Application of the general rate model with the Maxwell-Stefan equations for the prediction of the band profiles of the 1-indanol enantiomers

The adsorption isotherm data of R- and S-1-indanol and of their racemic mixture on cellulose tribenzoate were measured by frontal analysis. These experimental data were fitted to the single-component and the modified competitive Bilangmuir isotherms. The overloaded elution profiles of bands of the pure enantiomers and of the racemic mixture were calculated for different sample sizes, using the best competitive isotherm model and the General Rate Model of chromatography coupled with the generalized Maxwell-Stefan equation that describes the surface diffusion flux. The calculated and the experimental profiles were found to be in excellent agreement in all cases. The parameters of the model of the mass transfer kinetics were derived from the band profiles obtained for the pure enantiomers. The same values of these parameters give an excellent prediction of the profiles of multicomponent bands. The new model described here allows a satisfactory interpretation of the competitive mass transfer kinetics.     

Effect of dietary n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipid-metabolizing enzymes in obese rat liver

This study was designed to examine whether n−3 and n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids at a very low dietary level (about 0.2%) would alter liver activities in respect to fatty acid oxidation. Obese Zucker rats were used because of their low level of fatty acid oxidation, which would make increases easier to detect. Zucker rats were fed diets containing different oil mixtures (5%, w/w) with the same ratio of n−6/n−3 fatty acids supplied either as fish oil or arachidonic acid concentrate. Decreased hepatic triacylglycerol levels were observed only with the diet containing fish oil. In mitochondrial outer membranes, which support carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity, cholesterol content was similar for all diets, while the percentage of 22∶6n−3 and 20∶4n−6 in phospholipids was enhanced about by 6 and 3% with the diets containing fish oil and arachidonic acid, respectively. With the fish oil diet, the only difference found in activities related to fatty acid oxidation was the lower sensitivity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I to malonyl-CoA inhibition. With the diet containing arachidonic acid, peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity were markedly depressed. Compared with the control diet, the diets enriched in fish oil and in arachidonic acid gave rise to a higher specific activity of aryl-ester hydrolase in microsomal fractions. We suggest that slight changes in composition of n−3 or n−6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in mitochondrial outer membranes may alter carnitine palmitoyltransferase I activity.     

Emissions control policies under uncertainty and rational learning in a linear-state dynamic model

We compare the use of price-based policies or taxes, and quantity-based policies or quotas, for controlling emissions in a dynamic setup when the regulator faces two sources of uncertainty: (i) market-related uncertainty; and (ii) ecological uncertainty. We assume that the regulator is a rational Bayesian learner and the regulator and firms have asymmetric information. In our model the structure of Bayesian learning is general. Our results suggest that the expected level of emissions is the same under taxes and quotas. However, the comparison of the total benefits related to these policies suggests that taxes dominate quotas, that is, they provide a higher social welfare. Even though taxes have some benefits over quotas, neither learning nor ecological uncertainty affect the choice of policy, i.e., the only factor having such an impact is uncertainty in the instantaneous net emissions benefits (market-related uncertainty). Besides, the more volatile is this uncertainty, the more benefits of taxes over quotas. Ecological uncertainty leads to a difference between the emissions rule under the informed and the rational learning assumptions. However, the direction of this difference depends on the beliefs bias with regard to ecological uncertainty. We also find that a change in the regulator’s beliefs toward more optimistic views will increase the emissions.     

Preparation and properties of high molecular weight poly(1-germa-) or poly(1-sila-cis-pent-3-enes)

High molecular weight poly(1,1-dimethyl-1-germa-cis-pent-3-ene), poly(1,1-diphenyl-1-germa-cis-pent-3-ene), poly(1,1-dimethyl-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene), and poly(1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene) have been prepared. The thermal stability of these polymers is found to increase with their molecular weight.     

Adsorption and electrothermal desorption of organic vapors using activated carbon adsorbents with novel morphologies

Novel morphologies of activated carbons such as monolith, beads and fiber cloth can effectively capture organic vapors from industrial sources. These adsorbent materials are also unique because they can undergo direct electrothermal regeneration to recover the adsorbed organic vapors for potential re-use. This investigation compares and contrasts the properties of these adsorbents when using electrothermal-swing adsorption. The adsorption systems consisted of an organic vapor generation system, an electrothermal-swing adsorption vessel, a gas detection unit, and a data acquisition and control system. The activated carbon monolith (ACM) had the lowest pressure drop, highest permeability, highest electrical resistivity and lowest cost as compared to the activated carbon beads (ACB) and the activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC). ACB had the largest throughput ratio and lowest length of unused bed as compared to the other adsorbents. However, ACFC had the largest adsorption capacity for toluene when compared to ACM and ACB. ACFC was also faster to regenerate and had a larger concentration factor than ACM and ACB. These results describe relevant physical, electrical, adsorption and cost properties for specific morphologies of the adsorbents to more effectively capture and recover organic vapors from gas streams.     

