Alumina-supported catalysts for propane oxidative dehydrogenation from mixed VXM(6−X)O19 (M=W, Mo) hexametalate precursors

γ-Al₂O₃ supported vanadium oxides were modified by tungsten and molybdenum oxides in order to improve dispersion and selectivity towards olefins in propane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH). Both vanadium–tungsten and vanadium–molybdenum catalysts were obtained by adsorption of mixed isopolyanions (VW₅O₁₉⁵⁻, V₂W₄O₁₉⁴⁻, VMo₅O₁₉⁵⁻ and V₂Mo₄O₁₉⁴⁻) from aqueous solutions. The isopolyanion solutions were characterized by UV-Vis and ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy. Vanadium, vanadium–tungsten and vanadium–molybdenum precursors and catalysts were also characterized by UV-Vis (diffuse reflectance) and solid state ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy. An improved selectivity to propene in the presence of tungsten and molybdenum in VO_x/γ-Al₂O₃ was observed and attributed to dilution of vanadium by tungsten or molybdenum oxides on the γ-Al₂O₃ surface.     

Neural components of social evaluation.

Evaluative responses appear to involve 2 seemingly distinct sets of processes: those that are automatically activated and others that are more consciously controlled. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the authors investigated the brain systems associated with automatic and controlled evaluative processing. Participants made either evaluative (good-bad) or nonevaluative (past-present) judgments about famous names. Greater amygdala activity was observed for names rated as "bad" relative to those rated as "good," regardless of whether the task directly involved an evaluative judgment (good-bad) or not (past-present). Good-bad judgments resulted in greater medial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity than past-present judgments. Furthermore, there was greater ventrolateral PFC activity in good-bad judgments marked by greater ambivalence. Together, these findings indicate a neural distinction between processes engaged for automatic and controlled evaluation. Whereas automatic processes are sensitive to simple valence, controlled processes are sensitive to attitudinal complexity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict: Testing a model of the work-family interface.

A comprehensive model of the work–family interface was developed and tested. The proposed model extended prior research by explicitly distinguishing between work interfering with family and family interfering with work. This distinction allowed testing of hypotheses concerning the unique antecedents and outcomes of both forms of work–family conflict and a reciprocal relationship between them. The influence of gender, race, and job type on the generalizability of the model was also examined. Data were obtained through household interviews with a random sample of 631 individuals. The model was tested with structural equation modeling techniques. Results were strongly supportive. In addition, although the model was invariant across gender and race, there were differences across blue- and white-collar workers. Implications for future research on the work–family interface are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On finding optimal and near-optimal lineal spanning trees

The search for good lineal, or depth-first, spanning trees is an important aspect in the implementation of a wide assortment of graph algorithms. We consider the complexity of findingoptimal lineal spanning trees under various notions of optimality. In particular, we show that several natural problems, such as constructing a shortest or a tallest lineal tree, are NP-hard. We also address the issue of polynomial-time, near-optimization strategies for these difficult problems, showing that efficient absolute approximation algorithms cannot exist unlessP = NP.This author's research was supported in part by the Sandia University Research Program and by the National Science Foundation under Grant M IP-8603879.This author's research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grants ECS-8403859 and MIP-8603879.     

Hutchinsonianism and the Newtonian Enlightenment

Abstract. Historians of science have labeled followers of the 18th cosmologist John Hutchinson (1674– 1737) as anti‐Newtonian. While Hutchinson was clearly anti‐Newtonian, this was not the case with later followers like George Horne and William Jones. Horne and Jones sought a rapprochement between Newton and Hutchinson; in their hands, interpretations of Newton's works were refashioned to support Hutchinson's biblically based cosmos and Trinitarian natural philosophy. Newton's thought could be used by conservative Anglican Churchmen to battle religious heterodoxy. This raises problems for traditional Enlightenment historiography which views Newtonianism as a set of ideas which supported and reinforced emerging modern forms of political and religious thought.     

