Self-aggregation processes of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in water/ethanol mixtures with high water percentages

This work describes the behavior of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) in ethanol/water mixtures. The dependence of DPH photophysical properties (absorption and fluorescence emission) on the water percentage in ethanol indicates that DPH undergoes self-aggregation processes in solvent conditions above a critical water content. Evidence such as an additional absorption band, Beer's law deviation, kinetic behavior, and other experimental results obtained from temperature variation and surfactant addition demonstrated the presence of several types of DPH aggregates. Resonance light scattering measurements proved that the aggregate grew in water-rich media by a self-catalyzed process.     

Variables Controlling Stiffness and Strength of Lime-Stabilized Soils

Lime treatment is an attractive technique for soil improvement in the construction of rail tracks and pavement layers, in slope protection of earth dams, and as a support layer for shallow foundations. However, there are no dosage methodologies based on rational criteria as in the case of soil-cement technology, where the voids/cement ratio is shown to be a key parameter for the estimation of both strength and stiffness. The present study, therefore, was aimed at quantifying the influence of the amount of lime, porosity, and voids/lime ratio on the initial shear modulus (G0) and unconfined compressive strength (qu) of a lime-treated clayey sandy soil. From the results of unconfined compression tests and bender elements measurements, it was shown, for the soil-lime mixtures investigated, that the voids/lime ratio is an appropriate parameter to assess both initial stiffness and unconfined compressive strength. Also, a unique G0/qu versus voids/lime ratio relationship was established linking the soil-lime mixture initial stiffness and compressive strength.     

Numerical modeling of startup and shutdown transients in reciprocating compressors

Several phenomena that affect energy consumption, noise level and reliability of compressors are associated with transient effects that occur during the compressor startup and shutdown. This paper presents a simulation methodology, experimentally validated, developed to analyze the compressor in such transients. Because the time scale associated with the compressor thermal behavior is much larger than that related to the mechanical physics, a thermal equilibrium condition has been considered herein for convenience. Results for valve displacement, piston motion, pressure in the compression chamber and resistive torques are provided to illustrate the application of the methodology and to assist an understanding of the physical aspects that affect the compressor performance throughout the startup and shutdown. It is observed that the dynamics of suction and discharge valves are greatly affected. Moreover, the model is employed to estimate the minimum voltage required for the compressor startup as a function of the equalized pressure and the auxiliary coil actuation time.     

Characterization of an antimicrobial dental resin adhesive containing zinc methacrylate

This study evaluates the effect of zinc methacrylate (ZM) on the degree of conversion (DC), cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity (AA) of an experimental resin. Tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate was used as the experimental resin and it was photo activated using camphoroquinone and ethyl 4-dimethylamine benzoate. Additionally, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20 and 30 wt% of ZM was added to the various experimental resins. The DC was accessed by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. For cytotoxicity, immortalized mouse fibroblasts were exposed to the experimental resin extracts. An MTT assay was used to access the cytotoxicity. The AA against Streptococcus mutans UA159 was accessed by the agar diffusion method. An improvement in the DC in all concentrations of ZM was observed. The greater the amount of ZM on the experimental resin, the less the cytotoxicity was provoked. Three ZM concentrations showed AA that exhibited various inhibition growth zones with 10, 20 (10 mm) and 30 wt% (15 mm).     

Thermodynamic consistency in deriving lattice Boltzmann models for describing segregation in non-ideal mixtures

The thermodynamic consistency of kinetic models for non-ideal mixtures in non-isothermal conditions is investigated. A kinetic model is proposed that is suitable for deriving high-order lattice Boltzmann equations by an appropriate discretization of the velocity space, satisfying the Galilean invariance condition and free of spurious terms in the first moment equations.     

Growth of carbon nanostructures using a Pd-based catalyst

Carbon nanostructures were synthesized by decomposition of different carbon sources over an alumina supported palladium catalyst via Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Several experimental conditions were varied to verify their influence in the synthesis products: temperature ramping rate, pre-annealing conditions, hydrogen pre-treatment, synthesis temperature and time, together with the use of different carbon sources. Depending on the experimental conditions carbon nanotubes and nanofibers with different shapes and structural characteristics were obtained. Straight, coiled and branched morphologies are the most common. Among our findings, the addition of hydrogen plays a significant role in the structure of the carbonaceous products. For example, the decomposition of acetylene on palladium catalysts at 800 degrees C in the absence of hydrogen produces only carbon micro- spheres as synthesis products. The incorporation of increasing amounts of hydrogen modifies the outcome, from thick fibers to carbon nanotubes. To verify the level of graphitization of the synthesis products we have used high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in addition to Raman spectroscopy. Our results, based on these complementary techniques, indicate the decomposition of acetylene on a palladium based catalyst, produces the best degree of graphitization in carbon nanotubes for a temperature of 800 degrees C and 100 cc/min of hydrogen flow. Similar hydrogen flows on the same catalyst, produced highly graphitized nanofibers by the decomposition of methane at 850 degrees C.     

Optimal Placement of Phasor Measurement Units Using a Modified Canonical Genetic Algorithm for Observability Analysis

This paper proposes a method for optimal placement of synchronized PMUs （phasor measurement units） in electrical power systems using a MCGA （modified canonical genetic algorithm）, which the goal is to determine the minimum number of PMUs, as well as the optimal location of these units to ensure the complete topological observability of the system. In case of more than one solution, a strategy of analysis of the design matrix rank is applied to determine the solution with the lower number of critical measurements. In the proposed method of placement, modifications are made in the crossover and mutation genetic operators, as well as in the formation of the subpopulation, and are considered restrictive hypotheses in the search space to improve the performance in solving the optimization problem. Simulations are performed using the IEEE 14-bus, IEEE 30-bus and New England 39-bus test systems. The proposed method is applied on the IEEE 118-bus test system considering the presence of observable zones formed by conventional measurements.     

Cronobacter sakazakii Inactivation by Microwave Processing

Nowadays, current practices at home and childcare settings involved MW heating after powder infant formula milk reconstitution. Microwave (MW) effectiveness for Cronobacter sakazakii inactivation in reconstituted powder infant formula milk was investigated. Power levels in the range 400–900 W were tested during exposure times ranging from 0 to 120 s. Power levels of 800 and 900 W reduced the C. sakazakii initial population to undetectable levels (≥8 log₁₀ cycles), reaching maximum temperatures of 78.8?±?2.3 °C and 88.1?±?1.5 °C, respectively. A post-treatment storage study (5 °C, 24 h) was completed to determine the recovery or death of C. sakazakii damaged and survival cells. It was observed that lowest MW intensity treatments (power level and treatment time) provide the highest percentages of injured cells. Moreover, these high percentages of damaged cells progressively die during refrigerated storage (up to 24 h). Microbial reduction levels higher or equal to 5 log₁₀ cycles were reached due to the sublethal damaged cell death.