Nanocomposites based on polyethylene and Mg-Al layered double hydroxide. I. Synthesis and characterization

Low density polyethylene (LDPE)/Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites have been synthesized with different compositions by melt-mixing technique using maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as compatibilizer. LDH has been modified by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate using reconstruction method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The nanocomposites are characterized by different techniques such as, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), XRD and rheology. The TEM analysis shows a complex nature of particle dispersion in the polymer matrix with wide distribution of particles sizes and shapes. The rheological analysis showed significant changes in linear viscoelastic responses of the composites, even at very low concentration (2 phr) of LDH materials, in comparison to the pure polymer in low frequency regime in dynamic frequency sweep experiments. These changes are related to the LDHs-polymer chains interactions resulting in network-like structure.     

Effects of personal,psychosocial and occupational factors on low back pain severity in workers

Low back pain (LBP) remains the most common work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD). While most of the LBP research has focused on occupational risk factors, other underlying causal mechanisms may exist since not all workers performing the same task develop an injury. Previous research has identified three primary risk factor categories for LBP (occupational, personal and psychosocial factors); however, few studies have investigated the impact of cross categorical risk factor interactions on LBP. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational, personal and psychosocial factors, and their interactions, on LBP severity in a population of workers currently suffering from LBP. Sixty LBP patients recruited for the study through local physicians and local announcements, completed questionnaires relating to identified occupational, personal and psychosocial risk factors, and completed an Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Multiple regression models for predicting LBP severity were developed for each risk factor category and for a combined risk factor model (which included factors from all three risk factor categories) that included two-way interactions. Results showed that the final model consisted of both main effects and interaction terms between risk factor categories and had an adjusted R² value of 0.85, a significant improvement over models developed for the individual categories. These findings illustrate the need to consider all three broad categories of risk factors simultaneously in predicting injury status and in developing effective potential intervention efforts.     

Recent studies of self-condensation and co-condensation of melamine-formaldehyde resins; cure at low temperatures

Self-condensation: recent research on the chemical pathways by which alcoholated melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins react with themselves and on the product structures is summarized. Model compound studies suggest that bridges are less stable than widely thought unless they are in hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine ring structures. In acyclic structures they are probably less stable than bridges. Co-condensation: studies of how the composition of MF resins influences the rates of reaction with poly(ol) co-reactant show that MF resins that contain very low levels of and/or functionality are quite reactive. Reactivities of a variety of poly(ester) and acrylic coreactants were studied. By combining reactive MF resins with reactive co-reactants one can formulate high solids enamels that cure by co-condensation in 30 min at 50 to 65 °C with 0.5 parts per hundred (phr) of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) catalyst. Cure at 25 °C appears feasible with higher catalyst levels.     

A phosphorus budget of a poultry farm and a dairy farm in the southeastern U.S., and the potential impacts of diet alterations

Current and potential environmental problems associated with P transport from lands receiving high application rates of animal waste are a major concern. Phosphorus management strategies are needed to reduce P loading on land. This study was conducted to compare on-farm P budgets for a modern broiler farm and a dairy farm under traditional diets and management practices. Phosphorus inputs, recycling and outputs were assessed for both farms. A typical broiler and a dairy farmer from North Carolina were interviewed and pertinent information for the study was obtained, in cooperation with extension agents, and other professionals associated with the farms. The annual on-farm P surplus for the broiler farm was 6,380 kg, while that for the dairy farm was 1,141 kg. This corresponds to an annual application of 65 kg P ha^–1 for the broiler farm and 20 kg P ha^–1 for the dairy farm in excess of removal. The potential for reducing P surpluses by the addition of phytase enzymes and/or the use of low phytic acid corn (Zea mays L.) feed in the broiler farm diet was also assessed. Estimates by animal nutritionists indicate that feed supplementation with phytase enzyme can reduce the broiler farm's P surplus by 33%. The use of low phytic acid corn can reduce the surplus by 49% and a combination of the two can reduce the surplus by 58%. In this study, the incorporation of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) land into the waste utilization plan of the dairy farm decreases the annual P surplus from 20 to 9 kg P ha^–1. The use of new feed technology and expanding waste application to a larger land base can significantly alter the P budgets of broiler and dairy farms and reduce P surpluses, minimizing the risk of environmental problems.     

