A nanophase oxygen storage material: Alumina-coated metal-based ceria

Nanoparticles of Ce_1?xM_xO_2?δ (M = Ca or Zr) coated with Al₂O₃ with average crystallite size of 10 nm have been synthesised via solution chemistry approach under controlled chemical and hydrodynamic conditions. Their synthesis has been accomplished in three major steps: (1) simultaneous co-precipitation of cations, (2) sequential precipitation of Al(OH)₃ over the former particles and (3) calcination of the precipitated precursors to the corresponding oxides. Several compositions have been synthesised and their physicochemical properties are compared with commercial state-of-the-art material. The Al₂O₃-coating hinders the particles growth at high temperatures, resulting in materials with a large specific surface area and a restrain in the decrease of their oxygen storage capacity.     

The ruminal degradability of fibre explains part of the low nutritional value and reduced methanogenesis in highly tanniniferous tropical legumes

BACKGROUND: Limited forage quality and low methanogenesis from fermentation of tropical shrub legumes is often attributed to high contents of condensed tannins (CTs), but characteristics of the fibre may be important, too. Using the rumen‐simulation technique an attempt was made to separate the influence of tannins and fibre on ruminal digestion and methanogenesis. Legumes with CTs (Calliandra calothyrsus, Flemingia macrophylla) and plants free of CTs (Vigna unguiculata, Brachiaria humidicola) were used. To separate effects, either CTs were inactivated using polyethylene glycol or purified fibres free of CTs were obtained. In experiment 1, legumes replaced one third of grass in the diet and urea was supplemented. In experiment 2, only purified fibres and casein were incubated. RESULTS: Purified fibres had a different degradability (low in legumes with CTs). Lignin prevented mainly hemicellulose from being degraded while the extent of degradation of hemicellulose seemed to have determined methanogenesis. In the mixed diets these effects were small when the supply of N was sufficient. When CTs were inactivated, fibre degradation was still lower with Calliandra than with Vigna. CONCLUSION: Properties of fibre, especially lignification, of CT‐rich plants help to explain the low feeding value of such forages, but CTs represent the over‐riding factor. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Additive Technology for EU Ecolabel Formulations

Currently, Bio -lubricants are still regarded as niche products. Within the global lubricant market, however, the ar-ea of environmentally acceptable fluids represents one of the fast growing markets with an estimated annual growth of more than 6% per year. This growth is supported by various market drivers such as legal regulations, public subsidies and the im-plementation of national or international labeling schemes.With the implementation of the European Ecolabel for lubricants in 2005, a common standard specifying ecological and performance requirements for Bio - lubricants was defined. Applying for the EU Ecolabel requires a comprehensive assess-ment, not only of the final formulation, but also of the additives used. Additives are required to meet specifications for oxi-dation and thermal stability, as well as to impart metal protection (of both steel and yellow metals), thus improving corro-sion protection and wear performance of the formulation. Therefore, it is challenging in terms of formulation technology to develop the right formulation that meets the technical specifications as well as the stringent requirements of the EU - Ecola-bel.The paper describes how, by using ester base fluids and additives currently available in the market, lubricants can be developed to meet the technical and eco - toxicological requirements of the EU - Ecolabel, approaching the performance lev-els of lubricants formulated with traditional base fluids.     

Corporate Reputation Effects Across Nations: The Impact of Country Distances and Firm-Specific Resources

CEOs are responsible for the development of a strong corporate reputation, which is increasingly used by multinational corporations as an important differentiation criterion in foreign markets. Because the effects of an often centrally managed but locally perceived reputation are likely to vary between countries, this study analyzes the moderating role of institutional distance and firm-specific resources on reputation effects in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, two important aspects that have not been considered in consumer-centered corporate reputation research so far. The authors refer to signaling theory—advanced by institutional and resource-based thinking—and use data from 29,987 consumer evaluations of a multinational corporation in 43 countries. The results of the multilevel models indicate that distance between home and host countries weakens reputation effects on both consumer loyalty and trust, whereas firm-specific resources reinforce these effects. In particular, country experience and cultural-cognitive distance are important when managing reputations across nations because they explain high amounts of country-level variance.     

Ceramic Bodies with Complex Geometries and Ceramic Shells by Freeze Casting Using Ice as Mold Material

Ceramic bodies with a complex shape and closed ceramic shells encapsulating other components like steel parts were fabricated by the freeze-casting technique using ice as a mold and as core material. The ice molds and cores were simultaneously removed with the frozen suspension liquid of the ceramic slip by subsequent freeze drying. In this way, cores can be eliminated from a closed shell by sublimation through the porosity of the shell. Moreover, the ice cores allowed to transfect other components into porous ceramic bodies. Complex dental parts such as steel rods encapsulated in porous zirconia shells achieved by this ice mold freeze casting are represented in this article.     

Abstract representations for interactive visualization of virtual 3D city models

Virtual 3D city models increasingly cover whole city areas; hence, the perception of complex urban structures becomes increasingly difficult. Using abstract visualization, complexity of these models can be hidden where its visibility is unnecessary, while important features are maintained and highlighted for better comprehension and communication. We present a technique to automatically generalize a given virtual 3D city model consisting of building models, an infrastructure network and optional land coverage data; this technique creates several representations of increasing levels of abstraction. Using the infrastructure network, our technique groups building models and replaces them with cell blocks, while preserving local landmarks. By computing a landmark hierarchy, we reduce the set of initial landmarks in a spatially balanced manner for use in higher levels of abstraction. In four application examples, we demonstrate smooth visualization of transitions between precomputed representations; dynamic landmark highlighting according to virtual camera distance; an implementation of a cognitively enhanced route representation, and generalization lenses to combine precomputed representations in focus + context visualization.     

Graph and model transformation tools for model migration

We describe the results of the Transformation Tool Contest 2010 workshop, in which nine graph and model transformation tools were compared for specifying model migration. The model migration problem—migration of UML activity diagrams from version 1.4 to version 2.2—is non-trivial and practically relevant. The solutions have been compared with respect to several criteria: correctness, conciseness, understandability, appropriateness, maturity and support for extensions to the core migration task. We describe in detail the comparison method, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the solutions with a special focus on the differences between graph and model transformation for model migration. The comparison results demonstrate tool and language features that strongly impact the efficacy of solutions, such as support for retyping of model elements. The results are used to motivate an agenda for future model migration research (including suggestions for areas in which the tools need to be further improved).     

The impact of water released from boehmite nanoparticles during curing in epoxy-based nanocomposites

The enhancing effect on mechanical properties of boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (BNP) in epoxy-based nanocomposites on the macroscopic scale encouraged recent research to investigate the micro- and nanoscopic properties. Several studies presented different aspects relatable to an alteration of the epoxy polymer network formation by the BNP with need for further experiments to identify the mode of action. With FTIR-spectroscopic methods this study identifies interactions of the BNP with the epoxy polymer matrix during the curing process as well as in the cured nanocomposite. The data reveals that not the BNP themselves, but the water released from them strongly influences the curing process by hydrolysis of the anhydride hardener or protonation of the amine accelerator. The changes of the curing processes are discussed in detail. The changes of the curing processes enable new explanation for the changed material properties by BNP discussed in recent research like a lowered glass transition temperature region (T_g) and an interphase formation.