DNS Study of the Optimal Chemical Markers for Heat Release in Syngas Flames

The purpose of this study is to identify a quantitative marker of the heat release rate (HRR) distribution using experimentally measurable species. Turbulent syngas (CO/H₂/air) flames with different equivalence ratios, H₂/CO ratios, and turbulence intensities are computed by Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) in order to obtain an indirect but accurate estimation of heat release profiles. To check the robustness of the estimation, two different kinetic mechanisms have been considered. Based on a direct image analysis of the DNS results, normalized species concentrations combined with exponents are systematically tested in an attempt to reconstruct as accurately as possible the field of heat release rate. A systematic comparison is used to identify the best possible exponents associated with each species combination. Differing from previous studies, the present analysis takes into account the local thickness of the turbulent heat release zone. As a consequence, the obtained optimal species combinations represent not only the position of peak heat release but also local changes in the topology of the reaction zone (thickness, curvature). In the end, the heat release rate of atmospheric syngas flames can, in general, be best approximated using the concentrations of HCO and OH, using \(\overline {c}_{HCO}^{1.5}\times \overline {c}_{OH}^{0.75}\), when considering only species that are measurable by Laser-Induced Fluorescence. Another excellent reconstruction would be \(\overline {c}_{CH_{2}O}^{0.32}\times \overline {c}_{OH}^{0.8}\), for cases where CH₂O is preferred to HCO.     

Sexual affordances, perceptual-motor invariance extraction and intentional nonlinear dynamics: sexually deviant and non-deviant patterns in male subjects

Sexual arousal and gaze behavior dynamics are used to characterize deviant sexual interests in male subjects. Pedophile patients and non-deviant subjects are immersed with virtual characters depicting relevant sexual features. Gaze behavior dynamics as indexed from correlation dimensions (D2) appears to be fractal in nature and significantly different from colored noise (surrogate data tests and recurrence plot analyses were performed). This perceptual-motor fractal dynamics parallels sexual arousal and differs from pedophiles to non-deviant subjects when critical sexual information is processed. Results are interpreted in terms of sexual affordance, perceptual invariance extraction and intentional nonlinear dynamics.     

Selective perception of novel science: how definitions affect information processing about nanotechnology

This study examines how familiarity with an issue—nanotechnology—moderates the effect of exposure to science information on how people process mediated messages about a complex issue. In an online experiment, we provide a nationally representative sample three definitions of nanotechnology (technical, technical applications, and technical risk/benefit definitions). We then ask them to read an article about the topic. We find significant interactions between perceived nano-familiarity and the definition received in terms of how respondents perceive favorable information conveyed in the stimulus. People less familiar with nanotechnology were more significantly affected by the type of definition they received.     

Cavity‐Shaped Ligands: Calix[4]arene‐Based Monophosphanes for Fast Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling

Five conical calix[4]arenes that have a PPh₂ group as the sole functional group anchored at their upper rim were assessed in palladium‐catalysed cross‐coupling reactions of phenylboronic acid with aryl halides (dioxane, 100 °C, NaH). With arylbromides, remarkably high activities were obtained with the catalytic systems remaining stable for several days. The performance of the ligands is comparable to a Buchwald‐type triarylphosphane, namely, (2′‐methyl[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐2‐yl)diphenylphosphane, which in contrast to the calixarenyl phosphanes tested may display chelating behaviour in solution. With the fastest ligand, 5‐diphenylphosphanyl‐25,26,27,28‐tetra(p‐methoxy)benzyloxy‐calix[4]arene ( 8 ), the reaction turnover frequency for the arylation of 4‐bromotoluene was 321 000 versus 214 000 mol(ArBr).mol(Pd)^?1. h^?1 for the reference ligand. The calixarene ligands were also efficient in Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions with aryl chlorides. Thus, by using 1 mol % of [Pd(OAc)₂] associated with one of the phosphanes, full conversion of the deactivated arenes 4‐chloroanisole and 4‐chlorotoluene was observed after 16 h. The high performance of the calixarenyl–phosphanes in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of aryl bromides possibly relies on their ability to stabilise a monoligand [Pd⁰L(ArBr)] species through supramolecular binding of the Pd‐bound arene inside the calixarene cavity.     

Acid gases partial pressures above a 50 wt% aqueous methyldiethanolamine solution: Experimental work and modeling

Aqueous amine solutions are widely used in the industry for acid gas removal. In order to treat natural gas or refinery process streams, an accurate knowledge of solubility data of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur species in aqueous amine solutions is required. In this paper, new equilibrium measurements on 50 wt% aqueous methyldiethanolamine solution with CO₂ and H₂S have been produced. A simple way to correlate the data has been searched and found. First, a model proposed by Posey et al. in 1996, then a Deshmukh–Mather model are used to correlate “vapor–liquid” equilibria. The Posey et al. model lacks accuracy to represent the experimental data, especially for high loadings. The Deshmukh–Mather model shows good agreement as long as the total loading (H₂S + CO₂) does not reach 1.0.     