低挥发分煤在新型干法窑生产中的应用

对劣质煤、低挥发分煤的燃烧特性分析,工艺设备分析,提出预分解窑烧劣质煤、低挥发分煤的可能性、必要性,为我公司烧劣质煤、无烟煤打下了基础。     

Fisher discrimination based low rank matrix recovery for face recognition

In this paper, we consider the issue of computing low rank (LR) recovery of matrices with sparse errors. Based on the success of low rank matrix recovery in statistical learning, computer vision and signal processing, a novel low rank matrix recovery algorithm with Fisher discrimination regularization (FDLR) is proposed. Standard low rank matrix recovery algorithm decomposes the original matrix into a set of representative basis with a corresponding sparse error for modeling the raw data. Motivated by the Fisher criterion, the proposed FDLR executes low rank matrix recovery in a supervised manner, i.e., taking the with-class scatter and between-class scatter into account when the whole label information are available. The paper shows that the formulated model can be solved by the augmented Lagrange multipliers and provides additional discriminating power over the standard low rank recovery models. The representative bases learned by the proposed method are encouraged to be closer within the same class, and as far as possible between different classes. Meanwhile, the sparse error recovered by FDLR is not discarded as usual, but treated as a feedback in the following classification tasks. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves the state of the art results.     

Pt-V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalysts supported on SiC filter for NO reduction at low temperature

The catalytic filter, V₂O₅-WO₃-TiO₂ supported on a ceramic filter, is known as a promising material for treating particulates and NO _x simultaneously at optimum temperatures around 320°C. In order to improve its catalytic activity at low temperatures, the effect of Pt addition on the catalytic filter has been investigated. Catalytic filters, Pt-V₂O₅-WO₃-TiO₂/SiC, were prepared by co-impregnation of Pt, V, and W precursors on TiO₂ coated-SiC filter by vacuum aided-dip coating. The Pt-added catalytic filter shifted the optimum working temperature from 280–330°C (for the non Pt-impregnated filter) to 180–230°C, providing N _x slip concentration less than 20 ppm for the treatment of 700 ppm NO at a face velocity of 2 cm/s with the same value over the non Pt-added catalytic filters. The promotional effect following the addition of Pt is believed to result from electrical modification of the catalyst maintaining a high electron transfer state. Ammonia oxidation was also observed to be dominant above the optimal temperature for SCR.     

Glass transition and the rigid amorphous phase in semicrystalline blends of bacterial polyhydroxybutyrate PHB with low molecular mass atactic R, S-PHB-diol

The glass transition and the crystallinity of blends of isotactic bacterial PHB and low molecular mass atactic R, S-PHB-diols was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature-modulated DSC and dielectric spectroscopy. It was found that (i) T_g of crystallized blends is much lower than T_g of quenched blends, (ii) the semi-crystalline blends can only be described with a three-phase model. From the experimental results the amount of the oligomer component in the mobile amorphous as well as in the rigid amorphous phase was determined. It could be shown that the low molecular mass atactic R, S-PHB-diol is enriched in the mobile amorphous phase of the semi-crystalline blends, but 5-15% oligomer remains, however, in the rigid amorphous phase.     

CO hydrogenation over potassium-promoted Fe/carbon catalysts

The effects of potassium on the catalytic behavior in CO hydrogenation over K-promoted Fe/carbon catalysts having low K/Fe ratios were investigated. Even though the doses of potassium were low the promotional effects were pronounced, especially on the olefin-to-paraffin ratio, and theC ₃ toC ₄ olefin selectivities of the K-promoted catalysts were as high as 51 to 66 mol%. Over the catalysts having no or low potassium content the olefin-to-paraffin ratio and the ratio of the CO₂ formation rate to the rate of CO conversion to hydrocarbons remained roughly the same regardless of temperature, while over the K-promoted catalysts having higher potassium content they increased with temperature. Formation of significant amounts of filamentous carbon was observed in the K-promoted catalysts; however, the carbon deposition did not appear to affect the inherent activity and selectivity of the K-promoted catalysts.     

Stabilized heteropolyacid/Nafion composite membranes for elevated temperature/low relative humidity PEFC operation

Organic/inorganic composite membranes with different inorganic heteropolyacid (HPA) additives maintain sufficient proton conductivities for atmospheric pressure elevated temperature (>100 °C) polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) operation. However, membrane and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) processing is severely curtailed because of the solubility of the HPA additives in aqueous media. Composite membranes with the HPA (phosphotungstic acid; PTA) additive rendered insoluble by ion exchanging protons with larger cations such as Cs⁺, NH₄⁺, Rb⁺ and Tl⁺ were fabricated. The additive loss in aqueous media was lowered from nearly 100% (unmodified HPA) to about 5% (modified HPA). The membranes were robust, and demonstrated low H₂ crossover currents of around 2 mA/cm² for a 28 μm thick membrane. All membranes were evaluated at high temperatures and low relative humidities in an operating fuel cell. The conductivities of the composite membranes at 120 °C and 35% relative humidity were on the order of 1.6 × 10⁻² S/cm.