Experimental study of the properties of alkali metals and alloys in the temperature range 1000–1800°K

New apparatus for experimental study of the speed of sound and density of alkali metals in the fused state is described. Experimental data on saturated vapor pressure of the sodium-potassium eutectic are presented.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 965–971, December, 1980.     

Nutrition characteristics and ascorbic acid requirements in students living in an arid zone

Data are presented on the actual nutrition and providing with vitamin C in students of the V. I. Lenin Pedagogical Institute (Ashkhabad, Turkmenia). Twenty male students aged 18-24 years were investigated during the examination session in summer. Group 1 (12 subjects) received an additional dose of ascorbic acid (150 mg/day), group 2 (8 subjects) served as control. Diversion from the principles of the rational nutrition was established in the actual nutrition of the students investigated: in summer, due to low appetite, students eat low amounts of meat products, that results in the decreased content of animal proteins and fats in their daily rations as compared to the values recommended for this group of population. Vitamin C deficiency was also detected in the students studied. Additional intake of ascorbic acid in a dose of 150 mg/day has normalized their providing with this vitamin.     

Production of H2 for fuel cell applications: methanol steam reforming with sufficiently thorough cleaning of H2 from CO impurity

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) and preferential CO oxidation (PROX) were studied with the view of improving the generation of H₂-rich gases. In MSR, conventional catalysts of methanol synthesis were tested, various Cu-based catalysts were prepared and studied. A theoretic kinetic model (based on the reaction mechanism established using independent methods [1]) is developed and checked out. PROX was studied over various Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts using a flow “quasi-adiabatic” reactor. On-line recording of gas temperature in the catalyst bed and CO residual concentration at varied reaction conditions allowed to observe ignition and extinction of the catalyst surface and the transition states of the process. It is shown that in the ignition mode a sharp decrease in CO residual concentration can be achieved. The combination of proposed catalyst and the control of the macrokinetic regime of PROX allows high degree of CO removal from gaseous mixtures produced by MSR. Residual CO content in a H₂-rich gaseous mixture can be lowered to < 15 ppm at GHSV∼100 m³/(kg cat)/h and O₂/CO ratio of 1. Obtained data show the possibility of designing a high-throughput set-up for generation of H₂-rich gases from methanol with one-step cleaning from the CO impurity.     

Simulation of the ground water level of substantial polder systems

A method of a communal matrix synthesis of the transformation of the coordinates C(α _L ) from local reference systems (LRS) into a communal reference system (CRS) for any configuration of polder systems, supplying the formation of the groundwater level (GWL) in a communal reference system is designed. The GWL numerical accounts in a CRS give an adequate representation about the time-space allocation of groundwater for the entire drained mass, permitting the quantitative valuation of the qualities of the polder systems.     

Properties and nanoscale structure of polypropylene‐layered double hydroxide composites prepared by compatibilizer‐free way

Polypropylene (PP) is the second most widespread commodity polyolefin. Even a small quantity of inorganic component is sufficient to achieve significant improvement of stiffness, strength, thermal stability, biodegradability, etc. The major drawback of inorgano‐organic composite materials is insufficient compatibility of the PP matrix with inorganic filler. A suitable choice of the layered double hydroxide‐modifying anion opens a possibility to obtain PP‐inorganic nanocomposites without a need to use compatibilizers like maleic anhydride grafted PP. The nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending in a twin‐screw mini‐extruder and characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and electron microscopy. Nonpolar PP matrix mix uniformly with clay organophilized with functionalized surfactant acids, giving rise to composites with improved thermo‐mechanical properties. Influences of the anionic modifier and the filler content (2 or 5% w/w) on mechanical properties and nanoscale structure of the composites are discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2429–2438, 2013     

Seasonal dynamics of the indices of humoral immunity in children aged 3 months to 1 year in relation to nutrition in an arid zone]

The paper reports seasonal data on humoral immunity of 245 Turkmen and 240 European infants aged 3-12 months. Allowances were made for climatic conditions of the arid zone and essential feeding. In summer there were reduced levels of IgM, IgG in the serum and insufficient supply with thiamine and ascorbic acid. IgA serum level was the lowest in spring. IgA strongly correlated (r = 0.7-0.8) with thiamine and ascorbic acid intake in spring, IgM and IgG with retinol and thiamine in summer. The above changes in humoral immunity in summer are associated with growing incidence of intestinal diseases and lower body mass in the infants in the condition of arid zone.