Conversion of Ethene to Propene by a Dual Function NiSO4/Re2O7/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst

A NiSO₄/Re₂O₇/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was prepared by co-impregnation using an aqueous solution of NiSO₄ and [NH₄][ReO₄], which catalyzes direct conversion of ethene to propene at mild reaction condition (323 K, 1 atm). Catalyst deactivation may be caused by coke formation. The two catalytic components appear to work independently of each other.     

Integrated simulation method for investment decisions of micro production systems

From a production logistics point of view, micro production systems need special methods due to their special requirements and characteristics. In this paper a new approach for the assessment of different investment scenarios during the planning period with integrated cost simulation is presented. In particular, the use of single-purpose and multi-purpose machines and the cost effectiveness of function integration are examined. Thereby alternative machine pool configurations and optimal costs can be analysed, determined and taken into consideration for investment decisions.     

Resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontroleed personality prototypes in childhood: Replicability, predictive power, and the trait-type issue.

In a longitudinal study, Q-sort patterns of German preschool children were analyzed for personality prototypes and related to developmental outcomes up to age 12. Q-factor analyses confirmed 3 prototypic patterns that showed a high continuity and cross-judge consistency; were similar to those found for North American, Dutch, and Icelandic children; and can be interpreted as resilient, overcontrolled, and undercontrolled. Relations reported by R. W. Robins, O. P. John, A. Caspi, T. E. Moffitt, & M. Stouthamer-Loeber (1996) between these 3 patterns and the Big Five were fully replicated. Growth curve analyses showed that the 3 patterns predicted important developmental outcomes in both the social and the cognitive domains. Evidence was found for both traits and types: A continuous dimension of resiliency bifurcates in its lower part into two relatively discrete personality types, overcontrollers and undercontrollers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doping front migration in intrinsically conductive polymers and its application

Doping front migration is a recently discovered effect occurring in sandwich structures composed of intrinsically conductive polymers. A system based on chemical or electrochemical doping is capable of controlling an integrated display and modifying the electrical resistance of the conductive polymer. The effect does not require a battery and is capable of monitoring time and temperature exposure. Low-cost devices using doping front migration could be the basis of a new class of smart labels for applications such as electronic “best before” labels on food and drink.     

The Use of Infrared Thermography as a Novel Approach for Real-Time Validation of PCR Thermocyclers

Validation of PCR thermocycler performance is crucial to obtain reliable results. In this study, infrared (IR) thermography was evaluated as a novel validation tool. After stabilisation, no significant difference in the temperatures recorded using thermography and a reference block-based system was found. By employing IR thermography, information about the length of the time until temperature stabilisation in the sample could be obtained. This study shows the potential of using IR thermography for validation of thermocyclers.     

Diurnal cortisol secretion and 2-year changes in older adults' physical symptoms: The moderating roles of negative affect and sleep.

Objective: This study examined whether the association between cortisol secretion and changes in physical health symptoms would depend on other factors in a person's life. The authors expected that physical health effects would emerge particularly when cortisol disturbances co-occur in the context of high levels of trait negative affect or poor sleep. Design: Physical symptoms, diurnal cortisol secretion, affective tendencies, and sleep efficiency were assessed in a 2-yr longitudinal study of 184 older adults. Main Outcome Measure: Two-year changes in physical symptoms. Results: High cortisol levels were associated with increases in physical symptoms, but only among participants who experienced high negative affect and poor sleep. Conclusion: Elevated levels of cortisol secretion contribute to older adults' physical symptoms if they co-occur in the context of other emotional and behavioral problems. By contrast, cortisol disturbances may not influence physical symptoms among people who are emotionally well or engage in efficient sleep behaviors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Elastic and thermodynamic properties of OsSi, OsSi2 and Os2Si3

All components of the elasticity tensors for OsSi (P2₁3), OsSi₂ (Cmca) and Os₂Si₃ (Pbcn and P-4c2) were computed by means of the stress–strain method in the framework of the density functional theory. The total energies and stress were calculated using density functional theory within the local density and conjugate gradient approximations. From the knowledge of the elastic constants, the Born stability criteria were discussed and the Debye approximation was used to evaluate the enthalpies of formation (ΔH_f) of the different compounds. The ΔH_f calculated at 298 K for OsSi is in correct agreement with the experimental data but for Os₂Si₃(Pbcn) ΔH_f is 30 kJ/mol of atoms more exothermic than the measured one. Moreover, we have found that from 1200 K the P-4c2 phase of Os₂Si₃ is most stable from the energy point of view than the Pbcn structure.     

Fifteen years with index-linked mortgages: Successes and failures

Index-linked mortgage loans were introduced in Denmark in 1982 in an inflationary environment. After 15 years, it is time to reevaluate the efficiency and relevance of that instrument in a low-inflation environment and an internationalized open capital market where, by 1996 for the first time, the outstanding value of indexed mortgage bonds dropped. By eliminating the inflation risk, inflation risk-averse investors should accept a lower yield on indexed bonds and the funding cost should be reduced. However, the opposite seems to be the result in the Danish case. There, the longest and the most risky mortgage bonds on the market were created as a precondition for receiving subsidies on social housing. The results has been an expensive budget deficit financing. In the private sector, debtors are free to choose between indexed and nominal loans to a rather limited extent. Indexed loans have been a failure. And the lack of a call option for prepayment has created problems in a very illiquid market.     

VC Management for Heterogeneous QoS Multicast Transmissions

A crucial component of the interaction between ATM's and the Internet's Quality of Service (QoS) architectures is the efficient mapping of RSVP (Resource reSerVation Protocol) as the Internet's signalling protocol onto the according ATM mechanisms. In particular, this article focuses on one of the most contrary characteristics of RSVP and ATM signalling. This is the support for heterogeneous reservations by RSVP over the ATM subnetwork, taking into account that ATM only allows for a homogeneous QoS within a single Virtual Circuit (VC). We present previous approaches to the solution of this problem and argue for more sophisticated and efficient approaches to manage ATM VCs taking into consideration ATM tariffs and resource consumption.