Reactivity and Conversion Behaviour of Brazilian and Imported Coals,Charcoal and Blends in view of their Injection into Blast Furnaces

For about 10 years the steel industry in Brazil has been using pulverized coal injection (PCI) technology in blast furnaces based on imported coals. In order to decrease the dependence on imported coals, Brazilian coal which has limited use due to high ash content is suggested to be mixed with imported coal and charcoal. The aim of this study is to examine the reactivity and combustion behaviour of the mentioned materials. The use of charcoal in the Brazilian steel industry reduces the CO₂ emissions, since it represents a renewable source of carbon. The reactivity of the coal, charcoal and mixtures is evaluated through TGA. To provide a useful insight into the practice of PCI in blast furnaces, experiments are carried out with a laboratory rig at RWTH Aachen University that simulates the behaviour of fines injected into the raceway. The results of this study are presented and discussed.     

Identification, Synthesis, and Field Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of the Citrus Fruit Borer Ecdytolopha aurantiana

The sex pheromone of the citrus fruit borer Ecdytolopha aurantiana has been identified by gas chromatography coupled to an electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD). The electron impact mass spectral (EI-MS) fragmentation of the major EAD-active peak gave identifying features for a monounsaturated acetate. Further analyses by chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CI-MS), vapor-phase infrared spectroscopy (GC-IR), along with chemical derivatization (DMDS reaction), led to full characterization of the major component as (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate (E8–12 : Ac). The second constituent was identified as the related alcohol, (E)-8-dodecenol (E8–12 : OH). The two compounds were indistinguishable from the authentic synthetic standards in chemical and EAD analyses. Samples of the two compounds were obtained by a facile synthesis utilizing lithium chemistry. Field tests showed that captures in traps baited with a mixture of E8–12 : Ac and E8–12 : OH at 100 : 1 and 10 : 1 ratios were not significantly different from the catches in traps having two virgin females. Dosage tests showed better performance of traps baited with 1 mg than those with 0.1 mg of the pheromone blend, either in 100 : 1 or 10 : 1 ratio.     

1-Perfect Uniform and Distance Invariant Partitions

Let F ⁿ be the n-dimensional vector space over ℤ₂. A (binary) 1-perfect partition of F ⁿ is a partition of F ⁿ into (binary) perfect single error-correcting codes or 1-perfect codes. We define two metric properties for 1-perfect partitions: uniformity and distance invariance. Then we prove the equivalence between these properties and algebraic properties of the code (the class containing the zero vector). In this way, we characterize 1-perfect partitions obtained using 1-perfect translation invariant and not translation invariant propelinear codes. The search for examples of 1-perfect uniform but not distance invariant partitions enabled us to deduce a non-Abelian propelinear group structure for any Hamming code of length greater than 7. Received: March 6, 2000; revised version: November 30, 2000     

Association between SNPs in microRNAs and microRNAs-Machinery Genes with Susceptibility of Leprosy in the Amazon Population

Leprosy is a chronic neurodermatological disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. Recent studies show that SNPs in genes related to miRNAs have been associated with several diseases in different populations. This study aimed to evaluate the association of twenty-five SNPs in genes encoding miRNAs related to biological processes and immune response with susceptibility to leprosy and its polar forms paucibacillary and multibacillary in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 114 leprosy patients and 71 household contacts were included in this study. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan Open Array Genotyping. Ancestry-informative markers were used to estimate individual proportions of case and control groups. The SNP rs2505901 (pre-miR938) was associated with protection against the development of paucibacillary leprosy, while the SNPs rs639174 (DROSHA), rs636832 (AGO1), and rs4143815 (miR570) were associated with protection against the development of multibacillary leprosy. In contrast, the SNPs rs10739971 (pri-let-7a1), rs12904 (miR200C), and rs2168518 (miR4513) are associated with the development of the paucibacillary leprosy. The rs10739971 (pri-let-7a1) polymorphism was associated with the development of leprosy, while rs2910164 (miR146A) and rs10035440 (DROSHA) was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing multibacillary leprosy.     

A conceptual framework for developing solutions that organise social media information for emergency response teams

ABSTRACT

Social media have great power to spread information, and this is particularly noticeable when an emergency occurs. The extraction of accurate information from social media can offer an important resource for emergency management, both in terms of decision-making and increasing situational awareness. This paper describes a conceptual framework for the development of applications to treat messages from social media. It is designed to select, classify and prioritise, using parameters, messages containing information that is relevant to the emergency context. It allows a team to act on this information and to generate rescue actions that contribute to the emergency solution. It has a collaborative bias, providing perceptual, coordination and communication mechanisms. We also present an instantiation and the simulation of its use in the treatment of tweets (Twitter messages) about two emergencies: an earthquake in Mexico City (19/09/2017) and a California fire (December, 2017). The volume of messages is enormous, but most of them do not present significant value to the emergency response. We categorised those that contained relevant information. With only 2% of the tweets, it was possible to identify and prioritise messages with potential to aid in response and rescue operations.     

Steam reforming of ethanol on Rh/SiCeO2 washcoated monolith catalyst: Stable catalyst performance

The performance of a new Rh/CeSiO₂ catalyst supported on a ceramic monolith for steam reforming (SR) of ethanol for hydrogen generation was investigated. It provides several advantages over a traditional pellet based catalyst in that it will reduce weight, size and pressure drop in the reactor. The effect of steam to ethanol molar ratio and temperature were first investigated on a powdered catalyst in order to establish the preferred reaction conditions to be used for tests on the monolith. The optimum temperature for coke free, high selectivity and stable catalyst operation was 1073 K at a steam to ethanol molar ratio of 3.5. The monolith supported catalyst was evaluated for aging stability, on/off performance and coke regeneration using steam gasification. After 96 h of SR of ethanol at 1028 K and water/ethanol molar ratio of 3.5 the monolith supported catalyst retained stable performance throughout the entire time on stream with the only products being H₂, CO, CO₂. Some coke formation was observed using Raman spectra, however, it did not cause any permanent deactivation. Regeneration via steam gasification at 973 K with 20% steam in N₂ was successful for coke removal and complete catalyst regeneration.