Effect of warm mix asphalt chemical additives on the mechanical performance of asphalt binders

Warm mix asphalt (WMA) has become very popular in asphalt pavement construction because it allows reducing both energy consumptions and carbon emissions. WMA can be obtained by using different types of additives and can be produced, applied, and compacted at temperatures 20–40 °C lower than hot mix asphalt. WMA additives allow reducing the working temperatures without compromising the final performance of the asphalt concrete. Many WMA additives are available on the worldwide market and some of them reduce the viscosity of asphalts binder (organic additives or foam) whereas others do not act on this sense (chemical additives). This study focuses on the effect of chemical additives on the performance of asphalt binders for WMA production. To this purpose, a neat bitumen, a polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and two different chemical additives were selected. All the binders were characterized through conventional tests, DSR, MSCR, FTIR and microscopic analysis. The result clearly showed that the influence of the chemical additives on the neat bitumen is negligible or non-existent. On the contrary, significant changes were observed in the modified bitumen properties. Specifically, chemical additives reduce the viscosity temperature susceptibility of PMBs in the temperature range between 80 and 140 °C, increase the rutting resistance potential and the elastic response of PMBs at high temperatures. Moreover, a morphological inspection supported the modifications observed in the rheological properties of PMBs.     

Service Orientation and the Smart Grid state and trends

The energy market is undergoing major changes, the most notable of which is the transition from a hierarchical closed system toward a more open one highly based on a ??smart?? information-rich infrastructure. This transition calls for new information and communication technologies infrastructures and standards to support it. In this paper, we review the current state of affairs and the actual technologies with respect to such transition. Additionally, we highlight the contact points between the needs of the future grid and the advantages brought by service-oriented architectures.     

Synthesis of borosilicalite-1 with more than four boron per unit cell from fluoride containing media

More than four boron per unit cell has been introduced into the framework of silicalite-1, using fluorine containing media. The initial gels were of composition 9MF–xH₃BO₃–10SiO₂–1.25TPABr–330 H₂O with M = NH₄, Na, K and Cs and x = 0.1–10. The syntheses were carried out in hydrothermal conditions at 170°C. The amount of incorporated TPA⁺ ions remains quasi constant (3.5–3.8/u.c.) up to 4 B/u.c., while it decreases with increasing boron content. The amount of tetrahedral B/u.c. can be as high as 8 in presence of K⁺ or Cs⁺ ions in the as-synthesized samples. It is observed that the preferential countercations to framework negative charges related to the presence of tetrahedral boron, [SiOB]⁻, are TPA⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺ ions. It is interpreted, that the −4.0 ppm versus BF₃.OEt₂ NMR line stems from tetrahedral framework boron, while the −2.9 ppm NMR line represents both extraframework and/or tetracoordinated deformed framework boron in the structure.     

The ESTEEM platform: enabling P2P semantic collaboration through emerging collective knowledge

In this paper, we present Esteem (Emergent Semantics and cooperaTion in multi-knowledgE EnvironMents), a community-based P2P platform for supporting semantic collaboration among a set of independent peers, without prior reciprocal knowledge and no predefined relationships. Goal of Esteem is to go beyond the existing state-of-the-art solutions for P2P knowledge sharing and to provide an integrated platform for both data and service discovery. A distinguishing feature of Esteem is the use of semantic communities to explicitly give shape to the collective knowledge and expertise of peer groups with similar interests. Key techniques of Esteem will be presented in the paper and concern: shuffling-based communication, ontology and service matchmaking, context management, and quality-aware data integration. An application example of data and service discovery in the health-care domain will be presented, by also discussing results of system and user evaluation.     

Fire Safety Measures in Historic Buildings for University Use

The paper summarises the results of an investigation intended to develop guidelines for implementing fire safety measures in historic buildings converted to university use, and which can be utilised in making design decisions and assessing project feasibility. In particular, the paper focuses on the relationships between a building's historical type, the applicable regulatory and performance requirements, and the design solutions that can be adopted in a given situation. The examples of such solutions provided in the paper, which regard functional requirements as well as those for fire safety, accessibility and utilities systems, are drawn from an analysis of recent case studies of historic building conversion to university use, evaluating the design approaches which were adopted and possible alternatives. In addition, the paper presents a series of parametric appraisals of the typical costs incurred in construction and utilities installation, together with a discussion of the development and application of a risk analysis method which can be used to evaluate the overall performance of specific design solutions or construction situations.     

Effects of supercritical and liquid carbon dioxide extraction on hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil

The increase in the popularity of hemp-based products is mainly linked to the presence of non-psychoactive cannabinoids that provide relief from aches, pain and anxiety. In this study, hemp seed oils were produced by two innovative and environmentally friendly extraction techniques: supercritical and liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction. The chemical composition of the two oils was analysed and compared with that of a control oil obtained by solvent (n-hexane) extraction. Both oils obtained by liquid and supercritical CO₂ extraction presented interesting compositions: they contained large amounts of cannabinoids, polyphenols and tocopherols and were less oxidised than the control and contained a large amount of hexanal, which provided a pleasant aroma. The maximum cannabinoid content was found in the oil obtained by liquid CO₂ extraction (71.51 mg of cannabidiol per kg of oil and 113.92 mg of cannabinol per kg of oil). Carotenoids were prevalent in the oil obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction (61.00 mg kg⁻¹ of oil).     

Chemical and antimicrobial analyses of essential oil of Lippia origanoides H.B.K

Lippia origanoides H.B.K. (Verbenaceae) is a plant known in Oriximiná (Brazil) as “Salva-de-Marajó”. Its leaves are widely used as of a spice in cooking and in traditional medicine. The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from its leaves, analyzed by GC and GC/MS, showed a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (66.0%), carvacrol (38.6%) and thymol (18.5%) being the major constituents. Considering that previous studies on the same plant species showed carvacrol as a trace or absent compound, we propose the existence of a new chemotype for this species. A high carvacrol content in the essential oil determines the plant’s suitability for the preparation of oregano condiment. The antimicrobial activity of this essential oil was determined by the drop diffusion method, showing highly significant inhibition zones for all microorganisms tested.     

Immigrant-Chinese and Euro-American parents' physical closeness with young children: Themes of family relatedness.

This study examined cultural differences in the expression and meaning of physical closeness. Findings indicated that immigrant-Chinese parents, as compared with Euro-American parents, sleep in closer proximity with their children; more often view independence as children growing with the family; are more likely to emphasize the family unit; and place greater importance on inhibition of expression adherence to correct values, and hierarchy of relations. Euro-Americans, by contrast, are more accepting of nudity; place more emphasis on psychological benefit of physical closeness and on the child's expression of wants and feelings; more often view independence as celebrating the child's distinctiveness; and place greater importance on intimacy, pleasure, and spousal exclusiveness. The authors suggest that closeness is characterized by an overarching theme of harmony in immigrant-Chinese families and by an overarching theme of romance in Euro American families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microsecond time-resolved Fourier transform infrared analytics in a low pressure glow discharge reactor

A low pressure glow discharge reactor has been designed to allow time-resolved infrared spectroscopic investigation of the discharge zone in practical conditions. The benefits of such reactor are demonstrated through the study of the evolution in the infrared spectra of air/CO(2) gas mixture at the microsecond time-scale. It has been shown that the spectra are greatly affected by the electrical discharge in the 2400-2200?cm(-1) region, where the asymmetric stretch mode of CO(2) falls. The CO(2) molecules are excited through a collision with excited N(2) molecules, where the transfer of energy occurs by a resonant effect. The mechanisms involved are reversible and following plasma pulses.