The energy intensity in Lithuania during 1995–2009: A LMDI approach

The measurement, assessment, and effective mitigation of energy intensity compose a foremost objective of contemporary energy policy. Although the European Union (EU) Member States have been experiencing the convergence in energy efficiency indicators, Lithuania, acceded to the EU in 2004, still remains peculiar with relatively high energy intensity. Our study, therefore, is aimed at analyzing the energy intensity trends in Lithuanian economy as a whole as well as in separate economic sectors. The investigation covers the period of 1995–2009. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index was applied for decomposition analysis. Our analysis has shown that energy efficiency falls during economic downturn. In order to facilitate these challenges the Lithuanian Government as well as business should opt for increasing energy efficiency in the most problematic sectors of transport and services. In addition, the analysis of legal acts, namely National Energy Efficiency Programme for 2006–2010 and Energy Efficiency Action plan for 2010–2016, was taken into consideration. Some suggestions, thus, were offered for successful implementation of strategic goals outlined in the aforementioned strategic documents.     

A High-Resolution TEM/EELS Study of the Effect of Doping Elements on the Sliding Mechanisms of Sputtered WS2 Coatings

It has been shown many times that cosputtering low-friction coatings of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and tungsten disulfide (WS₂) with other elements can improve the structural, mechanical, and tribological properties. To achieve the lowest friction, MoS₂ or WS₂ should be doped with element(s) improving the hardness and density of the coatings. On the other hand, such elements, or their compounds, should not be present in the outermost molecular layers at the sliding interface. This article suggests that there are important differences between how MoS₂ and WS₂ coatings respond to or react with doping elements, despite the almost identical structure and behavior of the undoped materials. Two systems have been investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), W-S-C-Cr and W-S-C-Ti, and showed significant amounts of oxides, which typically formed a layer just underneath the crystalline WS₂ top layer. Further, carbon was almost completely absent in the tribofilms, despite the fact that the as-deposited coatings contained as much as 40–50 at% C. An interesting observation here is that WS₂ basal planes surround or embed Fe wear particles, suggesting a relatively strong adhesion or a Fe-S chemical bonding between iron/steel and WS₂. The result of this is that the wear particles become pacified and remain in the contact as low-friction material.     

Untersuchung des Einflusses der Beanspruchungsgeschwindigkeit auf das Deformations‐ und Bruchverhalten von Weizenkörnern

Compression tests of deformation and fracture behavior of wheat grains were carried out at different loading rates that varied from 0.02 to 0.11 mm s^–1. The contact model originally developed for the spherical particles was adapted to describe the deformation and fracture behavior of elliptical wheat grains. The distributions of basic fracture parameters of wheat grains such as fracture force, fracture strength, fracture energy, and fracture displacement were fitted with normal distribution function.     

Panchromatic response composed of hybrid visible-light absorbing polymers and near-IR absorbing dyes for nanocrystalline TiO2-based solid-state solar cells

In pursuit of panchromatic sensitizers for mesoporous TiO₂-based solid-state solar cells, a near-IR absorbing zinc phthalocyanine dye (coded TT1) was firstly adsorbed over relatively thin (∼1 μm) TiO₂ mesoporous films and then a visible-light absorbing polymer [regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene), P3HT] was incorporated into the mesopores as both a second sensitizer and a solid hole conductor. After optimizing some experimental parameters, these hybrid solid-state cells exhibited a clear panchromatic response, and an overall conversion efficiency of around 1% at full sun intensity.     

Einfluss der Feuchtebeladung bei der Druckbeanspruchung von Granulaten

The material behavior of γ‐Al₂O₃‐, zeolite 4A‐ und sodium benzoate granules at compression has been experimentally studied. The material behavior has been found to be dominant elastic, elastic‐plastic and dominant plastic. Additionally, the influence of moisture content on the material behavior has been investigated. The force‐displacement curves have been approximated using suitable mechanical models.     

Prediction of sensory quality by near infrared reflectance analysis of frozen and freeze dried green peas (Pisum sativum)

Frozen, green peas (Pisum sativum L ) of different varieties and different levels of maturity were evaluated by sensory analysis using a panel of ten trained judges. Two texture variables (hardness and mealiness) and four flavour variables (pea flavour, sweetness, fruity flavour, off flavour) were considered. Near infiared reflectance ( N I R ) analysis was performed with the same material, on both the fiozen and fieeze dried peas. The N I R instrument was calibrated to predict the sensory variables using the multivariate analytical method of principal component regression. Tenderometer readings of the same peas were also calibrated to predict the sensory variables. N I R analysis on the fieeze dried peas showed relative ability of prediction (RAP) values for the sensory variables which were higher than those for the tenderometer readings. The sensory attributes pea flavour and hardness were predicted with higher RAP values by tenderometer readings than by N I R analysis on fiozen peas. For the rest of the attributes, N I R analysis on fiozen peas gave higher RAP values than tenderometer readings. N I R generally gave high RAP values, and this tentative study suggests that N I R analysis could be a useful tool in instrumentally assessing the quality of frozen peas.     

Comprehensive analysis of major and minor chlorogenic acids and lactones in economically relevant Brazilian coffee cultivars

Coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world and a significant source of phenolic compounds, particularly chlorogenic acids (CGA). During coffee roasting, some CGA are partially transformed into chlorogenic acid lactones (CGL). Both CGA and CGL are important compounds for flavor and potentially beneficial to human health. In the present study, using LC–MS and synthetic standards, we investigated major and minor CGA and CGL isomers in green and roasted samples of economically relevant Brazilian Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora coffee cultivars. For the first time, in addition to nineteen previously identified CGA and CGL, 1-feruloylquinic acid, 1-feruloylquinic lactone and 3,4-diferuloylquinic acid were quantified in C. arabica and C. canephora, the contents of 3- and 4-p-coumaroylquinic lactones were reported in C. canephora and 3,4-di-p-coumaroylquinic acid was identified in C. arabica. Despite their low concentrations, the implications of these findings for flavor, cup quality and the biological properties of coffee merit further investigation.     

THE INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE ON THE KINETICS OF VACUUM DRYING OF KETOPROFEN

This paper explores the influence of temperature and pressure on drying kinetics of 2-(3-benzoylphenil propionic acid) ketoprofen, in a vacuum dryer on laboratory scale, Experimentally determined relations between moisture content and drying rate vs time, were approximated with an exponential model. Model parameters were correlated with drying conditions (temperature, pressure) and defined by functions of their potentions.

From an energy balance of the process, a mathematical model for simulating dependence of sample temperature vs drying time, and moisture content of material, has been developed.

Simulation of the drying kinetics and sample temperature, by use of those functional dependencies shows good agreement with experimental results.