Bibliometric Analysis on Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles for Concentrating Solar Power Applications

In recent years, supercritical CO₂ power cycles have received a large amount of interest due to their exceptional theoretical conversion efficiency above 50%, which is leading a revolution in power cycle research. Furthermore, this high efficiency can be achieved at a moderate temperature level, thus suiting concentrating solar power (CSP) applications, which are seen as a core business within supercritical technologies. In this context, numerous studies have been published, creating the need for a thorough analysis to identify research areas of interest and the main researchers in the field. In this work, a bibliometric analysis of supercritical CO₂ for CSP applications was undertaken considering all indexed publications within the Web of Science between 1990 and 2020. The main researchers and areas of interest were identified through network mapping and text mining techniques, thus providing the reader with an unbiased overview of sCO₂ research activities. The results of the review were compared with the most recent research projects and programs on sCO₂ for CSP applications. It was found that popular research areas in this topic are related to optimization and thermodynamics analysis, which reflects the significance of power cycle configuration and working conditions. Growing interest in medium temperature applications and the design of sCO₂ heat exchangers was also identified through density visualization maps and confirmed by a review of research projects.     

A novel monochromator for experiments with ultrashort X‐ray pulses

Aiming at advancing storage‐ring‐based ultrafast X‐ray science, over the past few years many upgrades have been undertaken to continue improving beamline performance and photon flux at the Femtoslicing facility at BESSY II. In this article the particular design upgrade of one of the key optical components, the zone‐plate monochromator (ZPM) beamline, is reported. The beamline is devoted to optical pump/soft X‐ray probe applications with 100 fs (FWHM) X‐ray pulses in the soft X‐ray range at variable polarization. A novel approach consisting of an array of nine off‐axis reflection zone plates is used for a gapless coverage of the spectral range between 410 and 1333 eV at a designed resolution of E/ΔE = 500 and a pulse elongation of only 30 fs. With the upgrade of the ZPM the following was achieved: a smaller focus, an improved spectral resolution and bandwidth as well as excellent long‐term stability. The beamline will enable a new class of ultrafast applications with variable optical excitation wavelength and variable polarization.     

The electrochemistry of arylated anthraquinones in room temperature ionic liquids

Arylated anthraquinone derivatives of different sizes and different π‐basicities have been prepared, and the electrochemical behaviour of these substances has been studied on screen printed graphite electrodes in the three room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄MIM][PF₆]), 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₆MIM][PF₆]) and 1‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈MIM][PF₆]). Half redox potentials for the first and second one electron reduction waves were identified, and the diffusion coefficient values were estimated from cyclic voltammetry measurements. The influence of the nature of the RTIL and of the substitution pattern of the anthraquinone on the solvodynamic radii were studied. A correlation of the reductive potentials with the corresponding Hammett constants of the substituents was tested. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sample Preparation for the Determination of Metals in Food Samples Using Spectroanalytical Methods—A Review

Abstract

The present article gives an overview of recent publications and modern techniques of sample preparation for food analysis employing atomic and inorganic mass spectrometric techniques, such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, chemical vapor generation atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Among the most frequently applied sample preparation techniques for food analysis are dry ashing, usually with the addition of an ashing aid, and acid digestion, preferably with the assistance of microwave energy. Slurry preparation, particularly with the assistance of ultrasound, is increasingly used to reduce acid consumption and sample preparation time. Direct analysis of solid samples is gaining importance in the field of food analysis as it offers the highest sensitivity, avoids the use of acids and other aggressive reagents, makes possible the analysis of micro‐samples, and can be applied for fast screening analysis, e.g., of fresh meat.     

Right distributive quasigroups on algebraic varieties

In this paper we develop a structure theory of algebraic right distributive quasigroups which correspond to closed and connected conjugacy classes generating algebraic Fischer groups (in the sense of [6]) such that the mappingx x ^–1 ax, fora , is an automorphism of (as variety). We also give examples of algebraic Fischer groups where this does not happen. It becomes clear that the class of algebraic right distributive quasigroups has nice properties concerning subquasigroups, normal subquasigroups and direct product.We give a complete classification of one- and two-dimensional as well as of minimal algebraic right distributive quasigroups.     

Approximate Entropy of Brain Network in the Study of Hemispheric Differences

Human brain, a dynamic complex system, can be studied with different approaches, including linear and nonlinear ones. One of the nonlinear approaches widely used in electroencephalographic (EEG) analyses is the entropy, the measurement of disorder in a system. The present study investigates brain networks applying approximate entropy (ApEn) measure for assessing the hemispheric EEG differences; reproducibility and stability of ApEn data across separate recording sessions were evaluated. Twenty healthy adult volunteers were submitted to eyes-closed resting EEG recordings, for 80 recordings. Significant differences in the occipital region, with higher values of entropy in the left hemisphere than in the right one, show that the hemispheres become active with different intensities according to the performed function. Besides, the present methodology proved to be reproducible and stable, when carried out on relatively brief EEG epochs but also at a 1-week distance in a group of 36 subjects. Nonlinear approaches represent an interesting probe to study the dynamics of brain networks. ApEn technique might provide more insight into the pathophysiological processes underlying age-related brain disconnection as well as for monitoring the impact of pharmacological and rehabilitation treatments.     

Calculus of variations as a basic tool for modelling of reaction paths and localisation of stationary points on potential energy surfaces

ABSTRACT

The theory of calculus of variations is a mathematical tool which is widely used in different scientific areas in particular in physics and chemistry. This theory is strongly related with optimisation. In fact the former seeks to optimise an integral related with some physical magnitude over some space to an extremum by varying a function of the coordinates. On the other hand, reaction paths and potential energy surfaces, in particular their stationary points, are the basis of many chemical theories, in particular reactions rate theories. We present a review where it is gathered together the variational nature of many types of reaction paths: steepest descent, Newton trajectories, artificial force induced reaction (AFIR) paths, gradient extremals, and gentlest ascent dynamics (GAD) curves. The variational basis permits to select the best optimisation technique in order to locate important theoretical objects on a potential energy surface.     

On the kinetic theory of a dense gas of rough spheres

The revised Enskog equation for a dense gas of rough spheres is considered. TheH theorem and the conservation equations are discussed.