Allelopathic properties ofPolygonella myriophylla

Polygonella myriophylla is a perennial shrub endemic to the Florida scrub. Striking bare zones surround maturePolygonella stands. Quantitative measurements of root distribution show that fewPolygonella roots extend into the bare zones, supporting the hypothesis that the bare zones result from chemical interference byPolygonella with the growth of other species. Bioassays of soils collected biweekly for one year from beneathPolygonella, the bare zone, and adjacent grassed areas confirm that the germination and growth of grasses is reduced inPolygonella soil and soil from the surrounding bare zone. Compared to adjacent grassed area soil, the average germination of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) was 71% inPolygonella soil and 81% in bare zone soil, and average shoot dry weight was 48% inPolygonella soil and 81% in bare zone soil. Seasonal variation in the inhibition of grass germination and growth was not pronounced.     

Preparation and characterization of mesostructured polymer-functionalized sol–gel-derived thin films

The present study attempts to incorporate methacrylate-based polymers into ordered lamellar organic/inorganic nanocomposite films composed of alternating SiO₂/polymer layers. The films are prepared by dip-coating from a solution containing the monomers and silica precursors, thus leading to composite lamellar mesostructured materials through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). A polymerizable coupling agent is added to covalently link the polymers to the silica matrix. The final polymer/SiO₂ hybrid material is obtained by a separate free-radical polymerization step, initiated by UV exposure or thermal treatment. Using trimethoxy(7-octen-1-yl)silane as a coupling agent, a procedure was established that preserved the mesostructure and maintained the swelling properties of the polymers, while acrylate-based coupling agents lead to a significant distortion of the film mesostructure. Structure and composition of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction, NMR and IR.     

Image analysis for interfacial area and cocontinuity detection in polymer blends

A novel image processing method was developed to extract interfacial area concentration measurements from 2D micrographs of immiscible polymer blends. Although this method can be used for analyzing different types of 2D micrographs such as optical or transmission electron microscopy images, it was designed for analyzing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The method operates by detecting edges within the images and using standard image processing operations to selectively eliminate false edges. SEM images of polyethylene oxide/polystyrene (PEO/PS) blends were analyzed using this image processing method to measure the amount of interfacial area in the samples. Interfacial area per unit volume exhibits maxima for blend compositions at the boundary between droplet and cocontinuous morphologies. In addition to the detection of cocontinuity, the interfacial area measurements facilitated by this method may be used in future investigations of blend dynamics, including coalescence, drop deformation, and blend rheology studies. These measurements may also be used to quantify the effects of compatibilizers on blend morphology.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers as proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers (SPEKK) with ion‐exchange capacities (IEC) between 0.2 and 3.4 meq/g were prepared by sulfonating PEKK with a mixture of concentrated and fuming sulfuric acids. Sulfonation occurs only on the phenyl rings attached to ether and ketone groups. The glass transition temperature of the dry SPEKK ionomers increased linearly with increasing IEC, and the ionomers were thermally stable to ～250°C, above which desulfonation occurred. Water‐swollen ionomers exhibited microphase separated morphologies, and the average correlation length determined by small angle X‐ray scattering increased with increasing IEC. The proton conductivity of hydrated SPEKK membranes measured by impedance spectroscopy ranged from ～10^–3 to 10^–1 S/cm as the IEC increased from ～1.0 to 2.4 meq/g. Single cell performance curves on membrane‐electrode assemblies (MEA) indicated that the SPEKK membranes approached the performance of Nafion? for an IEC of 2 meq/g. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1081–1091, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of branching upon some surfactant properties of sulfated alcohols

A study was undertaken to determine the surfactant properties of various sulfated alcohols. Most notably, the Krafft point and the ability to emulsify decane were studied. A series of sulfated Guerbet alcohol and Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate sulfates with 16 carbon atoms and an analogous series based upon cetyl alcohol, a linear C₁₆, were studied as hydrophobes.     

A comparison of the ethoxylation of a fatty alcohol,fatty acid,and dimethiconol

Knowing that dimethiconols or silanols condense under acid or alkaline catalysis, a study was undertaken to determine if these compounds could be successfully ethoxylated under conditions similar to those used to ethoxylate fatty alcohols and acids. It was anticipated that the condensation reaction would take precedent over ethoxylation reaction. We determined that ethoxylation reaction occurs preferentially to condensation reaction. In addition, kinetics of ethoxylation are similar to kinetics observed when fatty alcohols are ethoxylated. This reaction gives rise to a new class of hydrolyzable silicone compounds that have applications in industrial as well as in personal-care products.     

AN EXOTHERMIC CONTINUOUS STIRRED TANK REACTOR IS FEEDBACK EQUIVALENT TO A LINEAR SYSTEM

This brief paper demonstrates the concept of linear feedback equivalence for an exothermic eontinu-ous stirred tank reactor with first order kinetics. Feedback control is achieved by finding a transformation for the nonlinear system which carries this system into a linear controllable system in Brunovsky canonical form. A linear state feedback controller is then designed which achieves control over a broad range of operating conditions. This example demonstrates how recent developments in nonlinear control theory can be applied to chemical systems without relying on the usual methods of local linearization.     

Tele‐Cocooning: Mobile Texting and Social Scope

The present study examines the tele‐cocooning hypothesis in the context of general trust using a nationally representative survey of Japanese youth. We find that although frequency of texting is positively correlated with general trust, this correlation is spuriously caused by how heavy mobile texters interpret the words “most people” in the general trust measurement. Heavy users assume that “most people” only refers to friends, family, and others going to the same school. When the effect of the “most people” assumption is controlled, the positive association between texting and general trust disappears. Further exploration of the data shows that heavy texting nevertheless has negative implications for social tolerance and social caution, both of which are theoretically proximate to general trust.     

灰色二层多目标线性规划问题及其解法

针对二层多目标线性规划问题,结合灰色系统的特性,提出了一般灰色二层多目标线性规划问题,并给出了模型的相关定义和定理.针对漂移型灰色二层多目标线性规划问题,提出一种具有全局收敛性质的求解算法.首先通过线性加权模理想点法把多目标转化为单目标;然后当可行域为非空紧集时,利用库恩塔克条件把双层转化为单层,再利用粒子群算法搜索单目标单层线性规划即可得到原问题的解;最后通过算例表明了该算法的有效性.