Objective estimation of the tuning features of historical carillons

The carillons of the Mafra National Palace are undergoing a restoration project. Together, the pair of carillons represent the largest surviving 18th century carillons in Europe. To guarantee the historical significance of these outstanding musical instruments, a detailed diagnosis of their current physical tuning state was achieved and results were analyzed with respect to historical, acoustical and musical concerns. In a first stage, we developed a suitable polyreference modal identification technique to infer the tuning status of bells from their modal parameters and we then systematically performed in-field modal testing experiments on a selection of historical bells of the Mafra carillons. For each carillon bell, tuning charts displaying the internal frequency relationships between its most important partials were obtained, as well as the mode shapes, decay times and beating frequencies between modal-doublets for every single musical partial of the bell. In a second part, since carillon bells also must be tuned very accurately one relative to the others in order to play in tune, the important topic of estimating the reference pitch and musical temperament of carillons was addressed by devising optimization techniques, here tentatively based on the actual modal frequencies of the bells. After presenting the modal identification procedure and optimal strategies developed for this work, the feasibility and interests of this instrumental approach are finally illustrated for the two carillons of Mafra.     

Completions of -algebras

A μ-algebra is a model of a first-order theory that is an extension of the theory of bounded lattices, that comes with pairs of terms (f,μ_x.f) where μ_x.f is axiomatized as the least prefixed point of f, whose axioms are equations or equational implications.Standard μ-algebras are complete meaning that their lattice reduct is a complete lattice. We prove that any nontrivial quasivariety of μ-algebras contains a μ-algebra that has no embedding into a complete μ-algebra.We then focus on modal μ-algebras, i.e. algebraic models of the propositional modal μ-calculus. We prove that free modal μ-algebras satisfy a condition–reminiscent of Whitman’s condition for free lattices–which allows us to prove that (i) modal operators are adjoints on free modal μ-algebras, (ii) least prefixed points of Σ₁-operations satisfy the constructive relation μ_x.f=_n≥0fⁿ(). These properties imply the following statement: the MacNeille–Dedekind completion of a free modal μ-algebra is a complete modal μ-algebra and moreover the canonical embedding preserves all the operations in the class of the fixed point alternation hierarchy.     

Colossal Anisotropic Thermal Expansion in a Diazo-Functionalized Compound with Switchable Solid-State Behavior

Achieving substantial anisotropic thermal expansion (TE) in solid-state materials is challenging as most materials undergo volumetric expansion upon heating. Here, we describe colossal, anisotropic TE in crystals of an organic compound functionalized with two azo groups. Interestingly, the material exhibits distinct and switchable TE behaviors within different temperature regions. At high temperature, two-dimensional, area zero TE and colossal, positive linear TE (α=211 MK⁻¹) are attained due to dynamic motion, while at low temperature, moderate positive TE occurs in all directions. Investigation of the solid-state motion showed the change in enthalpy and entropy are quite different in the two temperature regions and solid-state NMR experiments support motion in the solid. Cycling experiments demonstrate that the solid-state motions and TE behaviors are completely reversible. These results reveal strategies for designing significant anisotropic and switchable behaviors in solid-state materials.     

Chiral Calix[3]pyrrole Derivatives: Synthesis,Racemization Kinetics,and Ring Expansion to Calix[9]- and Calix[12]pyrrole Analogues

Chiral pyrrolic macrocycles continue to attract interest. However, their molecular design remains challenging. Here, we report a calixpyrrole-based chiral macrocyclic system, calix[1]furan[1]pyrrole[1]thiophene ( 1 ), synthesized from an oligoketone. Macrocycle 1 adopts a partial cone conformation in the solid state, and undergoes racemization via ring inversion. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that inversion of the thiophene is the rate determining step. Pyrrole N-methylation suppressed racemization and permitted chiral resolution. Enantioselective N-methylation also occurred in the presence of a chiral ammonium salt, although the stereoselectivity is modest. A unique feature of 1 is that it acts as a useful synthetic precursor to yield several calix[n]furan[n]pyrrole[n]thiophene products (n=2–4), including a calix[12]pyrrole analogue that to our knowledge constitutes the largest calix[n]pyrrole-like species to be structurally characterized.     

