Skew Cyclic Codes over a Non-chain Ring

We study skew cyclic codes over a non-chain ring, which generalizes our previous results in IEICE Trans. on Fundamentals of Electronic Communications and Computer Sciences, 2015. We describe generator polynomi-als of skew cyclic codes over this ring and investigate the structural properties of skew cyclic codes over the ring by a decomposition theorem. The generator polynomial of the dual code of a skew cyclic code are obtained. Moreover, the idempotent generators of skew cyclic codes are consid-ered. Some examples are also presented to illustrate the discussed results.     

A new cutting depth model with rapid calibration in abrasive water jet machining of titanium alloy

Titanium alloys are widely used in the aeronautical and engineering fields as they show an excellent trade-off between the mass and mechanical properties, but as hard materials, they are difficult to machine using cutting tools. The abrasive water jet affords a good solution to produce titanium parts, especially slim ones. To do so, there is a need to adopt a modelling approach for the depth milled. However, a general methodology that takes into account all the parameters leads to complex models based on a large number of experiments. The present article proposes a depth of cut model combined with a rapid calibration method. The case addressed is that of open rectangular pockets on a Ti-6AL-4V titanium alloy. The approach introduces the machine configuration notion considering that a given machine, pressure level and abrasive impose the abrasive flow rate needed in order to obtain an optimal material removal rate. For a chosen configuration, calibration of the model is performed from a series of elementary passes and just three pocket machining passes. The method is rapid and effective as the accuracy of the models obtained over a number of configurations was to within the order of 5%.     

Polyhydrides of Sc,Zr and Hf and Their Proposed Formation.

Hydrogenation at 500 psi of (PNP)Sc(CH₃)₂ results in formation of a trinuclear polyhydride complex [(PNP)Sc]₃(μ₂-H)₄(μ₃-H)₂ ( 1 ) in 55 % yield. The solid-state structure shows a non-symmetric trinuclear species resulting from one pincer phosphine arm being demetallated, and where two hydrides bridge all three Sc centers, whereas the other four bridge two. Hydrogenation of (PNP)Zr(CH₃)₃ at 200 psi results instead in formation of a dinclear polyhydride species [(PNP)Zr(H)]₂(μ₂-H)₄ ( 2 ). Conducting the hydrogenation at atmospheric pressure, resulted instead in formation of the bridging methylidene complex [(PNP)Zr(CH₃)]₂(μ₂-H)₂(μ₂-CH₂) ( 3 ), which cleanly converted to 2 , upon hydrogenation at higher pressure. Both 2 and 3 were also structurally characterized. Hydrogenation of (PNP)Hf(CH₃)₃ at 200 psi resulted in incomplete hydrogenation with some formation of dinuclear mono- and dimethyl-polyhydride complexes [(PNP)Hf(CH₃)]₂(μ₂-H)₄ ( 4 ) and [(PNP)Hf(CH₃)][(PNP)Hf(H)](μ₂-H)₄ ( 5 ), which were identified by solid-state X-ray structural studies. Based on these results, we propose a pathway for the complete hydrogenation of (PNP)Zr(CH₃)₃ to 2 .     

Structural dynamics of a mobile substation during transport

Mobile substations can be defined as completely equipped electrical substations. There is a lack of existing scientific basis in the mechanical design of the structural components of the mobile substation. In concrete there are no capabilities to determine the dynamic behavior during transport and service conditions. Improper dimensioning of the structures results in an important degree of mechanical failures during transport. The dynamic response of structures on a mobile substation to transport motions depends on their strength of construction, ductility, and dynamic properties. Lightly damped structures that have one or more natural modes of oscillation within the frequency band of transport excitations can experience considerable amplification of both the forces and deflections. Thus, items of mobile substation equipment whose natural frequencies lie in the normal frequency range of transport motion are particularly vulnerable to damage and fatigue. Therefore we are interested in analyzing the natural frequencies, damping ratios (modal parameters) and level of accelerations of those components. In this paper it will be shown how above parameters can be retrieved from a road test on a mobile substation and be applied to develop adequate design rules and design tools as well as recommendations in order to guarantee the mechanical integrity of mobile substations during transport and service conditions. Finally the influence of conductor cables on the dynamic behavior of interconnected equipment will briefly be discussed.     

The uptake of heavy metals by epiphytic bacteria on Alisma plantago-aquatica

Bacterial epiphytes on the surface of the fresh-water plant Alisma plantago-aquatica collected from a polluted river were found to be a major factor in contributing to the total metal concentrations of the plant. The removal of epiphytes from the leaf surface resulted in significant reductions in the concentrations of Cr (reduced by 15–50%), Cu (30–35%), Fe, Pb, and Zn (10–50%). While numbers of epiphytes and concentrations of heavy metals increased in samples collected from polluted water compared with from unpolluted water, the fraction of metals held by the epiphytes appeared to remain similar for all samples.     