Gelatin hydrogels cross-linked with bisvinyl sulfonemethyl. 2. The physical and chemical networks

This paper deals with the physical and the chemical gelation of gelatin in the presence of a reactant, bisvinyl sulfonemethyl (BVSM). The strategy of this investigation is to separate the contributions of the two types of cross-links in order to deduce the resultant elasticity of the network. In addition, the question raised by several authors concerning an increase of the thermal stability of the triple helices in the presence of cross-links was examined by using several techniques. In this study, the concentration of gelatin and BVSM were kept constant, while the influence of the thermal protocols was put in evidence. The gel formation was followed by rheological, thermodynamic (microcalorimetry), and optical spectroscopy (optical rotation) measurements. The results demonstrate the large differences which arise on the storage moduli by changing the thermal protocols. Cross-linking of the networks in the presence of the triple helices induce a heterogeneous repartition of the bonds, which can form along the triple helices and at the end of the sequences. Consequently, the rubber like network obtained by denaturation of the triple helices is still reminiscent of the initial twist of the chains, and a large modulus is observed, as if rigid segments were still present (storage modulus 10 times larger than for random cross-linking). The hydrogels have an elastic modulus which is larger that the addition of the physical and chemical contributions. The interpretation of the network elasticity is based on the predominant role of the rigid rods of triple helices, where the BVSM cross-links can either modify the ratio between the apparent length and distance between rods, l/d, and/or increase the rigidity of the interchain connections, which are loose coils for the physical gels. The hydrogels investigated have a network which is still close to the percolation threshold of the physical gel, and therefore, the statistical models known for well developed networks cannot be directly validated in these experimental conditions.     

The coordination chemistry of FeCl3 and FeCl2 to bis[2-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-pyridylmethyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amine: access to a diiron(III) compound with an unusual pentagonal-bipyramidal/square-pyramidal environment

Coordination of FeCl3 to the title ligand yields a mononuclear iron(III) complex 1, which was characterized by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction. The ligand is (kappa3-N) tridentate and the metal, which lies in a pseudo-octahedral environment, is bound to a phenolate group from the catechol substituent. The dichloroiron(II) complex 2 was easily obtained by metalation of the ligand with FeCl2 and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. In their cyclic voltammograms both 1 and 2 display the same reversible FeII/FeIII wave at E1/2=10 mV (vs. SCE). Reduction of compound 1 with Zn/Hg yields 2', which displays identical properties to 2. Taken together, these findings indicate that in spite of the different oxidation state of the metal in 2, no major geometrical/structural change is observed at the metal center with respect to 1. The reaction of 2 with dioxygen in the absence of organic substrates proceeds extremely rapidly and yields compound 3, which is a diiron(III) derivative whose X-ray crystal structure is also reported. The possibility of a radical-based mechanism is discussed. Compound 3 displays an unusual geometry: one iron(III) center is seven-coordinate, whereas the other lies in a square-pyramidal environment. The two iron atoms are bridged by the catecholato substituents. To the best of our knowledge, 3 is the first example of a seven-coordinate iron(III) derivative with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands.     

The wavelet response as a multiscale characterization of scattering processes at granular interfaces

We perform a multiscale analysis of the backscattering properties of a complex interface between water and a layer of randomly arranged glass beads with diameter D = 1 mm. An acoustical experiment is done to record the wavelet response of the interface in a large frequency range from λ/D = 0.3 to λ/D = 15. The wavelet response is a physical analog of the mathematical wavelet transform which possesses nice properties to detect and characterize abrupt changes in signals. The experimental wavelet response allows to identify five frequency domains corresponding to different backscattering properties of the complex interface. This puts quantitative limits to the validity domains of the models used to represent the interface and which are flat elastic, flat visco-elastic, rough random half-space with multiple scattering, and rough elastic from long to short wavelengths respectively. A physical explanation based on Mie scattering theory is proposed to explain the origin of the five frequency domains identified in the wavelet response.     

Study of changes in composition and EELS ionization edges upon Ni4Ti3 precipitation in a NiTi alloy

Concentration gradients surrounding Ni4Ti3 precipitates grown by appropriate annealing in a Ni51Ti49 B2 austenite matrix are investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM). Concentration gradients of approximately 1.0-2.0 at.% in Ni within the surrounding B2 matrix can be detected by both EELS and EFTEM, revealing a Ni depleted zone in the matrix. Besides the concentration gradients, the EELS integrated cross-section of the Ni L(2,3) edges for the Ni-depleted region increased slightly, when compared with a matrix region away from the precipitate and not depleted in Ni.