Chemical factors affecting soiling and soil release from cotton-containing durable press fabric. VIII. Grafting of polyester/cotton blend fabrics with carboxyl-containing polymer

Fabric samples of polyester/cotton blend were graft copolymerized to different levels (add-ons) with poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) using the mutual γ-irradiation technique and the Fe²⁺–H₂O₂ redox system, respectively. The copolymers so obtained were given durable press treatments with and without conventional nonionic softener using DMDEU as the crosslinking agent. The susceptibility of the copolymers before and after crosslinking to aqueous and nonaqueous oily soiling and their ability to release the soils were examined. It was found that hydrophilization of the surface of polyester/cotton blend through grafting with the said carboxyl-containing polymers brings about a significant improvement in the resistance of the blend to aqueous and nonaqueous oily soil particularly after crosslinking in presence of nonionic softener. A certain improvement in the ease of oily soil removal could be achieved by grafting. The opposite holds true for aqueous soil release. Soiling and soil release depends on the magnitude and method of grafting, medium of soiling, as well as the formulation of crosslinking treatments. The effect of grafting on some properties of the blend fabric before and after crosslinking was also examined.     

Theory blending: extended algorithmic aspects and examples

In Cognitive Science, conceptual blending has been proposed as an important cognitive mechanism that facilitates the creation of new concepts and ideas by constrained combination of available knowledge. It thereby provides a possible theoretical foundation for modeling high-level cognitive faculties such as the ability to understand, learn, and create new concepts and theories. Quite often the development of new mathematical theories and results is based on the combination of previously independent concepts, potentially even originating from distinct subareas of mathematics. Conceptual blending promises to offer a framework for modeling and re-creating this form of mathematical concept invention with computational means. This paper describes a logic-based framework which allows a formal treatment of theory blending (a subform of the general notion of conceptual blending with high relevance for applications in mathematics), discusses an interactive algorithm for blending within the framework, and provides several illustrating worked examples from mathematics.     

Solvent-drop assisted mechanochemical synthesis of the black and green polymorphs of the tetrathiafulvalene–chloranil charge transfer salt

This work describes the synthesis of the green and black polymorphic forms of the tetrathiafulvalene–chloranil (TTF–CA) charge transfer salt as pure phases, by solvent-assisted mechanochemistry. Both materials were characterized using laboratory and high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The high-resolution XRPD pattern of the TTF–CA black polymorph was indexed with a triclinic lattice a = 10.756(5) Å, b = 11.057(4) Å, c = 6.614(2) Å, α = 101.36(2)°, β = 93.69(3)°, γ = 89.37(3)°, V = 769.6(5) Å³. The chemical stability of these phases upon heating was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), indicating that both polymorphs undergo chemical decomposition, and ruling out the transition to an air-stable high temperature polymorph.     

Design of a multimicroprocessor-controlled PABX: Continuing decreases in component costs mean that systems such as telephone branch exchanges can handle large data traffic relatively cheaply.

Problems encountered in the design of a multimicroprocessor-controlled private automatic branch exchange (PABX) using space division analogue switching concepts are discussed. The design organization includes pairs of groups of subscribers. Each group is controlled by a microprocessor with a private memory; the system also includes a common memory accessible by all the microprocessors. The maximum number of subscribers is 256 in each pair of groups; this is governed by the 8-bit word length of the microprocessors used. If the word length of the processor is doubled, the maximum number may reach 6000 subscribers per pair of groups; this is limited by the available addressing space because memory-mapped I/O control is used. A further increase in the number of subscribers per pair of groups may be achieved if memory space is not an obstacle, since the processor speed does not pose any limitation on the organization used for up to 110 000 subscribers per pair of groups. Expansion of such an organization scheme by adding more group pairs is possible; however, this makes hardware interfacing in the system slightly more complex.A complete design for a pair of groups controlled by two microprocessors and servicing 256 subscribers is described. The implementation of this design in the laboratory is discussed. The main requirements of multiprocessing were applied to the proposed PABX with regard to the logic, software and hardware design. The design of all the microprocessor circuits is given. All external circuits responsible for counting and storing dialled digits, generating telephone tones and interfacing are described in detail. The main programs and accompanying subroutines are discussed and their flowcharts are given. The complete design provided a satisfactory telephone service when realized in the laboratory. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of the system are discussed.     

Towards automation of colour/weave selection in Jacquard designs: model verification through visual assessment

A geometric model combined with a colour model to predict the colour contribution of each pre-coloured yarn in terms of colour attributes of each area of a Jacquard pattern was developed. To validate the predicted calculations (colorimetric data), a visual assessment experiment was conducted to evaluate the difference between predicted and the actual colour appearance of the woven pattern. The results from the psychophysical evaluation of the woven samples and their predicted colour values showed high correlation between the predicted and experimental data. Therefore, the model has potential to eliminate subjective evaluations and reduce prototype sample production by automating the process of weave/colour simulation.     

