Compensation Effect of Benzene Hydrogenation on Pt(111) and Pt(100) Analyzed by the Selective Energy Transfer Model

Kinetic measurements at low temperatures (310–360 K) using gas chromatography (GC) for benzene hydrogenation on Pt(100) and Pt(111) single crystal surfaces have been carried out at Torr pressures. These kinetic measurements demonstrated a linear compensation effect for the production of cyclohexane. A detailed application of the model of selective energy transfer to the experimentally obtained results yields the vibrational frequency of the adsorbate leading to reaction. This frequency is attributed to ring distortion modes. The vibrational frequency of the heat bath, or catalyst, is ascribed to a Pt-H mode. An approximate heat of adsorption of the reacting molecule is also calculated from the model.     

High-affinity, selective σ ligands of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4'-silaspiro[naphthalene-1,4'-piperidine] type: syntheses, structures, and pharmacological properties

The 1'-organyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrospiro[naphthalene-1,4'-piperidine] derivatives 1?a-4?a [for which organyl=benzyl (1?a), 4-methoxybenzyl (2?a), 2-phenylethyl (3?a), or 3-methylbut-2-enyl (4?a)] are high-affinity, selective σ? ligands. The corresponding sila-analogues 1?b-4?b (replacement of the carbon spirocenter with a silicon atom) were synthesized in multistep syntheses, starting from dichlorodivinylsilane, and were isolated as the hydrochlorides 1?b?HCl-4?b?HCl. Compounds 1?a?HCl-4?a?HCl and 1?b?HCl-4?b?HCl were structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 2?Si) in solution, and the C/Si analogues 3?a?HCl and 3?b?HCl were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These structural investigations were complemented by computational studies. The σ? and σ? receptor affinities of the C/Si pairs 1?a/1?b-4?a/4?b were studied with radioligand binding assays. The σ? receptor affinity of the silicon compounds 1?b-4?b is slightly higher than that of the corresponding carbon analogues 1?a-4?a. Because affinity for the σ? receptor is decreased by the C/Si exchange, the σ?/σ? selectivity of the silicon compounds is considerably improved, indicating that the C→Si switch strategy is a powerful tool for modulating both pharmacological potency and selectivity.     

The Effect of Ionic Surfactants on the Electrokinetic Behavior of Asphaltene from a Maya Mexican Oil

Abstract

In this work we show the behavior of the zeta potential of asphaltene when different concentrations of two cationic surfactants (cetylpyridinium chloride and dodecylamine hydrochloride) and one anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) interact with asphaltene particles at different pHs in the aqueous phase. By changing the concentration of cetylpyridinium chloride, dodecylamine hydrochloride, and sodium dodecyl sulfate from 0.01 to 1 mM, we were able to reverse and control the sign of the zeta potential of asphaltene, demonstrating the presence of both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions at the asphaltene surface.     

Gasification of biomass: comparison of fixed bed and fluidized bed gasifier

Gasification as a thermochemical process is defined and limited to combustion and pyrolysis. A systematic overview of reactor designs categorizes fixed bed and fluidized bed reactors. Criteria for a comparison of these reactors are worked out, i.e. technology, use of material, use of energy, environment and economy. A utility analysis for thermochemical processes is suggested. It shows that the advantages of one of the reactor types are marginal. An advantage mainly depends on the physical consistency of the input. As a result there is no significant advantage for the fixed bed or the fluidized bed reactor.     

GEMGrid: a wafer post-processed GEM-like radiation detector

This paper presents a new wafer post-processed micropatterned gaseous radiation detector called GEMGrid. The device consists of a GEM-like structure fabricated with SU-8 photoresist directly on top of a Timepix chip with zero gap distance. The detector characteristics have been studied in several gas mixtures. The device is capable of tracking minimum ionizing particles and exhibits good energy resolution on ⁵⁵Fe decays. We further show a strongly improved mechanical robustness of these GEM-like structures as compared to a pillar-supported integrated Micromegas.     

Microbial Cell Wall Constituents in Indoor Air and their Relation to Disease

Abstract This presentation reviews the relation between damp buildings, mold growth and symptoms and disease among persons living or working in such buildings. Epidemiological studies on these relationships date back to 1924 and at present there are almost 30 large-scale investigations. There is an almost general concordance between studies on the relation between damp buildings and symptoms of the airways. Most of the studies show also a relation between symptoms and reported or measured mold growth. The symptoms reported are remarkably similar in the different studies: nose or throat irritation, wheezing, dry cough and fatigue. It is suggested that this symptom profile reflects a non-specific airways inflammation and that antigen-mediated allergy is rare. Regarding agents capable of inducing airways inflammation, data on bacterial endotoxin demonstrate a causal relationship, whereas information on another microbial wall agent - (1→3)-β-D-glucan - is suggestive but not conclusive of a causal relationship. From a practical point of view, dampness and previous mold growth represent conditions in buildings where renovation should be undertaken, particularly if there are symptoms of airways inflammation among the occupants.     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the partial genomes of Agropyron and Hordeum mosaic viruses, two members of the Rymovirus genus in the taxonomic family Potyviridae

Complementary DNAs encompassing the coat protein coding and adjacent regions of Agropyron mosaic virus (AgMV) and Hordeum mosaic virus (HoMV) were cloned and sequenced. Comparison with other sequenced potyviruses indicated that each clone contained the 3'-non-coding region (3'NCR), the coat protein (CP) gene and part of the nuclear inclusion protein (NIb) gene. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons of the 3'-terminal regions of these and other rymoviruses indicate that distinct groups exist. Ryegrass mosaic virus (RGMV) strains share sequence similarity with AgMV and HoMV. Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and brome streak mosaic virus (BrSMV) form a separate group, sharing limited sequence similarity with the other rymoviruses. It is proposed that subgroups occur within the Rymovirus genus, depending on the vector species involved in transmission and on sequences.     

A non-recursive Lagrangian solution of the non-causal inverse dynamics of flexible multibody systems: The planar case

A technique is presented for solving the inverse dynamics of flexible planar multibody systems. This technique yields the non-causal joint efforts (inverse dynamics) as well as the internal states (inverse kinematics) that produce a prescribed nominal trajectory of the end effector. A non-recursive Lagrangian approach is used in formulating the equations of motion as well as in solving the inverse dynamics equations. Contrary to the recursive method previously presented, the proposed method solves the inverse problem in a systematic and direct manner for both open-chain as well as closed-chain configurations. Numerical simulation shows that the proposed procedure provides an excellent tracking of the desired end effector trajectory.     

Mesh objective continuum damage models for ductile fracture

During machining processes, the work piece material is subjected to high deformation rates, increased temperature, large plastic deformations, damage evolution and fracture. In this context the Johnson‐Cook failure model is often used even though it exhibits pathological mesh size dependence. To remove the mesh size sensitivity, a set of mesh objective damage models is proposed based on a local continuum damage formulation combined with the concept of a scalar damage phase field. The first model represents a mesh objective augmentation of the well‐established element removal model, whereas the second one degrades the continuum stress in a smooth fashion. Plane strain plate and hat specimens are used in the finite element simulations, with the restriction to the temperature and rate independent cases. To investigate the influence of mesh distortion, a structured and an unstructured meshes were used for the respective specimen. For structured meshes, the results clearly show that the pathological mesh size sensitivity is removed for both models. When considering unstructured meshes, the mesh size sensitivity is more complex as revealed by the considered hat‐specimen shear test. Nevertheless, the present work indicates that the proposed models can predict realistic ductile failure behaviors in a mesh objective fashion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.