A spatio-temporal dynamic regression model for extreme wind speeds

This paper presents a hierarchical regression type model for analyzing the dependency of sample extremes on time, space and a covariate effect. The model is based on the assumption that the observations follow independently a generalized extreme value distribution given location, scale and shape parameters. Then a multivariate spatial process is considered to accommodate the association and spatial correlation in the distribution parameters. The mean of the process incorporates the underlying dynamics which is elaborated on the lower stage of hierarchy. Finally, three spatio-temporal dynamic linear models drive independently this mean function to take the variations in the parameters separately into account. In a Bayesian setting, the model structure leads to parallel implementation of the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm in a sense that it is less time consuming. Our methodology is applied to the monthly maxima of wind speed with temperature as a covariate for which the relationship is expressed in terms of a penalized spline regression model. The comparison of the proposed model with several simpler ones suggests considerable improvements in wind speed analysis.     

Improved Photodegradation of Organic Contaminants Using Nano‐TiO2 and TiO2–SiO2 Deposited on Portland Cement Concrete Blocks

The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ nanoparticles (nano‐TiO₂) and its hybrid with SiO₂ (nano‐TiO₂–SiO₂) for degradation of some organic dyes on cementitious materials was studied in this work. Nanohybrid photocatalysts were prepared using an inorganic sol–gel precursor and then characterized using XRD, SEM and UV–Vis. The grain sizes were estimated by Scherrer's equation to be around 10 nm. Then, a thin layer was applied to Portland cement concrete (PCC) blocks by dipping them into nano‐TiO₂ and nano‐TiO₂–SiO₂ solution. The efficiency of coated PCC blocks for the photocatalytic decomposition of two dyes, Malachite Green oxalate (MG) and Methylene Blue (MB), was examined under UV and visible irradiation and then monitored by the chemical oxygen demand tests. The results showed that more than 80% and 92% of MG and MB were decomposed under UV–Vis irradiation using blocks coated with nano‐TiO₂–SiO₂. TiO₂/PCC and TiO₂–SiO₂/PCC blocks showed a significant ability to oxidize dyes under visible and UV lights and TiO₂–SiO₂/PCC blocks require less time for dye degradation. Based on these results, coated blocks have increased photocatalytic activity which can make them commercially accessible photocatalysts.     

Determination and identification of malathion, ethion and dichlorovos using ion mobility spectrometry

Positive ion mobility spectra of different organophosphorus pesticides such as malathion (s-(1,2-dicarb-ethoxyethyl) o,o-dimethyl dithiophosphate), ethion (o,o,o′,o′-tetraethyl s,s′-methylene bis(phosphorodithioate)) and dichlorovos (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) have been studied in air at ambient pressure using ion mobility spectrometry method with ⁶³Ni ionization source. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 1.0 × 10⁻⁹, 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ and 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ g for malathion, ethion and dichlorovos, respectively. The working range of these compounds was about three orders of magnitude and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of repeatability at the 5 μg ml⁻¹ level were all below 15%. Furthermore, in this study, the influences of IMS cell temperature on the ion mobility spectra of these compounds were investigated.     

Vapor-Phase Alkylation of Phenol with Tert-butyl Alcohol Catalyzed by H3PO4/MCM-41

 The catalytic performance of Al-MCM-41 containing 5?5 wt% H3PO4 was studied for the vapor phase alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) from 383 to 493 K. 4-Tert-butyl phenol was produced as the main product with moderate selectivity. The product distribution depends on the reaction temperature, number of acid sites, and the Br鰊sted to Lewis sites ratios. A lower molar ratio of reactants (TBA/phenol = 2) and a higher space velocity facilitated the production of 4-tert-butyl phenol. The influence of various parameters such as temperature, reactant feed molar ratio, feed rate, and time on stream were investigated for conversion yield and product selectivity.     

