Numerical investigation of transient heat and mass transfer in a parallel-flow liquid-desiccant absorber

Liquid desiccant systems have received significant attention as a way to reduce latent loads. Tests of liquid desiccant systems in humid climates have shown significant reductions in energy consumption. As moisture in the air is absorbed at the dehumidifier, the temperature of the liquid desiccant increases due to the addition of heat from the enthalpy of condensation of the water vapor. Thus, the coupled effects of heat and mass transfer are relevant for these applications. A two-dimensional mathematical model of the transient heat and mass transfer for an absorber where a thin film of liquid desiccant flows down its walls and dehumidifies the air in parallel-flow configuration is developed and the dynamics of the modeled system are analyzed.     

Crystal and molecular structure of tetraiodo (1,8-di-2-pyridyl-3,6-dithiaoctane-N,S,S′,N′)dimercury(II)

Summary The X-ray crystal structure of the title compound, [Hg₂(C₁₆H₂₀N₂S₂)I₄], has been determined. The crystals are monoclinic (space groupP2₁/c), with cell dimensionsa=15.016(2),b=6.201(3),c=15.273(2) Å,=115.18(1)°;V _o =1287.0(7) ų,M _r =1213.266,Z=4,D _x =6.26mg m^–3, MoK radiation (graphite crystal monochromator, ),(MoK)=336 cm^–1,F(000)=4272, andT=290°K. The final conventionalR factor=0.054, andR _w =0.062 for 2799 observed reflections. The structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by block-diagonal least-squares methods. The coordination around the mercury atoms is approximately tetrahedral, although with considerable distortion, with two iodine atoms and the N and S atoms of one-half of the ligand molecule.     

A new variable inclination shock tube for multiple investigations

A new variable inclination shock tube has been set up especially for the visualization of shock induced high speed flows. This device allows for the generation of shock waves of Mach numbers ranging from 1.05 to 4, moving horizontally, vertically from up to down or the opposite, or with any inclination angle. It is coupled with a suitable high-speed camera shadowgraph visualization system, and the whole facility has been realized so as to be both very easy to use and movable. We believe this example could be of interest to scientists interested in starting experiments on shock wave induced multi-phase complex flows.     

Resolutions of subsets of finite sets of points in projective space

Abstract

Eisenbud et al. proved a number of results regarding Gröbner bases and initial ideals of those ideals J in the free associative algebra K ?X ₁,…, X _n ? which contain the commutator ideal. We prove similar results for ideals which contains the anti-commutator ideal (the defining ideal of the exterior algebra). We define one weak notion of generic initial ideals in K ?X ₁,…, X _n ?, and show that generic initial ideals of ideals containing the anti-commutator ideal, or the commutator ideal, are finitely generated.     

Cyclometalated 2‐phenylpyridine complex [RuII(o‐C6H4‐py)(MeCN)4]PF6 as a tunable catalyst for living radical polymerization

The cyclometalated complex [Ru^II(o‐C₆H₄‐py)(MeCN)₄]PF₆ ( 1 ) with a σ‐Ru? C bond and four substitutionally labile acetonitrile ligands mediates radical polymerization of different vinyl monomers, viz. n‐butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and styrene, initiated by three alkyl bromides: ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate, methyl 2‐bromopropionate, and 1‐phenylethyl bromide. The polymerization requires the presence of Al(OiPr)₃ and occurs uncontrollably as a conventional radical process. The variation of the molar ratio of the components of the reaction mixture, such as initiator, Al(OiPr)₃ and catalyst, affected the polymerization rates and the molecular weights but did not improve the control. A certain level of control has been achieved by adding 0.5 eq of SnCl₂ as a reducing agent. Tin(II) chloride decreased the rate of polymerization and simultaneously the molecular weights became conversion‐dependent and the polydispersities were also narrowed. Remarkably, the level of control was radically improved in the presence of excess of the poorly soluble catalyst ( 1 ), when the added amount of ( 1 ) was not soluble any more, i.e., under heterogeneous conditions, the system became adjustable and the living polymerization of all three monomers was finally achieved. Possible mechanisms of the ( 1 )‐catalyzed polymerization are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4193–4204, 2008     

Local forms of molecular mobility in copolymethacrylates containing side‐chain nonlinear optical chromophores

