Kinetic parameters of a cyanate ester resin catalyzed with different proportions of nonylphenol and cobalt acetylacetonate catalyst

The isothermal cure of a dicyanate ester monomer has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the presence of different quantities of a catalyst system formed by nonylphenol (NP) and cobalt (II) acetylacetonate (Co(AcAc)₂). Two sets of experiences were studied. Firstly, the NP composition was varied from 0 to 10 per hundred resin (phr) and secondly, the Co(AcAc)₂ loadings were changed at 2 phr of NP. It has been observed that the cyanate conversion increases significantly after the first addition of the metal catalyst and, also, at the same time the thermal stability improves. Moreover, the kinetic data have been fitted with a second-order equation respect to the cyanate conversion in the kinetically conversion regime. Also, both the activation energies and the kinetic order respect to the NP and the Co(AcAc)₂ have been determined.     

Spektrochemische Bestimmung von Spurenelementen in reinem Gold

Zusammenfassung Eine Spektrochemische Methode zur Bestimmung von Spuren der Elemente As, Sb, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Bi, Cu, Pt, Pd, Cd, Rh und Ag in reinem Gold wird beschrieben. Zunächst wird das Gold durch Extraktion aus 3 N HCl mit Methylisobutylketon abgetrennt. Die Verunreinigungselemente werden dann an spektralreinem Graphitpulver mit 4% NaCl und 0,02% Co als Bezugselement adsorbiert und im Wechselstromabreißbogen 3,5 min bei 10 A angeregt. Die Spektren wurden mit einem UV-Spektrograph Q 24 auf ORWO-Spektralplatten Blau Extrahart aufgenommen. Die quantitative Bestimmungsgrenze für Mn, Pt und Ag beträgt 10^–6%, für Fe, Pb, Ni, Bi, Cu, Pd und Rh 10^–5% und für As, Sb und Cd 10^–4%. Die relative Standardabweichung überschreitet nicht 30%.

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Spectrochemical determination of trace elements in pure gold

A spectrochemical method for the determination of traces of As, Sb, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Bi, Cu, Pt, Pd, Cd, Rh and Ag in pure gold is described. The gold is first separated by extraction into methyl isobutyl ketone from 3 N HCl solution and then the trace elements are adsorbed on spectrally pure carbon powder containing 4% NaCl and 0.02% Co as reference standard, and excited in an 10 A a.c. arc for 3.5 min. Emission spectra were recorded on ORWO-Blau Extrahart plates with an UV-spectrograph Q 24. Limits of detection were 10^–6% for Mn, Pt and Ag; 10^–5 % for Fe, Pb, Ni, Bi, Cu, Pd and Rh; 10^–4% for As, Sb and Cd. Relative standard deviation was not exceeding 30%.

     

Polyepichlorhydrin membranes for alkaline fuel cells: sorption and conduction properties

Polymer electrolytes, using a poly(epichlorhydrin-allyl glycidyl ether) copolymer as matrix, are shown to perform well in alkaline fuel cell electrolyte. An anion-conducting network is obtained by the incorporation of cyclic diamines, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (quinuclidine). The physicochemical and electrochemical characteristics are evaluated. The best conductivity of 1.3.10 (-2) S/cm is obtained at 60 degrees C and a relative humidity of RH = 98%. Ionic conductivity is particularly sensitive to relative humidity. To gain insight into the OH (-) conduction mechanism and the role of water, sorption measurements versus water activity, differential scanning calorimetry, and NMR measurements are carried out.     

Slider-Pinning Rigidity: a Maxwell–Laman-Type Theorem

We define and study slider-pinning rigidity, giving a complete combinatorial characterization. This is done via direction-slider networks, which are a generalization of Whiteley’s direction networks.     

