grain boundary M₂₃C₆ carbides, and the disappearance of serrated grain boundaries are considered in some detail. Their influence on primary (t _p ,ε _p ), secondary (t _s , ε _s ,ε _m ) and tertiary (t_t, ε_t) creep behavior is analyzed through rela-tionships of the form:

On reactive routing protocols in ZigBee wireless sensor networks

ZigBee is the primary standard solution for wireless sensor networks, implementing the Ad hoc On‐Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol in the network layer and supported by the standard IEEE 802.15.4. This study is focused on mesh topologies and the critical problems encountered when AODV is executed in conjunction with the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance protocol. These problems are mainly related to the packet overhead required to carry out route creation. To perform preliminary experiments to be able to implement AODV in a real network, a new metric is proposed herein. This metric uses fuzzy logic to help in the decision‐making process. The objective of the fuzzy routine is to determine, during the route‐discovery process, the best node to forward request/reply packets, with the aim of reducing packet overhead and energy consumption. Moreover, minor changes are also added to the discovery procedure of AODV to improve the performance of the route‐creation process. This intelligent version of AODV has provided promising experimental results, greatly reducing the number of packets required, with the consequent energy saving while selecting the best nodes to be part of the routes.     

Wind Estimation for Accurate Airplane Path Following Applications

This paper explores the flight of small fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in a non-steady environment. The vulnerability of light airplanes to wind is analyzed and the effect of such perturbations on airplane performance is incorporated in the equations of motion. A straightforward wind computation approach, which relies on the difference between the predicted motion of the aircraft and the real motion measured by sensors, is presented in order to be used for a path following application. The analysis takes into account the effect of the noise in sensors measurements and in estimates of orientation and airspeed components. One approach to reducing noise in wind estimates is proposed based on on-line adaptation techniques. Parameter estimation with minimum-order design is obtained using tuning functions. Simulations are carried out representing real flight scenarios in which the wind field is not constant and the sensor measurements are imperfect.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF NUCLEATION PHENOMENA WITHIN THERMAL BOUNDARY LAYERS—INFLUENCE ON CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION RATE PROCESSES

In carrying out partial vapor condensations using actively cooled surfaces it is known that 'mist' formation can occur within thermal boundary layers (Rosner and Epstein, 1968), dramatically modifying total deposition fluxes. Using a combination of flash-evaporation (Rosner and Liang, 1986) and laser probing techniques, we report new experimental results on binary alkali salt (K₂SO₄ + Na₂SO₄) deposition from combustion gases showing that the deposition rate of potassium sulfate first increases with the addition of sodium sulfate until the concentration of Na₂SO₄ reaches a (target surface temperature dependent) 'threshold' value. Further increases in the concentration of Na₂SO₄ dramatically decrease the total deposition rate of K₂SO₄, implying that potassium sulfate-containing microdroplets are formed within the thermal boundary layer, which, despite their thermophoretic drift toward the target, are not collected as effectively as the 'parent' K₂SO₄-vapor species. Laser light scattering measurements clearly reveal that suspended particles exist near the deposition surface under these conditions. Our experimental results on mass transfer rate and light scattering are consistent with those predicted using laminar boundary layer theory (Castillo and Rosner, 1989b) coupling both binary salt vapor deposition with particle vapor scavenging and deposition. Comparisons of our observed mist onset conditions (implying critical supersaturations near unity) with those expected using homogeneous nucleation theory suggest that the binary alkali sulfate mist nucleation mechanism is, instead, heterogeneous, even in our relatively 'clean' combustion products. Because of the; well-known vapor pressure reduction phenomenon associated here with the formation of non-ideal solutions, binary systems are shown to provide convenient 'vehicles' to investigate BL mist formation onset conditions and CVD-rate consequences without requiring the more extreme surface coolings characteristic of unary condensible vapor systems. An understanding of this dramatic phenomenon, obtained via such laboratory experiments and calculations, will allow its inclusion in future deposition rate calculations of engineering importance.     

Sex pheromone communication in the nematode,Rhabditis pellio

Both males and females ofRhabditis pellio release pheromones that attract the opposite sex prior to copulation. A quantitative bioassay for the female-produced pheromone was designed, based on male movement toward a pheromone source placed at one end of a 10-mm strip of bacterial material maintained on nutrient agar in a petri plate. Females produced pheromone from the age at which they attained the adult stage (3 days following hatching from the egg) and maintained a relatively constant production level until at least the ninth day of life. Similarly, males became responsive to the female pheromone by the third day and remained responsive through the ninth day, although the time required for the males to migrate toward a female pheromone source increased with increasing age. No daily rhythm of pheromone responsiveness by males or pheromone production by females was observed when the nematodes were conditioned to a 1212 h light-dark cycle.     

Heterogeneous networking

In this article, security challenges related to a mobile heterogeneous networking environment, and the general access patterns are discussed. A novel, unified networking architecture that enables secure heterogeneous networking, both in terms of networks and user devices is discussed. A comprehensive security framework providing a generalized authentication scheme using the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is then presented, by taking into account existing methods for secure network and device access.     

Mobile digcovery: discovering and interacting with the world through the Internet of things

The application of Internet-enabled devices in the real world for the development of Smart Cities, environmental monitoring, bus tracking, and parking requires scalability, extensibility, and integration of emerging resources to reach a suitable ecosystem for data acquisition and interaction with citizens. Internet of things needs to offer efficient support for global communications and access to services and information. It needs to enable homogeneous and seamless machine-to-machine communication for different solutions and applications. This work presents an homogeneous and suitable mechanism for global resource discovery, device access for deployed smart objects in different scenarios, and sensors and devices from end users (participative sensing). The integration of legacy and sensors already available from smart buildings and smart objects is presented. For this purpose, a resolution infrastructure called “digcovery” is defined for maximizing efficiency and sustainability of deployments. Digcovery architecture offers the framework to allow users to register/include their own sensors into a common infrastructure and access/discover the available resources through mobile digcovery. Mobile digcovery exploits the context-awareness, geo-location, and identification technologies available in mobile platforms such as smartphones to discover, interact, and access the resources through its ElasticSearch engine.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of (R)-1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5]undecane [major component of olive fruit fly (Dacus Oleae) sex pheromone] from d-Fructose

The synthesis of the title compound13 has been carried out through the preparation of its precursor, (3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane (6), obtained fromd-fructose using Wittig's methodology, reduction, and spiroketalation. Compound6 was transformed into13 by a Barton deoxygenation at C-5 followed by a Corey dideoxygenation at C-3,4 of the appropriately protected derivatives.Enantiospecific synthesis of spiroacetals. Part II. For Part I, see Izquierdo and Plaza (1990).