Structure of codes over the ring Z_{3}[v]/\langle v^{3}-v\rangle

In this paper, we study the structure of linear codes over the non chain ring $Z_{3}[v]/\langle v^{3}-v\rangle $ . In order to study the codes, we first study the structure of this ring via a distance preserving Gray map which also induces a relation between codes over this ring and ternary codes. Further, the algebraic structure of cyclic and dual codes is also studied. A MacWilliams type Identity between the Gray weight enumerators of the original code and its dual is established. In all cases examples that illustrate the theorems and lemmas are provided. Also, a BCH-type bound and an example that attains this bound is presented.     

Combination of Ozonation and Hydrogen Peroxide Bleaching for Linen Fabrics: Optimization of the Process Using Experimental Design Technique

It is well known that ozone can be used as a bleaching agent for cellulosic textile materials. In the context of this study, investigations were undertaken to optimize bleaching of linen fabrics using Box-Behnken Experimental Design. The bleaching process involved two distinct steps where linen fabrics were ozonated under different treatment times then the latter in a subsequent step were subjected to hydrogen peroxide bleaching under a variety of conditions. As a result of study, three optimum recipes were achieved and pretreatment with ozone for 15 min before peroxide bleaching supplies time and chemical savings.     

Polythiophene/SiO2 nanocomposites prepared in the presence of surfactants and their application to glucose biosensing

Conducting polythiophene/SiO₂ (PT/SiO₂) nanocomposites were prepared in the presence of three different surfactants (anionic, cationic and non-ionic) via chemical oxidative polymerization in an anhydrous medium to create an enzyme-immobilized polymeric amperometric biosensor. An anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSNa), a cationic surfactant, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), and a non-ionic surfactant, poly(ethylene oxide) (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), were used as additives. The properties of the nanocomposites were investigated, as a function of surfactant type and the amount of PT contained, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM results reveal that all PT/SiO₂ samples form nanometer-dimensioned globular structures. The highest conductivity obtained was 2.7 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ for a PT/SiO₂-Tween 20 nanocomposite. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the residue decreases with increasing amount of PT. Glucose oxidase (GOX) was immobilized by crosslinking to the conducting PT/SiO₂ composites and was used for amperometric detection of glucose.     

Exergetic and thermoeconomic analyses of diesel engine powered cogeneration: Part 2 – Application

This paper is Part 2 of the study on the exergetic and thermoeconomic analysis of diesel engine powered cogeneration (DEPC) systems. In Part 1, formulations and procedure for such a comprehensive analysis are provided while this paper provides an application of the developed formulation that considers an actual DEPC plant installed in Gaziantep, Turkey. The plant has a total installed electricity and steam generation capacities of 25.3 MW and 8.1 tons/h at 170 °C, respectively. Exergy destructions, exergy efficiencies, exergetic cost allocations, and various exergoeconomic performance parameters are determined for the entire plant and its components. The exergy efficiency of the plant is determined to be 40.6%. The exergoeconomic analysis is based on specific cost method (SPECO) and it is determined that the specific unit exergetic cost of the power produced by the plant is 10.3 $/GJ.     

Injectable solid hydrogel: mechanism of shear-thinning and immediate recovery of injectable β-hairpin peptide hydrogels

β-Hairpin peptide-based hydrogels are a class of injectable hydrogel solids with significant potential use in injectable therapies. β-hairpin peptide hydrogels can be injected as preformed solids, because the solid gel can shear-thin and consequently flow under a proper shear stress but immediately recover back into a solid on removal of the stress. In this work, hydrogel behavior during and after flow was studied in order to facilitate fundamental understanding of how the gels flow during shear-thinning and how they quickly recover mechanically and morphologically relative to their original, pre-flow properties. While all studied β-hairpin hydrogels shear-thin and recover, the duration of shear and the strain rate affected both the gel stiffness immediately recovered after flow and the ultimate stiffness obtained after complete rehealing of the gel. Results of structural analysis during flow were related to bulk rheological behavior and indicated gel network fracture into large (>200 nm) hydrogel domains during flow. After cessation of flow the large hydrogel domains are immediately percolated which immediately reforms the solid hydrogel. The underlying mechanisms of the gel shear-thinning and healing processes are discussed relative to other shear-responsive networks like colloidal gels and micellar solutions.     

Exergetic and thermoeconomic analyses of diesel engine powered cogeneration: Part 1 – Formulations

This paper is part 1 of the study on the energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic analysis of diesel engine powered cogeneration (DEPC). Part 1 presents the formulation developed for such a comprehensive analysis while part 2 is an application of the developed formulation that considers an actual cogeneration power plant. Compression ignition engine powered cogeneration application is among the most efficient simple cycle power generation plants where the efficiencies are around 50%. The DEPC is mostly preferred in regions where natural gas is not available or not preferable because of high unit prices. In this paper, a DEPC plant is considered with all associated components. Mass, energy, and exergy balances are applied to each system component and subsystem. Exergy balance formulations are aimed to yield exergy destructions. Various efficiencies based on both energy and exergy methods and the performance assessment parameters are defined for both the system components and the entire cogeneration plant. The formulations for the cost of products, and cost formation and allocation within the system are developed based on both energy and exergy (i.e., exergoeconomic analysis). The cost analyses formulated here have significant importance to obtain the optimum marketing price of the product of thermal systems to maximize the benefit and/or minimize the cost.     

Performance analysis of adaptive loading OFDM under Rayleigh fading

In this paper, we investigate the performance of adaptive loading orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) under Rayleigh fading with maximal ratio-combining (MRC) diversity at the receiver. We assume that channel-state information is available at both the transmitter and the receiver. Closed-form expressions for the lower bound on the average capacity of OFDM transmission under Rayleigh fading are provided for ideal MRC diversity. Simple approximate expressions for the average capacity of the Rayleigh-fading channel are also provided for the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) case. In the second part of this paper, a maximum-rate adaptive-loading strategy is derived for uncoded quadrature-amplitude-modulation modulated OFDM. Simple lower bound expressions and high-SNR approximations are provided for the average spectral efficiency of the maximum-rate adaptive-loaded uncoded OFDM under Rayleigh-fading channel conditions. According to the results, the performance of the uncoded adaptive-loading OFDM is about 8.5 dB inferior to the capacity bound at 10/sup -5/ symbol error probability under frequency-selective Rayleigh fading.     

The effect of humic acids on nitrobenzene oxidation by ozonation and O3/UV processes

Three types of commercially available humic acids from different sources were used to simulate natural organic matter in water for the investigation of nitrobenzene oxidation by ozonation and O(3)/UV. Despite the structural differences among the Fluka, Aldrich and Suwanee River humic acids as reflected by the UV absorptivity, their effects on nitrobenzene removal rate was observed to be similar for the two processes. Removal rate of nitrobenzene was hindered by the addition of humic acids in ozonation as well as in O(3)/UV processes. However, the hindrance by the humic acids was more pronounced in O(3)/UV as compared to the ozonation process. The effect of humic acid in O(3)/UV was primarily a UV light screening. Addition of humic acids above a certain concentration did not cause any further retardation on nitrobenzene removal rate by ozonation and O(3)/UV.Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide as well as probable formation of peroxy radicals in the solutions might induce chain promoting reactions to produce hydroxyl radical during the nitrobenzene oxidation. For waters containing high levels of humic acid, ozonation alone might be as effective as O(3)/UV process for the removal of nitrobenzene.