Dynamic problems of the theory of elasticity for layers and semilayers with cavities

We present a solution methodology for dynamic problems of the theory of elasticity based on the fundamental (F)-solutions approach for layers and semilayers containing cavities. Under the proposed solution framework boundary-value problems for three-dimensional cylindrical bodies are reduced to well-studied systems of one-dimensional singular integral equations. With the aid of the integral Fourier transform in time, we study the problem of impulse loading at the sides of cavities. We also demonstrate how the combination of the proposed methodology with the approach of reflections can be used for the solution of analogous problems for semi-infinite layers.     

Experimental study of hydrogen production and soot particulate matter emissions from methane rich-combustion in inert porous media

A detailed experimental study of stationary Thermal Partial Oxidation (TPOX) within inert porous media has been conducted. The reaction zone of the tested TPOX reformer is designed so as to enable stationary conversion of fuel/air mixtures for a wide range of operational conditions. Operating characteristics of the process have been examined for two different porous matrices, with different thermal and transport properties, namely SiSiC open foam structure and a packed bed of pure Al₂O₃ packing material in the form of cylindrical rings. The influence of reactants preheating was also examined since the reformer is meant for integration within high temperature fuel cell systems. The operating regime was scanned for reactants' inlet temperature of 400 °C and 550 °C, varying the thermal load in a range from 350 kW/m² up to 2600 kW/m² and the equivalence ratio from 1.9 up to 2.9. Temperature profiles within the reaction region of the reformer were recorded for all tested conditions while gas samples were on-line analyzed for the major species H₂, CO, CO₂, and minor species CH₄, C₂H₂. At reactants' inlet temperatures of 400 °C and 600 °C, for a fixed thermal load of 1540 kW/m² and for selected equivalence ratios around the sooting limit of the process (φ = 2.2–2.6), soot particle size distributions were measured in the exhaust gas with a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS). The results show that the better thermal properties and the higher porosity in the case of the SiSiC matrix enables longer residence times for slow reforming reactions to evolve towards equilibrium and yields syngas with significantly less soot in terms of particle numbers and mass concentration.     

Report from the AND 2009 working group on noisy text datasets

This document is a report of the discussions by the participants to the working group on “Noisy Text Datasets” organized during the Third Workshop on Analytics for Noisy Unstructured Text Data (AND 2009) held in Barcelona (Spain) July 23, 24, 2009.     

Speciation of phosphorus fractionation in river sediments by explanatory data analysis

This article investigates the controls on sediment phosphorus (P) speciation dynamics as a function of its fractionation into chemically defined operational pools along a river continuum. A total of 27 variables were analyzed in bed sediment samples collected for one year from six sampling points, along a 75km river continuum (Louros River, NW Greece). Multivariate explanatory analysis of the complex experimental data matrix was performed in order to unravel the spatial pattern of P speciation. Non-parametric examinations were also applied in order to elucidate the temporal variations encountered in the speciation of P. The results suggest that inorganic P species control P bioavailability in space and time. Organic P was found to be very reactive among the various fractions thus changing its bioavailability but exhibited no temporal variation. The utility of the proposed approach in the differentiation of natural and anthropogenic P inputs and their classification to point and non-point sources is demonstrated presenting a significant improvement compared to mere fractionation analysis.     

Zur Kinetik der Korrosion von Metallen in Halogenkohlenwasserstoffen

Kinetics of metal corrosion in halogenated hydrocarbons The corrosion kinetics of non alloyed steel in the solvents Trichloroethylene, Perchloroethylene, 111-Trichlorethane has been investigated. Parameters are water content, the temperature and the concentration of Dibromethane. Thermodynamic calculations show that Fe and Al in contact with HKW may corrode. Investigations into the rate of hydrolysis give increasing values in the sequence Trichloroethylene – Perchloroethylene – 111-Trichloroethane. In absolutely pure HKW iron is not corroded, but in presence of water, especially if it is present as a secondary phase, strong corrosion attack occurs. An incubation time is interpreted as the time for the build-up of critical concentration of aggressive agents in the aqueous phase. Aluminium may be corroded electrochemically (in two phase HKW/water mixtures) as well as by a radical (metalorganic) mechanism. It is shown that the incubation time of the system Al/C₂H₄Br₂ is connected with the build-up of a critical radical concentration at the metal surface. During the investigations into the system Al/C₂H₄Br₂ the enthalpie production has been used for measuring the corrosion rate.     

Virtualised e-Learning on the IRMOS real-time Cloud

This paper presents the real-time virtualised Cloud infrastructure that was developed in the context of the IRMOS European Project. The paper shows how different concepts, such as real-time scheduling, QoS-aware network protocols, and methodologies for stochastic modelling and run-time provisioning were practically combined to provide strong performance guarantees to soft real-time interactive applications in a virtualised environment. The efficiency of the IRMOS Cloud is demonstrated by two real interactive e-Learning applications, an e-Learning mobile content delivery application and a Virtual World e-Learning application.     

Software for temporal gait data analysis

This study presents a computer program, developed to support a low-cost, portable telemetry system that has been designed to assess footfall timing. This software frees the user from data processing and allows concentration on data analysis. The new technique has been applied with accuracy and reliability to the analysis of the gait of orthopedic patients, athletes, mountaineers, etc. The subroutines developed for data acquisition, storage and analysis are explained in detail, and an example is presented.     

Metal ion determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry through reagentless coacervate phase separation-extraction into lamellar vesicles

The phase separation of lamellar vesicles of anionic surfactants in aqueous solutions and its application as a novel liquid coacervate extraction procedure was examined. Solutions of lauric acid sodium salt separate into two phases in the presence of alkaline earth metals and a water miscible cosurfactant. It is proven that the surfactant phase is built of a perplexed network of multilamellar vesicles consisting of densely packed bilayers. Several factors affecting the formation of this new phase as well as its analytical utility in the preconcentration of metallic ions were assessed on the basis of better exploitation of this new nonspecific extraction technique. In essence, although the procedure to arrive at the optimum conditions seems laborious, the delivered method is straightforward, alleviating the requirement for prereaction with a complexing agent and highly reproducible under the optimum experimental conditions. As an analytical demonstration, the method was successfully applied to the determination of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) in natural waters. Recoveries were higher than 95%, and detection limits as low as 3 microg L(-)(1) were accomplished by preconcentrating only 10 mL of sample volume in the presence of 0.45% (w/v) anionic surfactant.