A review on wound dressings with an emphasis on electrospun nanofibrous polymeric bandages

Wound dressings have experienced continuous and significant changes since the ancient times. The development starts with the use of natural materials to simply cover the wounds to the materials of the present time that could be specially made to exhibit various extraordinary functions. The modern bandage materials made of electrospun biopolymers contain various active compounds that are beneficial to the healing of wounds. These materials are fibrous in nature, with the size of fibers segments ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers. With the right choices of biopolymers used for these fibrous materials, they could enhance the healing of wounds significantly compared with the conventional fibrous dressing materials, such as gauze. These bandages could be made such that they contain bioactive ingredients, such as antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti‐inflammatory agents, which could be released to the wounds enhancing their healing. In an active wound dressing (AWD), the main purpose is to control the biochemical states of a wound in order to aid its healing process. This review provides an overview of different types of wounds, effective parameters in wound healing and different types of wound dressing materials with a special emphasis paid to those prepared by electrospinning. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Nitrite by Catalytic Reaction between Methylthymol Blue and Bromate

A kinetic spectrophotometric method for determination of trace nitrite in two dynamic ranges (2–100 and 100–500 ng/mL) based on its catalytic effect on the reaction between methylthymol blue and potassium bromate in acidic (sulfuric acid) media is described. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing color of methylthymol blue at 437 nm by the fixed‐time method of 4.0 min at 30°C. The detection limit is 0.6 ng/mL, and the relative standard deviations for 50.0 and 250.0 ng/mL nitrite are 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. The method was used for the determination of nitrite in water samples.     

Joule-Thomson inversion curve prediction by using equation of state

In this paper five equations of state are tested for checking their ability to predict the Joule-Thomson inversion curve.These five equations of state are:Mohsennia-Modarres-Mansoori(MMM),Ji-Lemp(JL),modified Soave-Redlich-Kwang(SRK)equation of state by Graboski(MSRK1),modified SRK equation of state by Peneloux and Rauzy(MSRK2),and modified Peng-Robinson (PR)equation of state by Rauzy(PRmr).The investigated equations of state give good prediction of the low-temperature branch of the inversion curve,except for MMM equation of state.The high-temperature branch and the peak of the inversion curve have been observed,in general,to be sensitive to the applied equation of state.The values of the maximum inversion temperature and maximum inversion pressure are calculated for each component used in this work.     

Highly sensitive and selective amperometric sensors for nanomolar detection of iodate and periodate based on glassy carbon electrode modified with iridium oxide nanoparticles

Iridium oxide nanoparticles are grown on a glassy carbon electrode by electrodepositing method. The electrochemical behavior and electrocatalytic activity of modified electrode towards reduction of iodate and periodate are studied. The reductions of both ions occur at the unusual positive peak potential of 0.7 V vs. reference electrode. The modified electrode is employed successfully for iodate and periodates detection using cyclic voltammetry, hydrodynamic amperometry and flow injection analysis (FIA). In the performed experiments, flow injection amperometric determination of iodate and periodate yielded calibration curves with the following characteristics: linear dynamic range up to 100 and 80 μM, sensitivity of 140.9 and 150.6 nA μM⁻¹ and detection limits of 5 and 36 nM, respectively. The repeatability of the modified electrode for 21 injections of 1.5 μM of iodate solution is 1.5%. The interference effects of NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₃⁻, BrO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻, SO₄²⁻, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺ and K⁺, CH₃COO⁻ and glucose were negligible at the concentration ratio of more than 1000. The obtained attractive analytical performance together with high selectivity and simplicity of the proposed method provide an effective and e novel modified electrode to develop an iodate and periodate sensor. Sensitivity, selectivity, the liner concentration range and the detection limit of the developed sensor are all much better than all known similar sensors in the literature for iodate and periodate determination.     

Facile protection of carbonyl compounds as oxathiolanes and transoxathioacetalization of oxyacetals promoted by iron(III) trifluoroacetate or trifluoromethanesulfonate as chemoselective and recyclable catalysts

Oxathioacetalization of carbonyl compounds and transoxathioacetalization of O,O-acetals/ketals are reported under nearly neutral conditions promoted by iron(III) trifluoroacetate [Fe(CF₃CO₂)₃] or trifluoromethanesulfonate [Fe(CF₃SO₃)₃] as recyclable and highly efficient Lewis acid catalysts.