Optimized punch contact action related to control of local structure displacement

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization - For a structure under service loads, there is a need to induce precise control of a local displacement by additional punch loading. Such problem...     

Comparison of Ozone-based and other (VUV and TiO2/UV) Radical Generation Methods in Phenol Decomposition

The degradation reaction kinetics and chemical mechanism of phenol decomposition by ozonation, TiO₂-photocatalysis and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photolysis were investigated. The concentration dependences of the aromatic and aliphatic intermediates and the TOC content were compared as a function of the phenol conversion. The concentration profiles and the TOC curves obtained with each method were very similar. The results suggest a similar chemical mechanism for the transformation of phenol irrespective of the starting active component (a positive hole on the surface of the catalysts, a VUV photon, ozone or the hydroxyl radical).     

A sex attractant for the scarab beetle Anomala solida Er

(R,Z)-5-(-)-(Oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one (R-buibuilactone) attracted male Anomala solida Er. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae), a vineyard and orchard pest in Southeastern Europe. The presence of the corresponding (S) enantiomer or of 2-(E)-nonen-1-ol (a frequently found pheromone component in other Anomala spp.) in the bait did not influence catches. Traps baited with (R,Z)-5-(-)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one were successfully used for monitoring the flight of A. solida, and may have practical applications for detection, monitoring, and mass trapping of the pest.     

UV-induced Decomposition of Ozone and Hydrogen Peroxide in the Aqueous Phase at pH 2–7

The photolysis of ozone and formation of hydrogen peroxide were investigated in solution of pH 2–7, in a 200 cm³ photoreactor in the incident photon flow range 9.6 x 10^?8 - 4.2 x 10^?7 einstein s^?1. The quantum yield of the primary photochemical reactions was measured in a direct way by suppressing the secondary radical reactions. The determined quantum yields of the photo-decompositions of ozone and hydrogen peroxide were 0.42 ± 0.042 ± 0.04 and 0.49 ± 0.04, respectively.

A correct mathematical treatment is given for calculation of the light absorption of the individual components of a multi-absorbent reaction mixture.

On the basis of the literature data and die present results, a probable chemical and reaction kinetic model was proposed to characterize the investigated reaction systems. Reaction kinetic simulations demonstrated that the model predicts a good fit to the measured data with the preferred literature rate constants, except that for the HO₃ radical decomposition reaction. A reasonable reduction of this rate coefficient value is in accordance with the latest published results.     

Catalytic effect of amines on the ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol

Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society - The catalytic activity of several tertiary amines on the ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol has been investigated. It has been established that the...     

A robust SMES controller strategy for mitigating power and voltage fluctuations of grid-connected hybrid PV–wind generation systems

Electrical Engineering - Recently, hybrid generation systems (HGSs) are considered to be the optimal solution for supplying remote areas with the required electrical power. HGSs contain two or more...     

The convergence of diagonally implicit Runge–Kutta methods combined with Richardson extrapolation

Runge–Kutta methods are widely used in the solution of systems of ordinary differential equations. Richardson extrapolation is an efficient tool for enhancing the accuracy of time integration schemes. In this paper we investigate the convergence of the combination of any of the diagonally implicit (including also the explicit) Runge–Kutta methods with active Richardson extrapolation and show that the numerical solution obtained converges under rather natural conditions.     

Physical properties and morphology of films prepared from microfibrillated cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose in combination with amylopectin

Two types of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared using either a sulfite pulp containing a high amount of hemicellulose (MFC 1) or a carboxymethylated dissolving pulp (MFC 2). MFC gels were then combined with amylopectin solutions to produce solvent‐cast MFC‐reinforced amylopectin films. Tensile testing revealed that MFC 2‐reinforced films exhibited a more ductile behavior and that MFC 1‐reinforced films had higher modulus of elasticity (E‐modulus) at MFC loadings of 50 wt % or higher. Pure MFC films had relatively low oxygen permeability values when data were compared with those for a variety of other polymer films. MFC 1 and MFC 2 films had similar opacity but differences in appearance which were attributed to the presence of some larger fibers and nanofiber agglomerates in MFC 2. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to illustrate the morphology of MFC nanofibers in pure films and in an amylopectin matrix. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010