A Network Simulation of High-congestion Road-traffic Flows in Cities with Marine Container Terminals

Port cities where marine cargo terminals are located are generally near urban areas characterized by high-congestion road traffic. Changes in cargo traffic volumes into a marine terminal, or in the surrounding traffic arteries, which carry this traffic, can significantly affect the terminal's operations. Conversely, activity at the terminal can have an impact on the traffic levels and congestion for a considerable distance from the terminal. This paper demonstrates a methodology useful for studying the impact of road traffic flows on marine container terminals located in highly congested areas. This model was developed at the request of the Virginia Center for World Trade and was used to answer three planning questions in the port of Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA-what would be the impact of: opening a new section of interstate highway, a projected doubling of container traffic at one terminal, and a daily unit train in the vicinity of another terminal. The problem was made more challenging by limited data-collection funds. None the less, the model was deemed valid by a panel of traffic experts and officials from several major state and private agencies involved in marine traffic management. The model results were subsequently a factor in two major decisions related to terminal management.     

Assignment of multiline tungsten-183 NMR spectra of diamagnetic polyoxotungstates from intensity patterns

Measurement of relative integrated intensities and peak heights of multiline one-dimensional 183W NMR spectra of diamagnetic polyoxotungstates can result in complete or partial assignment of chemical shifts, even when 183W-183W spin-coupled satellites are not detectable or well-resolved. The intensity of the center peak of each signal is diminished according to the number and type (corner- vs edge-sharing of WO6 octahedra) of potential spin-couplings. Application of the method is exemplified by analysis of spectra of alpha-[XW11O39]n- and derivatives, alpha2-[P2W17O61]10-, and [As4W40O140]28-. Intensity patterns of the six-line spectra of the beta1 and beta3 isomers of [XW11O39]n- are sufficiently different to allow identification.     

The preparation and properties of BAB block copolymers based on polyethylene sulphide and polyisoprene

Block copolymers of ethylene sulphide (B) and isoprene (A) have been prepared by anionic synthesis using alkali metal complexes of naphthalene as initiator. Two series of block copolymers have been synthesized, one (based on sodium naphthalenide as initiator) having high molecular weights and the other (based on lithium naphthalenide) having low molecular weights.Physical properties of the block copolymers as a function of composition, molecular weight and polyisoprene microstructure have been studied. Polymers containing high molecular weight polyethylene sulphide sequences were difficult to process without degradation. By lowering the molecular weight of the polyethylene sulphide segment, block copolymers of improved processibility were obtained.The centre block polyisoprene microstructure has been varied from 100% 1,2/3,4 configuration to 80% 1,4 configuration by preparing a “seed” polymer in tetrahydrofuran followed by solvent removal and replacement by hexane. Changes in microstructure affect low temperature flexibility, resilience and tensile strength of the block copolymer.The BAB block copolymers are biphasic and exhibit elastomeric properties with improved network stability compared with polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene ABA block copolymers.     

Bis[bis­(3‐phenyl­pyrazol‐1‐yl)­(pyrazol‐1‐yl)­methane]­copper(II) bis­(per­chlor­ate) acetonitrile disolvate

The title copper(II) complex, [Cu(C₂₂H₁₈N₆)₂](ClO₄)₂·2C₂H₃N, comprises two neutral substituted tris­(pyrazol‐1‐yl)­methane ligands bonded to a central Cu^II ion, which is positioned on a crystallographic inversion center. Six Cu—N bonds are arranged in a distorted octa­hedral fashion. The unsubstituted pyrazole rings on each ligand are oriented trans with respect to each other, inter­digitated with the two 3‐phenyl­pyrazole rings of the other ligand.     

Photoinduced Ru-Yb energy transfer and sensitised near-IR luminescence in a coordination polymer containing co-crystallised [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- and Yb(III) units

Co-crystallisation of the anionic cyanometallate chromophore [Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2- with Yb(III) provides coordination polymers or oligomers containing Ru-CN-Yb bridges; in [K(H2O)4][Yb(H2O)6][Ru(bipy)(CN)4]2.5H2O Ru-->Yb energy-transfer (k > 5 x 10(6) s(-1)) results in partial quenching of the Ru-based luminescence and sensitised near-IR luminescence from the Yb(III) unit.     

High-Valent Manganese in Polyoxotungstates. 3. Dimanganese Complexes of gamma-Keggin Anions

Dimanganese-substituted gamma-Keggin heteropoly tungstates have been synthesized by reaction of the lacunary species gamma-[(SiO(4))W(10)O(32)](8)(-) with appropriate mixtures of Mn(II) and MnO(4)(-). The crystal structure of [(CH(3))(3)(C(6)H(5))N](4)[(SiO(4))W(10)Mn(III)(2)O(36)H(6)].2CH(3)CN.H(2)O (anion 1) was determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data: space group P&onemacr;, a = 12.951(3) ?, b = 14.429(3) ?, c = 20.347(4) ?, alpha = 81.95(3) degrees, beta = 88.92(3) degrees, gamma = 67.48(3) degrees, V = 3475.2(13) ?(3), and Z = 2. The final R value is 7.29% for 15861 reflections with I > 2sigma(I). The anion has the anticipated gamma-Keggin structure with virtual C(2)(v)() symmetry. The two Mn cations occupy adjacent, edge-shared octahedra with bridging hydroxo and terminal aqua ligands. Anion 1 can be oxidized and reduced to the corresponding Mn(III)Mn(IV) (2) and Mn(II)(2) (3) species respectively. The magnetic susceptibility of 1 between 2 and 300 K indicates that the Mn(III) cations are antiferromagnetically coupled, with J = -17.0 cm(-)(1) and g = 1.965. No simple magnetic behavior was observed for 2 or 3.     

Rapid,sensitive fluorimetric assay for proteases using fluorescein-labelled albumin coupled to Fractogel activated with 2-fluoro-1-methylpyridinium salt in flow-injection analysis

A rapid and sensitive flow-injection method is described for the fluorimetric determination of the proteolytic activity of a number of enzymes. The substrate, fluorescein-labelled bovine serum albumin coupled to a 2-fluoro 1-methylpyridinium salt-activated Fractogel support, is packed in a small reactor (35 × 2 mm i.d.) and inserted into a flow manifold. Under the reaction conditions the amount of fluorescein released from enzymatic cleavage of the substrate is found to be directly proportional to the activity of the proteolytic enzyme. Sample throughput is 30–35 h^?1. The calibration range for trypsin is linear up to at least 0.35 μg ml^?1. Linear responses were also obtained for otherproteolytic enzymes such as papain, chymotrypsin, ficin and bromelain.