Polyamide-6/vegetal fiber composite prepared by extrusion and injection molding

The interest for the use of vegetal fibers as polymers reinforcement has recently increased because of their unique environmental and technological advantages. This work evaluated the use of Curauá fibers in polyamide-6 composites aiming at glass fiber replacement. Fiber content of 20, 30 or 40 wt% and fiber lengths of 0.1 or 10 mm were studied. Fibers were treated with N₂ plasma or washed with NaOH solution, to improve their adhesion to PA-6. Samples with 20 wt% of short or long fibers, with or without pre-treatment, were compounded in two different co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extruders. These samples were submitted to mechanical and thermal tests. In conclusion, non-dried raw materials improved fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion. Tensile and flexural properties of this composite are better than unfilled, but lower than glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6. However, its impact resistance and heat deflection temperature are similar to the glass fiber reinforced polyamide-6 and its lower density, enable it to replace this latter in specific non-critical applications.     

On finding optimal and near-optimal lineal spanning trees

The search for good lineal, or depth-first, spanning trees is an important aspect in the implementation of a wide assortment of graph algorithms. We consider the complexity of findingoptimal lineal spanning trees under various notions of optimality. In particular, we show that several natural problems, such as constructing a shortest or a tallest lineal tree, are NP-hard. We also address the issue of polynomial-time, near-optimization strategies for these difficult problems, showing that efficient absolute approximation algorithms cannot exist unlessP = NP.     

A discussion of the methods for comparing the relative effectiveness of phosphate fertilizers varying in solubility

Because various phosphate (P) fertilizers differ widely in their solubility, it is commonly observed that crop response to P fertilizers varies under the same soil and crop conditions. Furthermore, a major problem encountered in the methods for determining the relative effectiveness (RE) of water-insoluble P fertilizer (e.g., phosphate rock) with respect to water-soluble P fertilizers, e.g., single superphosphate (SSP) and triple superphosphate (TSP), is that their growth response curves are usually nonlinear and often do not share a common maximum yield. In this paper, we review and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three most commonly used methods for calculating the RE of phosphate rock with respect to TSP (or SSP). The three methods are vertical comparison, horizontal (substitution rate) comparison, and linear-response comparison.     

The cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in liquid sulfur dioxide initiated by the HI/I2 system

The polymerization of α-methylstyrene (αMeSty) initiated by HI/I₂ or HI in the presence of liquid sulfur dioxide has been investigated. The number-average molecular weight increased with the monomer concentration for reactions initiated by the HI/I₂ system. I₂ also participates in the initiation process, increasing the number-average polymer chain at higher monomer concentration. HI alone is also able to initiate the polymerization of αMeSty in the presence of SO₂. With this initiator, transfer reaction can be minimized in systems containing low amount of SO₂. Received: 19 December 1996/Revised: 27 January 1997/Accepted 29 January 1997     

超奇着装的符号学意义:希普霍普风格的经典诠释和结构性分析

希普霍普风格(hiphop style)是与20世纪90年代说唱音乐文化相联系的一种充满争议的着装形式.人们对它的分析和诠释一直以符号学的结构性研究方法为基础.不同时间段中的符号学体系彼此分离,在建立这个体系中的诸多因素和所蕴含意义的关系方面,需要考虑三个编码操作(coding operations),即范式对齐(paradigmatic alignment)--极端的观点、外延意义和内涵意义(denotation and connotation)--字面的意义和延伸的意叉、修辞手段(figurative devices)--暗含的喻义.研究结果依据希普霍普风格系统符号和常规着装系统符号间的辩证关系,揭示了这一体系的结构.常规着装体系的组成要素由此得以揭示,支持希普霍鲁系统的象征性语言也被描述了出来.希普霍普风格被当作一种与超奇着装设计相关的服装体系的范例加以分析,而这种风格与普通着装形式是对立的,这种分析对相关理论的发展有着积极的意义.