A progressive deployment strategy for cooperative adaptive cruise control to improve traffic dynamics

Cooperative adaptive cruise control(CACC)vehicles are intelligent vehicles that use vehicular ad hoc networks(VANETs)to share trafc information in real time.Previous studies have shown that CACC could have an impact on increasing highway capacities at high market penetration.Since reaching a high CACC market penetration level is not occurring in the near future,this study presents a progressive deployment approach that demonstrates to have a great potential of reducing trafc congestions at low CACC penetration levels.Using a previously developed microscopic trafc simulation model of a freeway with an on-ramp—created to induce perturbations and trigger stop-and-go trafc,the CACC system s efect on the trafc performance is studied.The results show signifcance and indicate the potential of CACC systems to improve trafc characteristics which can be used to reduce trafc congestion.The study shows that the impact of CACC is positive and not only limited to a high market penetration.By giving CACC vehicles priority access to high-occupancy vehicle(HOV)lanes,the highway capacity could be signifcantly improved with a CACC penetration as low as 20%.     

A Progressive Deployment Strategy for Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control to Improve Trafc Dynamics

Cooperative adaptive cruise control(CACC)vehicles are intelligent vehicles that use vehicular ad hoc networks(VANETs)to share trafc information in real time.Previous studies have shown that CACC could have an impact on increasing highway capacities at high market penetration.Since reaching a high CACC market penetration level is not occurring in the near future,this study presents a progressive deployment approach that demonstrates to have a great potential of reducing trafc congestions at low CACC penetration levels.Using a previously developed microscopic trafc simulation model of a freeway with an on-ramp—created to induce perturbations and trigger stop-and-go trafc,the CACC system s efect on the trafc performance is studied.The results show signifcance and indicate the potential of CACC systems to improve trafc characteristics which can be used to reduce trafc congestion.The study shows that the impact of CACC is positive and not only limited to a high market penetration.By giving CACC vehicles priority access to high-occupancy vehicle(HOV)lanes,the highway capacity could be signifcantly improved with a CACC penetration as low as 20%.     

Polymer electrolytes

Summary The room temperature conductivity of lithium salts dissolved in polyethylene oxide, proposed as polymer electrolytes, is shown to decrease drastically upon storage. The crystallization process, which is responsible for that ageing, can be blocked, if two further components are added : an elastomer copolymer butadiene-acrylonitrile and a macromer of polyoxyethylene. In addition, a crosslinking process must be carried out.     

Artificial particulate fouling of hyperfiltration membranes IV. Dynamic protection from fouling

Experimental results are presented and analyzed for an inexpensive method of membrane protection from colloidal fouling. An inexpensive dynamic precoat protective cover using diatomaceous earth is placed on the high pressure feed-water side of the asymmetric cellulose acetate membrane. Increased water and salt fluxes with the precoat as high as 2.3 times that without precoat were measured. The presence of submicron pin-holes in the membrane skin is used to explain the mechanism of protection against submicron colloids.This method of protection is most attractive for high-flux and medium-salt rejection applications for colloidal containing feed solutions. Such applications include the treatment of municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste-waters for reuse and as a possible pretreatment step for sea water reverse osmosis desalination.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(1-sila-cis-pent-3-enes) substituted with pendant pyridinyl groups

Poly[1-methyl-1-[3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene], poly[1-phenyl-1-[3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl)-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene], and poly[1-phenyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene] were synthesized by the anionic ring-opening polymerization of 1-methyl-1-[3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, 1-phenyl-1-[3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl]-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, and 1-phenyl-1-(4-pyridinyl)-1-silacyclopent-3-ene, respectively. These are the first polycarbosilanes which contain heterocyclic pyridine units as side-chain substituents. These polymers were characterized by¹H,¹³C, and²⁹Si NMR as well as by IR and UV spectroscopy. The molecular weight distributions were determined by gel permeation chromatography, glass transition temperatures, by differential seanning calorimetry: (DSC) and thermal behavior, by thermogravimetric analysis. (TGA).