Assessment of copper bioavailability and toxicity in vineyard runoff waters by DPASV and algal bioassay

The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of runoff waters in an agricultural multipollution context through an in-depth assessment of copper bioavailability and toxicity. Runoff waters were screened for major ions, metals and diuron. The potential environmental impact of these runoff waters was evaluated using the conventional 72-h growth inhibition test with the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The results suggested that the toxicity detected in the calcareous vineyard field was due to the presence of diuron, whereas the non-calcareous runoff waters were non-toxic. Chemical speciation modelling by MINEQL revealed that most of the copper present in the non-toxic natural runoff waters was complexed by organic matter. These samples were spiked with copper, and then the toxicity and the electrochemically bioavailable copper fraction were measured. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was used to detect labile complexes and free copper. This combined approach highlighted the presence of some labile copper complexes in samples reaching the EC10-these could have contributed to the copper toxicity.     

Nitrifying population densities and inhibition of ammonium oxidation in natural and sewage-enriched cypress swamps

The occurrence of autotrophic nitrifiers in the peat from the floors of a natural cypress dome, a cypress dome receiving deep artesian groundwater, and two cypress domes amended with secondary treated sewage effluent, were assessed by surveying their population densities. The absence of ammonium oxidation in the surface waters of the natural dome was due to the low pH and not to any toxic organic chemical effects present in the humic-colored water. This probably explains the low density (0–56 cells cm⁻³) of autotrophic nitrifiers found associated with the peat from that dome.     

Sources of pharmaceutical pollution in the New York City Watershed

An investigation was carried out in the New York City Watershed for the presence of selected pharmaceuticals. In four seasonal sampling events between August 2003 and May 2004, surface water was collected from eight reservoir keypoints and effluent was collected from four wastewater treatment plants. We evaluated the following twelve compounds: amoxicillin, atenolol, caffeine, carbamazepine, cephalexin, estrone, 17alpha-ethinylestradiol, 17beta-estradiol, ibuprofen, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and valproic acid. In the treated effluents, carbamazepine was detected most frequently (100%; concentration range: 22-551 ng/L), followed by atenolol (94%; ND - 14,200 ng/L), trimethoprim (83%; ND - 37,000 ng/L), ibuprofen (61%; ND - 14,600 ng/L), and caffeine (49%; ND - 37,200 ng/L), while estrone was detected once (56 ng/L). In the reservoir keypoint samples, only ibuprofen (2.5%; ND - 932 ng/L) and caffeine (2.9%; ND - 177 ng/L) were detected. The other analytes were not detected in any sample. It is expected that investigation of other wastewater treatment plants in the New York City Watershed would show that their effluents are also a potential source of pharmaceuticals, but that these pharmaceuticals are unlikely to be detected in the Watershed's surface waters.     

Heavy metals in aquatic plants,clams, and sediments from the Chesapeake Bay,U.S.A. implications for waterfowl

Dry weight concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc were measured in clams, submerged aquatic macrophytes and sediments from several locations in the Chesapeake Bay region. Clam species included Macoma balthica, Mya arenaria, and Rangia cuneata; plant taxa included Najas spp., Potamogeton spp., Ruppia maritima, Vallisneria americana, and Zostera marina. Cadmium and lead concentrations were generally greater in whole plants than in soft tissues of clams, while the reverse was true for zinc; no marked trend was observed in copper concentrations. These results suggest that the changes occurring in the food habits of some Chesapeake Bay waterfowl towards increased clam utilization as a result of declining submerged plant abundances is not increasing ingestion of the nonessential metals cadmium and lead. Highest lead, copper and zinc concentrations were observed in sediments from the Patapsco River, which is probably due to the proximity of Baltimore Harbor. Highest cadmium concentrations were observed in sediments in the Port Tobacco River, a tributary of the Potomac River. These observations were generally consistent with high concentrations of the respective metal(s) in biota from these locations. Concentrations of the four metals in sediments were highly correlated to organic matter content.     

Fragility analysis for ballistic design

Effective structural design to resist ballistic effects such as small arms or fragmenting weapons has been a goal since weapons were developed. Approaches currently in use for ballistic design are predominantly deterministic and allow designers to decide what wall thickness should be used to stop a prescribed projectile impacting at a predefined velocity. The research presented in this paper provides a framework for conducting reliability analysis of structures subjected to bullet and fragment demands. Thus, pseudo-fragility curves are developed for the limit states related to spall and perforation of wall panels, residual velocities of bullets and fragments, and injury to personnel. The pseudo-fragility analysis provides engineers and owners with a tool to quickly assess the reliability of a wall system subjected to high velocity, low mass projectiles. In particular, the proposed analysis method allows designers and owners to determine the probability of spall and perforation, residual velocity, and injury as a function of wall thickness or threat standoff distance.

Abbreviations: Cumulative distribution function (CDF): Gives the probability that a stochastic variable ‘X’, with a proper probability density function, is equal to or less than a value (x). Coefficient of variation (COV): The quotient of the standard deviation and the mean