Effect of temperature on the separation of some Δ9-cis-trans isomers of methyl esters of fatty acids by open tubular gas chromatography

The influence of temperature on the gas chromatographic separation ofcis-trans isomers of the methyl esters of some monounsaturated fatty acids was studied on capillary columns coated with Apiezon L, BDS and DEGS. As far as methyl oleate and methyl elaidate are concerned, the separation is better at lower temperatures on Apiezon L (180–210 C) and at higher temperatures on polyester phases (BDS, DEGS; 150–180 C). The influence of temperature on the separation ofcis-trans isomers on the three stationary phases under study is explained by the higher values of δECL/δt forcis isomers. The variation of the equivalent carbon chain length with temperature can be used for the identification ofcis-trans isomers in natural mixtures.     

The participation of block copolymers in the increase in the number of tie molecules

Three-block copolymers polyamide-block-polyX-block-polyamide (where X is styrene, ethylene-co-1-butene, and others) are able to improve substantially the toughness of poly(ϵ-caprolactam). Outer blocks of these copolymers are able to take part in folding lamellae of semi-crystalline polyamide, inner blocks are not. They operate as a spacer, meaning that the end blocks of copolymers capable of folding become parts of different lamellae, or that the unfoldable part of a block copolymer is pushed out of a folding lamella with a certain probability of the remaining outer block taking part in folding another lamella. This increases the number of tie-molecules.     

The potentiometric behaviour of copolymers of methacrylic acid in water-ethanol solutions

Summary The synthesis is reported of copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid and of methyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid by radical copolymerization, of copolymers of methyl methacrylate with methacrylic acid by partial alkaline hydrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate), and of block copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid. Modified titration curves of all these copolymers were recorded in water and water-ethanol solutions. In a solution containing 50 mass.% ethanol, only small differences could be observed between the potentiometric behaviour of the individual copolymers and polymethacrylic acid. Also, there were no essential differences in any of the solvents used between the potentiometric behaviour of block copolymers of styrene with methacrylic acid, on the one hand, and polymethacrylic acid, on the other. On the contrary, maxima and minima were always observed on the modified titration curves of statistical copolymers with a higher content of the hydrophobic comonomer in solutions with a high water content. Thus, using the modified titration curves, it is possible to decide whether a given copolymer is of the block or statistical type.     

Microstructure and physical properties of transparent thoria-yttria ceramics

The investigation of microstructure, some electrical and optical parameters of transparent ThO₂-15 mol % yo_1.5 ceramics has shown: (a) a very low porosity, close to zero; (b) a higher electrical conductivity than is usual for ThO₂ ceramics of the same composition, with the activation energy 1.12 eV; (c) a relative permittivity _r 33 under the given conditions; (d) confirmation of a single-phase fluorite-type cubic structure by means of Raman and infrared spectra.     

Fusion of smartphone sensor data for classification of daily user activities

Multimedia Tools and Applications - New mobile applications need to estimate user activities by using sensor data provided by smart wearable devices and deliver context-aware solutions to users...     

Color object segmentation and tracking using flexible statistical model and level-set

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This study presents an unsupervised novel algorithm for color image segmentation, object detection and tracking based on unsupervised learning step followed with...     

Conceptualization,measurement, and application of semantic transparency in visual notations

Numerous visual notations are present in technical and business domains. Notations have to be cognitively effective to ease the planning, documentation, and communication of the domains’ concepts. Semantic transparency (ST) is one of the elementary principles that influence notations’ cognitive effectiveness. However, the principle is criticized for not being well defined and challenges arise in the evaluations and applications of ST. Accordingly, this research’s objectives were to answer how the ST principle is defined, operationalized, and evaluated in present notations as well as applied in the design of new notations in ICT and related areas. To meet these objectives, a systematic literature review was conducted with 94 studies passing the selection process criteria. The results reject one of the three aspects, which define semantic transparency, namely “ST is achieved with the use of icons.” Besides, taxonomies of related concepts and research methods, evaluation metrics, and other findings from this study can help to conduct verifiable ST-related experiments and applications, consequently improving the visual vocabularies of notations and effectiveness of the resulting diagrams.

     

A hybrid tactile sensor-based obstacle overcoming method for hexapod walking robots

Intelligent Service Robotics - Walking robots are considered as a promising solution for locomotion across irregular or rough terrain. While wheeled or tracked robots require flat surface like...     

“中四角”工业废水排放时空格局演变及其重心迁移研究

基于探索性空间分析(ESDA)方法和重心迁移模型研究2006-2017年"中四角"工业废水排放的时空格局演变及其重心迁移轨迹。研究结果表明:2006-2017年"中四角"工业废水排放整体呈下降趋势,并存在明显空间分异特征,呈西南从高到低、中东从低到高的演变规律;总体空间内无明显的空间集聚特征,但局部空间存在明显的集聚特征且以低高集聚状态为主;2006-2017年间"中四角"工业废水排放重心主要在东经114.38°E^114.95°E、北纬29.18°N^29.34°N区域内移动,总体向东北方向移动,移动总距离为107.88 km;"中四角"工业总产值重心总体向西北方向移动,移动总距离为94.39 km,除2011和2012年外其他年份的重心移动距离变化较小。2006-2017年间"中四角"工业总产值重心逐渐偏离几何中心,而工业废水排放重心逐渐向几何中心靠拢且移动速度明显高于工业总产值重心移动速度。     

一种能量均衡的无线传感器网络分簇算法*

为了延长网络的生存时间,提出了一种能量均衡的无线传感器网络分簇算法（EBCA）,该算法优先选择剩余能量较多的节点作为簇首,以平衡节点的能量消耗。仿真实验结果表明：无论同构网还是异构网,该算法都能显著地推迟网络第一个节点的死亡时间,其性能明显优于LEACH算法。