Effect of genesis on the properties and hydrogen reducibility of NiO-ZnO mixed oxides

The physico-chemical properties and reactivity tested by hydrogen reduction have been studied for two series of NiO-ZnO mixed oxides of various composition. The solid nickel oxide or zinc oxide in interaction with the solution of nitrate of the second component were used as the precursors in each series. The differences in some physico-chemical parameters of the samples in both series were correlated with their reduction behaviour, followed both in iso- and non-isothermal regime. Moreower, the influence of various factors modifying the reactivity of mixed oxides was also investigated and the results were compared with those obtained from earlier studied analogous systems of quite different origin.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Statistical Analysis of the Effect of Mineral Admixtures on the Strength of the Interfacial Transition Zone

Microscopic evidence indicates that the thickness of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the aggregate and the cement paste is modified when mineral admixtures partially replace portland cement. Unfortunately, there is limited information on the significance of these microscopic modifications to the mechanical properties of the ITZ. This research reports experimental results on the shear and tensile strength of the ITZ as affected by the addition of the following mineral admixtures: silica fume, fly ash, and natural pozzolan. Statistical analysis was used to identify the significant parameters affecting the tensile and shear strength of the ITZ. Experimental results indicate that not only does the incorporation of silica fume and fly ash increase the strength of the ITZ, these mineral admixtures have a greater influence on the strength increase of the ITZ than in the strength increase of the cement paste.     

Constructing Solutions of an Ill-Posed Nonlinear Singularly Perturbed Problem for an Equation of Elliptic Type

Mathematical Notes -     

On numerical ranges and roots

Existence of the fractional powers is established in Banach algebra setting, in terms of the numerical ranges of elements involved. The behavior of the spectra and (for Hermitian ∗-algebras satisfying some additional hypotheses) the ∗-numerical range under taking these powers also is investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of isotopically enriched methylmercury (CH3201Hg+)

A simple procedure for the synthesis of an important standard, isotopically enriched methylmercury, which is not commercially available, has been established successfully. The isotopically enriched standard synthesized is utilized in conventional isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), as well as in speciated IDMS (SIDMS), for determination of the true concentration of methylmercury in environmental samples. The CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺ standard has been synthesized from commercially available ²⁰¹HgO and tetramethyltin. The synthesis time required is 1 h at 60°C. The product is highly pure, yielding more than 90% as ²⁰¹Hg in CH₃²⁰¹Hg⁺. Hazardous dimethylmercury does not occur during this synthesis procedure. The product synthesized was analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and ICP‐MS alone in order to determine its concentration, isotopic composition and purity. The stability of the product was also evaluated for over 6 months and found to be stable at 4°C in the dark. The isotopically enriched methylmercury synthesized can be used in SIDMS and IDMS analyses as a standard. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Elastoplastic torsion theory for whisker crystals

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 2, pp. 127–134, March–April, 1991.     

Direct and inverse estimates for a new family of linear positive operators

In the present paper we introduce a new family of linear positive operators and study some direct and inverse results in simultaneous approximation.