Synthesis,characterization and properties of functionalized styrene–maleimide copolymers

New functionalized styrene–maleimide copolymers were prepared by free radical copolymerization of styrene (St) and N‐4‐carboxybutylmaleimide (NBMI) in chloroform, using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. Monomer and copolymer characterization was carried out by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Copolymer composition was determined by elemental analysis and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature (from DSC) and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the copolymers were consistent with the thermal behavior and stability observed for alternating St–maleimide copolymers. St–NBMI copolymers crosslinked with divinylbenzene (DVB) were also synthesized and their cation exchange properties evaluated in order to assess the capacity of the new copolymers to bind metallic ions. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison between photocatalytic ozonation and other oxidation processes for the removal of phenols from water

Photocatalytic ozonation (1O₃ + VUV + TiO₂), ozonation (O₃), catalytic ozonation (O₃ + TiO₂), ozone photolysis (O₃ + VUV), photocatalysis (TiO₂ + VUV) and photolysis (VUV) have been compared in terms of formation of intermediates, extent of, mineralization (TOC, COD, chloride, nitrate) and kinetics in the aqueous treatment of three phenols (phenol, p‐chlorophenol and p‐nitrophenol). In all cases, photocatalytic ozonation led to lower degradation times for chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon removal. Intermediates formed were similar in the different oxidation systems with some exceptions. They can be classified into three different types: polyphenols (resorcinol, catechol, hydroquinone), unsaturated carboxylic acids (maleic and fumaric acids) and saturated carboxylic acids (glyoxylic, formic and oxalic acids). First order kinetic equations have been checked for the oxidation processes studied in the case of the parent compound. Rate constants of these systems have also been calculated. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Concatenated fibre-wireless channel identification in a multiuser CDMA environment

Radio-over-fibre (ROF) has received increasing attention for its ability to enable broadband wireless access. This fibre-based wireless access scheme meets the demand for broadband service by integrating the high capacity of optical networks with the flexibility of radio networks (the optical and wireless channels are concatenated with one another). There are, however, impairments that come with this appealing technology. The nonlinear distortion of the optical link and the multipath dispersion of the wireless channel are two of the major factors. In order to limit the effects of these distortions, estimation, and subsequently equalisation, of the concatenated fibre- wireless channel needs to be done. An estimation algorithm for the fibre-wireless uplink in a multiuser code division multiple access (CDMA) environment is presented using pseudonoise training sequences. It has already been shown by Fernando et al. (2001) that identification of the fibre- wireless uplink is possible in a single user CDMA environment. However, the more difficult task of identification in a multiuser spread spectrum environment, which is more realistic, is shown. In the multiuser case, the cumulative effect of multiuser interference, multipath dispersion, nonlinear distortion and noise should all be handled together which makes it more challenging. Numerical evaluations of the developed algorithm show that a good estimation of both the linear and nonlinear systems is possible in the presence of 16 independent users and an signal- to-noise ratio (SNR) of 22 dB. The estimation accuracy increases with the length of the PN sequence.     

UPGRADING OF SUGAR CANE BAGASSE BY THERMAL PROCESSES. 4. COAL CO-PROCESSING USING SUGAR CANE BAGASSE OIL AS SOLVENT

In the present work, coal co-processing with sugar cane bagasse oil was studied for the first time. Sugar cane bagasse was chosen due to its great offer, since it is a residue in the process of a large project named PROALCOOL aiming the producing ethanolfrom sugarcane. In addition, the liquefaction of sugar cane bagasse with monoethanolamine was already developed in our laboratory showing good results. Four coal samples were studied. The yields of the total conversion and the oil productions were obtained in order to evaluate the efficiency of the liquefaction process studied.     

β-hydroxyacyl-coa-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of unfrozen and frozen—thawed frog (Rana esculenta) legs

The β-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HADH) activity of unfrozen and thawed frog legs was investigated. The enzyme was extracted by either immersing frog legs in phosphate buffer 0.1 M, pH 6.0 at 25°C for 15 min or pressing them between trichinoscopy glasses. The enzyme activity was assayed using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate and measured spectrophotometrically at 340 nm. It was possible by both extraction methods to distinguish between thawed and unfrozen samples although when the juice was obtained by pressing the HADH activity of the dilution was ～ 1.5 times higher than that obtained by immersion. The HADH activity was significantly higher (P≤0·001) in frozen-thawed frogs than in unfrozen legs because during freezing there is a release of HADH. No significative differences were found in the HADH activity in samples frozen in the temperature range -10 to -196°C. HADH activity was not affected by the storage time in crushed ice up to 6 days.     

A 150 MHz 0.6 μm BiCMOS superscalar microprocessor

An implementation of the Pentium microprocessor architecture in 0.6 μm BiCMOS technology is described. Power dissipation is reduced and performance is enhanced over the previous generation. Processor features, implementation technology, and circuit techniques are discussed. An internal clock rate of 150 MHz is achieved at 3.7 V and -55°C