Strategies to Improve the Thermo-Oxidative Stability of Sunflower Oil by Exploiting the Antioxidant Potential of Blueberries Processing Byproducts

This research was conducted in order to establish the effectiveness of two freeze-dried extracts obtained from blueberry processing byproducts resulting from juice manufacturing compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in delaying the lipid oxidation of sunflower oil subjected to high-temperature convective heating at 180 °C up to 12 h under simulated frying conditions. The fruits were harvested from spontaneous flora of two regions of Romania, Arieseni (Alba County) and Paltinis (Sibiu County) and the blueberry byproducts extracts (BBE) were noted according to the origin place as ABBE and PBBE. The progress of lipid thermo-oxidation was investigated in terms of peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine value (p-AV), the response of TBA-malondialdehyde interactions assessed by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method, the total oxidation (TOTOX) value and inhibition of oil oxidation (IO). The recorded data highlighted that BBE exhibit a high inhibitory response on lipid thermo-oxidation. The inhibitory effect was concentration-dependent, thus, the degree of lipid oxidation was in reverse related to the BBE dose. The exposure of the oil samples supplemented with 800 ppm BBE (ABBE, PBBE) to a high-temperature heating for 12 h led to a significant decrease of the assessed indices compared to additives-free sunflower oil sample as follows: PV (46%; 45%), p-AV (21%; 17%), TOTOX (27%; 24%), TBA value (25%; 11%). Regarding the impact of the origin on the potential of BBE to inhibit the lipid oxidative degradation, it was noted that ABBE derived from blueberries grown in a region with a milder climate with moderate precipitations and higher temperatures showed a stronger inhibitory effect on lipid thermo-oxidation than PBBE. A moderate level of 500 ppm BBE inhibited the lipid oxidation similar to 200 ppm BHT. The reported results reveal that BBE represent efficient natural antioxidants that could be successfully applied to improve the thermo-oxidative stability of sunflower oil used in various high-temperature food applications.     

Spectral analysis of multichannel MRS data

The use of phased-array receive coils is a well-known technique to improve the image quality in magnetic resonance imaging studies of, e.g., the human brain. It is common to incorporate proton (1H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) experiments in these studies to quantify key metabolites in a region of interest. Detecting metabolites in vivo is often difficult, requiring extensive scans to achieve signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) that provide suitable diagnostic results. Combining the MR absorption spectra obtained from several receive coils is one possible approach to increase the SNR. Previous literature does not give a clear overview of the wide range of possible approaches that can be used to combine MRS data from multiple detector coils. In this paper, we consider the multicoil MRS approach and introduce several signal processing tools to address the problem from different nonparametric, semiparametric, and parametric perspectives, depending on the amount of available prior knowledge about the data. We present a numerical study of these tools using both simulated 1H MRS data and experimental MRS data acquired from a 3T MR scanner.     

In vivo dark-field reflection-mode photoacoustic microscopy

Reflection-mode photoacoustic microscopy with dark-field laser pulse illumination and high-numerical-aperture ultrasonic detection is designed and implemented in noninvasively imaged blood vessels in the skin in vivo. Dark-field optical illumination minimizes the interference caused by strong photoacoustic signals from superficial structures. A high-numerical-aperture acoustic lens provides high lateral resolution, 45-120 microm in this system. A broadband ultrasonic detection system provides high axial resolution, estimated to be approximately 15 microm. The optical illumination and ultrasonic detection are in a coaxial confocal configuration for optimal image quality. The system is capable of imaging optical-absorption contrast as deep as 3 mm in biological tissue.     

Diode laser welding of ABS: Experiments and process modeling

The laser beam weldability of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) plates is determined by combining both experimental and theoretical aspects. In modeling the process, an optical model is used to determine how the laser beam is attenuated by the first material and to obtain the laser beam profile at the interface. Using this information as the input data to a thermal model, the evolution of the temperature field within the two components can be estimated. The thermal model is based on the first principles of heat transfer and utilizes the temperature variation laws of material properties. Corroborating the numerical results with the experimental results, some important insights concerning the fundamental phenomena that govern the process could be extracted. This approach proved to be an efficient tool in determining the weldability of polimeric materials and assures a significant reduction of time and costs with the experimental exploration.     

On Convergence Rate in the Gauss–Kuzmin Problem for Grotesque Continued Fractions

 We give an infinite-order-chain representation of the sequence of the incomplete quotients of the grotesque continued fraction expansion. Together with the ergodic behaviour of a certain homogeneous random system with complete connections, this allows us to prove a Gauss–Kuzmin-type theorem for this expansion. Finally, we derive a two-dimensional Gauss–Kuzmin theorem and also obtain an estimate of the convergence rate. (Received 9 October 2000; in revised form 27 March 2001)