Splitting tendency of cellulosic fibers. Part 3: splitting tendency of viscose and modal fibers

The splitting tendency of viscose and modal fibers in aqueous alkali solutions of LiOH, NaOH, KOH and TMAH was investigated. The viscose fibers splitted up to 5–7 fibrils, whereas modal fibers splitted up to 2–4 fibrils depending on alkali type and concentration. The fibrillar structure of lyocell enables it to split more (15–20 fibrils) than viscose and modal fibers. Splitting occurs where internal stress of fiber is high due to different alkali or void distribution inside fiber. The splitting test couldn’t be achieved for viscose and modal fibers between 1 and 5 M concentration of NaOH and TMAH solutions due to breakage of fibers during test. Above 5 M concentration, no split can be observed due to even distribution of alkali inside fiber. Paper presented at the 7th World Textile Conference, AUTEX 2007, Tampere, Finland, 26–28 June 2007. Christian-Doppler Laboratory of Textile and Fiber Chemistry of Cellulosics is a Member of European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), www.epnoe.org     

The mechanism of pristine steel slag for boosted performance of fly ash-based geopolymers

The high autogenous shrinkage of geopolymers hampers their application as building materials. In this study, pristine steel slag was used as an expansion material to mitigate shrinkage in geopolymers. The influence of pristine steel slag on the chemical deformation of alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymers is investigated. The microstructure of the expanded system was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR measurement, thermogravimetric measurement (TGA), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Finally, the mechanisms of expansion were elucidated. The experimental results show that the shrinkage of the geopolymer is eliminated with the addition of steel slag. Fly ash was replaced by 0, 5, 10, and 15% of steel slag, and the expansion rate ranged from ?0.29% to 20.24%. Increased steel slag content reduced the bulk density of geopolymer. The incorporation of steel slag not only provided calcium for the information of C-A-S-H but also filled the pores. Steel slag produces different expansion effects in different porous media and thus refines the pore structure. Therefore, expansion by means of steel slag is an efficient approach for mitigating shrinkage in fly ash-based geopolymers.     

金刚石结构三维光子晶体带隙特性的研究

应用平面波展开法研究了三维光子晶体的带隙特性,得到了随着填充率及材料的变化带隙的变化规律,结果为三维光子晶体器件的开发提供了理论依据。     

Synthesis of Novel [1,2,4]triazolo[3,2-b][2,4,6]benzothiadiazocin-11(5H,10H)-One Derivatives

Several [1,2,4]triazolobenzothiadiazocin-11-ones 3 were prepared via ring expansion of [1,2,4]triazolo[3,2-b][2,4]benzothiazepin-10(5H)-ones 1 in presence of sodium azide. The reaction intermediate was isolated and characterized as an aryl isocyanate 2b . A possible pathway for formation of novel triazolobenzothiadiazocin-11-one 3 is described.     

Numerical modeling of elution peak profiles in supercritical fluid chromatography. Part I—Elution of an unretained tracer

When chromatography is carried out with high-density carbon dioxide as the main component of the mobile phase (a method generally known as “supercritical fluid chromatography” or SFC), the required pressure gradient along the column is moderate. However, this mobile phase is highly compressible and, under certain experimental conditions, its density may decrease significantly along the column. Such an expansion absorbs heat, cooling the column, which absorbs heat from the outside. The resulting heat transfer causes the formation of axial and radial gradients of temperature that may become large under certain conditions. Due to these gradients, the mobile phase velocity and most physico-chemical parameters of the system (viscosity, diffusion coefficients, etc.) are no longer constant throughout the column, resulting in a loss of column efficiency, even at low flow rates. At high flow rates and in serious cases, systematic variations of the retention factors and the separation factors with increasing flow rates and important deformations of the elution profiles of all sample components may occur. The model previously used to account satisfactorily for the effects of the viscous friction heating of the mobile phase in HPLC is adapted here to account for the expansion cooling of the mobile phase in SFC and is applied to the modeling of the elution peak profiles of an unretained compound in SFC. The numerical solution of the combined heat and mass balance equations provides temperature and pressure profiles inside the column, and values of the retention time and efficiency for elution of this unretained compound that are in excellent agreement with independent experimental data.     

Expansion and hydrodynamic properties of β-cyclodextrin polymer/tungsten carbide composite matrix in an expanded bed

The expansion and hydrodynamic properties of matrix are significant for expanded bed adsorption (EBA) processes. A series of new composite matrices CroCD-TuC are studied and estimated in an expanded bed. It is found that the heavier matrix is better suited for high operation fluid velocity than the lighters. Although the Richardson–Zaki equation can well correlate the bed voidage with fluid velocity for all CroCD-TuC matrices tested, the modifications are proposed to improve the accuracy of theoretical predictions of correlation parameters, including terminal settling velocity (U_t) and expansion index (n). Residence time distributions (RTDs) are determined, and the Bodenstein number (Bo) and axial dispersion coefficient (D_ax) are employed to analyze the liquid mixing in the expanded bed. It is found for CroCD-TuC matrices, both parameters notably changed with the variation of fluid velocity and viscosity. Furthermore, D_ax is an intuitive parameter estimating the bed stability on various operating conditions, and also a restriction on developing the matrix for high operation fluid velocity. The comparison of the hydrodynamic properties on different matrices reveals that CroCD-TuC 3 and CroCD-TuC 4 seem superior to other matrices in hydrodynamic properties, making them promising matrices for further use. The correlations as the functions of fluid velocity and viscosity have been established which may provide beneficial information for practical applications of CroCD-TuC matrices in EBA processes.