An efficient IoT based smart farming system using machine learning algorithms

Multimedia Tools and Applications - This paper suggests an IoT based smart farming system along with an efficient prediction method called WPART based on machine learning techniques to predict crop...     

Determination of astemizole, terfenadine and flunarizine hydrochloride by ternary complex formation with eosin and lead(II)

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been established for the determination of astemizole(I), terfenadine(II) and flunarizine hydrochloride(III) based on ternary complex formation with eosin and lead(II). The method does not involve solvent extraction. The colour of the produced complex is measured at 547.5 nm for (I) and (III), while (II) is measured at 540.7 nm. Appropriate conditions were established for the colour reaction and for the eosin: Pb(II): drug ratio to obtain maximum sensitivity. Under the proposed conditions, the method is applicable over concentration range of 4.1-37.6, 11.8-47.2 and 2.4-19.1 microg x ml(-1) with mean percentage recovery of 99.20+/-0.63, 99.76+/-0.39 and 99.60+/-0.47% for (I), (II) and (III), respectively. The suggested method was applied for determination of (I), (II) and (III) in pharmaceutical preparations. Through the use of a non-ionic surfactant (methylcellulose), prior extraction of the drugs was unnecessary. The results obtained demonstrated that the method is equally accurate, precise and reproducible as the official or reported methods. For the purpose of enhancing the sensitivity, a fluorescence quenching method for determination of the studied drugs via ternary complex formation was also investigated. The detection limit for the studied drugs (I), (II) and (III) was 0.94-7.1 microg x ml(-1) with mean percentage recovery of 99.84+/-0.29, 99.24+/-0.36 and 99.34+/-0.26%, respectively. The results obtained by applying the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by official or reference methods. Unlike other reported ion-pair techniques, the suggested methods have the advantage of being applicable for the determination of the three drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms without prior extraction. They are recommended for quality control and routine analysis where time, cost effectiveness and high specificity of analytical techniques are of great importance.     

Thermodynamic studies on cobalt extraction by 2-heptyl-2-methylnonanoic acid in benzene from chloride solutions

Solvent extraction of Co(II) from aqueous chloride solutions of constant ionic strength (I = 1 M) with a long-chain fatty acid, 2-heptyl-2-methylnonanoic acid (HA), in benzene was studied at four temperatures: 278, 288, 298, and 313 ± 1 K. The influence of various parameters on the extraction equilibrium was studied. The effect of mixing HA with TBP in benzene on the extraction process was examined, and a synergistic effect was revealed. The stoichiometry of the extraction equilibria was determined, and the thermodynamic studies were made for both extraction systems. The thermodynamic functions ΔG ⁰, ΔH ⁰, and ΔS ⁰ were calculated, and the related data were discussed.     

Copper cation removal in an electrokinetic cell containing zeolite

Zeolites are used in environmental remediation of soil or water to immobilize or remove toxic materials by cation exchange. An experiment was conducted to test the use a low electric field to direct the toxic cations towards the zeolite. An electrokinetic cell was constructed using carbon electrodes. Synthetic Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite was placed in the cell. Copper(II) chloride dissolved in water was used as a contaminant. The Cu(2+) concentration was measured for ten hours with and without an applied electric field. The removal of the Cu(2+) ions was accelerated by the applied field in the first two hours. For longer time, the electric field did not improve the removal rate of the Cu(2+) ions. The presence of zeolite and applied electric field complicates the chemistry near the cathode and causes precipitation of Cu(2+) ions as copper oxide on the surface of the zeolite. With increased electric field the zeolite farther away from the cathode had little cation exchange due to the higher drift velocity of the Cu(2+) ions. The results also show that, in the LTA Zeolite A pellets, the cation exchange of Cu is limited to a shell of several tens of micrometers.     

Some physicochemical properties of methyl methacrylate-grafted nylon 6. II.

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate on nylon 6 was investigated using KMnO₄ as initiator at 60°C. The optimum conditions of the grafting process using various amounts of methyl methacrylate have been utilized. Physical and chemical properties of the grafted nylon such as moisture regain, density, and infrared spectra are studied. Furthermore, the dyeing behavior of the grafted nylon toward acid and direct dyes is also investigated. The rate of graft copolymerization (R_p) of methyl methacrylate with this system was evaluated and expressed by the following equation depending upon the potassium permanganate concentration used: The degree of polymerization of isolated poly(methyl methacrylate) from the grafted nylon was found to be a first-order dependence.