Local forms of molecular mobility of comb‐like random copolymethacrylates, containing side‐chain nonlinear optical chromophores and amyl‐ or octafluoroamyl‐groups, are studied. In the glassy state, two relaxation processes are found, which are due to reorientation of terminal polar groups (γ₂‐process) and rotation of chromophore groups about their long axes (β‐process). For octafluoroamyl‐containing copolymers, the γ₂‐process is superposition of the two molecular motions due to reorientation of terminal chromophore groups and ? CF₂H groups. The intensity and relaxation times in the range of the γ₂‐process depend on the chemical structure and concentration of chromophores in a copolymer. For the β‐process, the molecular mobility weakly depends on the chromophore structure, being mainly determined by the relative lengths of the rigid chromophore and flexible side chains. On the global spectrum of depolarization current it was observed the γ₁‐process due to reorientation of (CH₂)_n spacers between chromophore groups and copolymer backbone. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1488–1496, 2008     

Half Space and Quarter Space Dirichlet Problems for the Partial Differential Equation

A customary, heuristic, method, by which the Poisson integral formula for the Dirichlet problem, for the half space, for Laplace's equation is obtained, involves Green's function, and Kelvin's method of images. Although this heuristic method leads one to guess the correct result, this Poisson formula still has to be verified directly, independently of the method by which it was arrived at, in order to be absolutely certain that a solution of the Dirichlet problem for the half space, for Laplace's equation, has been actually obtained. A similar heuristic method, as seems to be generally known, could be followed in solving the Dirichlet problem, for the half space, for the equation where is a real constant. However, in Part 1, a different, labor-saving, method is used to study Dirichlet problems for the equation. This method is essentially based on what Hadamard called the method of descent. Indeed, it is shown that he who has solved the half space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation has already solved the half space Dirichlet problem for the equation In Part 2, the solution formula for the quarter space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation is obtained from the Poisson integral formula for the half space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation. A representation theorem for harmonic functions in the quarter space is deduced. The method of descent is used, in Part 3, to obtain the solution formula for the quarter space Dirichlet problem for the equation by means of the solution formula for the quarter space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation. So that, indeed, it is also shown that he who has solved the quarter space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation has already solved the quarter space Dirichlet problem for the " equation" For the sake of completeness and clarity, and for the convenience of the reader, the appendix, at the end of Part 3, contains a detailed proof that the Poisson integral formula solves the half space Dirichlet problem for Laplace's equation. The Bibliography for Parts 1,2, 3 is to be found at the end of Part 1.     

Linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts for the encapsulation of electro‐optic chromophores via H‐Bonding

Linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts were synthesized by end‐functionalizing poly(methylmethacrylate) with dendrons that acted as hydrogen‐bonding acceptors for nonlinear optical chromophores. Second harmonic generation experiments indicate that the d₃₃ coefficients and maximum chromophore loading are increased in linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts over comparable homopolymer hosts. Transmission electron microscopy shows 5–10 nm chromophore domains, confirming the effective spatial dispersion of the chromophores. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5017–5026, 2009     

How vector feeding preference through an infectious host relates to the seasonal transmission rates in a mathematical vector‐host model

Vector‐borne diseases, such as leishmaniasis, dengue, malaria, and yellow fever, transmitted by microparasites show periodic fluctuations in their prevalence. The novelty of this research is to assess the relationship between the vector feeding preference for an infectious host and the annual seasonal transmission through a vector‐host mathematical model. For the first time, numerical simulations illustrate that by increasing the vector feeding preference value in the transmission dynamics, periodic fluctuations accentuate and the endemic equilibrium average increases in vector and host populations. Moreover, increasing the vector feeding preference value, the amplitude strengthens for the infectious host and vector populations. This periodic behavior shows a similar pattern with the Peruvian incidence data from 2000 to 2016 for Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis provided by the Ministry of Health of Peru (MINSA). In addition, using the Floquet theory, the time average method and the linear operator method provides for the first time that the basic reproduction number for a nonautonomous system depends explicitly on the vector feeding preference for the infectious host. The nonautonomous model system shows that is a threshold parameter for the local stability of the disease‐free periodic solution. Therefore, the vector feeding preference is an important factor that should be considered and attended to for future research. Public and veterinary health in Peru and other countries should consider the vector feeding preference for specific host to vector control.