The energy intensity in Lithuania during 1995–2009: A LMDI approach

The measurement, assessment, and effective mitigation of energy intensity compose a foremost objective of contemporary energy policy. Although the European Union (EU) Member States have been experiencing the convergence in energy efficiency indicators, Lithuania, acceded to the EU in 2004, still remains peculiar with relatively high energy intensity. Our study, therefore, is aimed at analyzing the energy intensity trends in Lithuanian economy as a whole as well as in separate economic sectors. The investigation covers the period of 1995–2009. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index was applied for decomposition analysis. Our analysis has shown that energy efficiency falls during economic downturn. In order to facilitate these challenges the Lithuanian Government as well as business should opt for increasing energy efficiency in the most problematic sectors of transport and services. In addition, the analysis of legal acts, namely National Energy Efficiency Programme for 2006–2010 and Energy Efficiency Action plan for 2010–2016, was taken into consideration. Some suggestions, thus, were offered for successful implementation of strategic goals outlined in the aforementioned strategic documents.     

Titanium–tin oxide protective films on a black cobalt photothermal absorber

We report the effect of covering an electrodeposited black cobalt absorber film with a Ti : Sn oxide film at various atomic ratios prepared by the sol–gel dip process. The resulting composite was characterized in its optical, structural and morphological properties. After thermal treatment at 400°C, the uncoated black cobalt film is oxidized and Co₃O₄ is formed. Samples covered with Ti : Sn films and thermally treated at the same temperature suffered lower oxidation maintaining in great extent the original metallic cobalt structure. The optical properties of the resulting material were affected by the presence of the Ti : Sn coating, and the best protective film obtained was a transparent Ti : Sn (8 : 2) atomic ratio oxide film, with a 210 nm thickness. This composite system exhibits an absorptance value of 0.91 and an emittance value of 0.34 after a 100 h, 400°C thermal treatment. A photothermal material composed of a layer of black cobalt and a protective oxide film coating seems then a promising solar energy absorber capable of withstanding high operating temperatures (400°C).     

Oblique impact simulations of high strength agglomerates

Different types of particle compounds like concrete particles can be considered as a model material of high strength agglomerates. It is necessary to investigate and understand fracture behaviour of these agglomerates in order to avoid breakage during storage, handling and transportation. The aim of the research is to examine the comminution behaviour of high strength agglomerates during oblique impact loadings.A two dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out to understand stress pattern distributions before crack initiation. Then a two dimensional discrete element method has been applied to study the fragmentation behaviour of the agglomerates. Concrete particles of B35 strength category have been chosen to represent the high strength agglomerates.Analysis is done with oblique impact loadings at different velocities from 7.7 to 180 m/s. The stressing conditions comprise low flow rate transportation and handling to high speed impacts during fall down in bunker, stock piles, ship loading or stressing in crushers and mill operations. Particle size distributions and new surface generation have also been evaluated in the paper.It is shown that at higher velocities, particle size distributions are identical to each other regardless of impact angle. Increasing impact velocity does not necessarily produce more new surfaces after certain velocity limit.     

A Feature Selection Algorithm for the Regularization of Neuron Models

This paper presents a novel training method for estimating the parameters of retina models, such as integrate-and-fire (IF) or Poisson based. The presented models are constructed using a set of linear and nonlinear filters, which are described by basis functions and Taylor polynomials, respectively. This approach allows for the identification of a set of features that can be used for reproducing retina responses. By using the Bayesian-Laplace feature selection algorithm herein proposed, an efficient model with a reduced set of parameters is achieved. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is able to remove unimportant features while still accurately reproducing retina responses. These results also show that the IF model is able to mimic the retina visual processing system using less parameters than the Poisson-based model.     

Development of a non-destructive micro-analytical method for stable carbon isotope analysis of transmission electron microscope (TEM) samples

The biogenicity of ancient morphological microfossil-like objects can be established by linking morphological (e.g. cell remnants and extracellular polymeric matrix) and chemical (e.g. isotopes, biomarkers and biominerals) evidence indicative of microorganisms or microbial activity. We have developed a non-destructive micro-analytical ion beam system capable of measuring with high spatial resolution the stable carbon isotope ratios of thin samples used for transmission electron microscopy. The technique is based on elastic scattering of alpha particles with an energy of 2.751 MeV. At this energy the ¹³C cross section is enhanced relative to the pure Rutherford cross section for ¹³C, whereas the ¹²C cross section is reduced relative to its pure Rutherford cross section. Here we report the initial results of this experimental approach used to characterize ultramicrotomed sections of sulfur-embedded graphite and microbial cells.     

Projective moment invariants

The paper is devoted to the moment invariants with respect to projective transform. It has been a common belief that such invariants do not exist. We show that projective moment invariants exist in a form of infinite series containing moments with positive as well as negative indices.     

Relative viscosity models and their application to capillary flow data of highly filled hard‐metal carbide powder compounds

The rheological behavior of highly filled polymer systems used in powder injection molding (PIM) technology strongly influences the final properties of the products. In this study, the capillary flow data of multi‐component polymer binders—based on polyethylene, paraffin, ethylene‐based copolymers, and polyethylene glycol—compounded with three various hard‐metal carbide powders were employed. The rheology of such highly filled (up to 50 vol%) multiphase systems is necessarily a complex phenomenon characterized by strain dependent, non‐Newtonian properties complicated by flow instabilities and yield. Over 15 mathematical models proposed for highly filled systems were tested, some of them calculating the maximum filler loading. Due to the complex structure of the filler (irregular shape, particle size distribution) and a multi‐component character of the binder, the applicability of these models varied with the powder‐binder systems studied. However, the particular values of maximum loadings are in good accordance with the predictions based on powder characteristics. Simple modification of Frankel‐Acrivos model to the systems containing unimodal hard‐metal carbide powders with particles of an irregular shape and broad particle size distribution gave precise agreement between experimental data and model prediction. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:29–36, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Hydrogel wound dressings based on chitosan and xyloglucan: Development and characterization

Xyloglucan is a polysaccharide isolated from chia seed gum (Salvia hispanica L.) and can act as a soluble fiber. In this investigation, several porous hydrogels were prepared from mixtures of chitosan and xyloglucan. To characterize these biomaterials, their mechanical, hydrophilic, structural, and morphological properties were measured, as well as their biodegradability and antimicrobial activity. The pore sizes of the porous hydrogels were 32.8–101.6 μm, and their water retention capacity is proportional to the added amount of xyloglucan. Dynamic degradation of the porous hydrogels with lysozymes showed progressive weight loss during the 14 days of testing. The mechanical properties improved slightly after the addition of xyloglucan. All of these results indicate that the incorporation of vegetable-derived polymers such as xyloglucan improves the properties of chitosan without affecting its antimicrobial capacity. Thus, biomaterials based on chitosan and xyloglucan are a promising option for the design of hydrogel wound dressings for medical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47342.