Emission profiling of diesel and gasoline cars at a city traffic junction

In congested urban roads,cars must stop at intersections because of city traffic lights.As a result,pedestrians and traffic police personnel are exposed to pollutants emanating from the tailpipe of various vehicles at such city traffic junctions.In this study,various gasoline- and diesel-fueled cars complying with different emission standards were tested for their emissions in simulated city traffic junction conditions.The engine exhaust from these cars was subjected to physicochemical characterization at different engine speeds under no-load conditions.These engine conditions were chosen because the cars idle at different engine speeds at a city traffic junction.Gravimetric and real-time measurements were performed for the tailpipe exhaust sampled from these vehicles.Exhaust particles were collected on 47 mm diameter quartz filter papers and subjected to gravimetric analysis for determining the total particulate mass(TPM)and trace metals while the engines were operated at two different engine idling speeds,1500 rpm(representing low idling) and 2500 rpm(representing high idling).At similar engine operating conditions,TPM and trace metals were lower for the exhaust from gasoline engines compared to the exhaust from diesel engines.Real-time measurements were performed for particle-bound poly-aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs),particle number and size distribution,regulated gaseous emissions and smoke opacity of the exhaust at four different engine speeds,1500,2000,2500,and 3000 rpm.Particle-bound PAHs showed a decreasing trend for the vehicles that complied with stricter vehicular emission standards.Higher particle peak number concentrations were observed for diesel exhausts compared to the results for gasoline exhaust.Regulated gaseous emissions were also compared.     

(Non-)expansivity in functional envelopes

We study expansivity in functional envelopes of dynamical systems. Our main result is that if the phase space of the original system contains an arc or if it contains a free infinite zero dimensional set, then the expansivity in the functional envelope with Hausdorff metric is impossible. This is in contrast with the fact that, when considering the uniform metric in functional envelopes, the expansivity of a system is equivalent with the expansivity of its functional envelope.     

Nondegenerate dual atomic parametric amplifier: entangled atomic fields

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of two coupled quantum degenerate atomic fields (BEC) interacting with two classical optical fields in the nonlinear atom optics regime. Two-photon interaction produces entangled atom-atom pairs which exhibit nonclassical correlations. Since the system involves the creation of two correlated atom pairs, we call it the nondegenerate dual atomic parametric amplifier.     

Nonlinear transient dynamic response of damped plates using a higher order shear deformation theory

Damped transient dynamic elasto-plastic analysis of plate is investigated. A finite element model based on a C ⁰ higher order shear deformation theory has been developed. Nine noded Lagrangian elements with five degrees of freedom per node are used. Selective Gauss integration is used to evaluate energy terms so as to avoid shear locking and spurious mechanisms. Von Mises and Tresca yield criteria are incorporated along with associated flow rules. Explicit central difference time stepping scheme is employed to integrate temporal equations. The mass matrix is diagonalized by using the efficient proportional mass lumping scheme. A program is developed for damped transient dynamic finite element analysis of elasto-plastic plate. Several numerical examples are studied to unfold different facets of damping of elasto-plastic plates.     

Carboxymethyl chitosan‐montmorillonite nanoparticles for controlled delivery of isoniazid: evaluation of the effect of the glutaraldehyde and montmorillonite

Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, is used for drug delivery application. But its potential application is limited by its low solubility in aqueous media. The present study was designed to prepare carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), a water soluble derivative of chitosan, and evaluate the prospective of crosslinked CMC‐Montmorillonite (MMT) nanoparticles for controlled delivery of isoniazid. The nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Transmission emission microscopy (TEM). The effects of MMT and glutaraldehyde on nanoparticles were assessed with regard to encapsulation efficiency, percentage swelling degree, and cumulative release. Percentage swelling degree and cumulative release were studied in pH medium 1.2 and 7.4 for 6 h. The cumulative release was studied by UV‐visible spectrophotometer. Cell viability study was performed by MTT assay analysis. FTIR and NMR study indicated the successful preparation of CMC. FTIR study confirmed the interaction of MMT with CMC. The exfoliation of MMT layers and molecular level dispersion of isoniazid in CMC was examined by XRD and TEM. SEM study showed that the surface of the CMC‐MMT nanoparticles was smooth compared with those of CMC nanoparticles. Swelling and release of isoniazid from the nanoparticles increased with the decrease in the MMT and glutaraldehyde content. The percentage swelling degree and cumulative release was more in pH 1.2. Cell viability study revealed that CMC was not cytotoxic, and the nanoparticles containing MMT was less cytotoxic than those of MMT free nanoparticles. CMC‐MMT nanoparticles can be exploited as potential drug carrier for controlled release applications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface-functionalization of spherical silver nanoparticles with macrocyclic polyammonium cations and their potential for sensing phosphates

The synthesis of aqueous dispersion of spherical, underivatized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) stabilized by macrocyclic polyammonium chlorides (MCPAC), [28]ane-(NH₂ ⁺)₆O₂·6Cl⁻ (28-MCPAC) and [32]ane-(NH₂ ⁺)₈·8Cl⁻ (32-MCPAC), which are evidently anion receptors, is reported. As-synthesized Ag-NPs are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 28/32-MCPAC-stabilized Ag-NPs show the surface plasmon band around 400 nm. The TEM-images show that the particles are spherical and well-dispersed. By tuning the 28/32-MCPAC:Ag-OAc (silver acetate) ratio, nanoparticles with different core diameters ranging from 13 to 8 nm for 28-MCPAC and from 10 to 6 nm for 32-MCPAC can be obtained. The advantage of using MCPAC as stabilizers is that they make the particles functionalized for sensing anions. Thus, the potential of the as-synthesized Ag-NPs for sensing phosphates: H₂PO₄ ⁻ (monobasic phosphate, MBP), HPO₄ ²⁻ (dibasic phosphate, DBP) and PO₄ ³⁻ (tribasic phosphate, TBP) is investigated spectroscopically. Interaction of phosphate ions with macrocyclic polyammonium cations makes the Ag-NPs bare, leading agglomeration. The phosphate-assisted agglomeration of 32-MCPAC-Ag-NPs follow the order TBP > DBP ≫ MBP. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Sourcing under incomplete information and negative capacity-cost correlation

We study a sourcing problem where a buyer reserves capacity from a set of suppliers. The suppliers have finite capacity and their unit production cost is a decreasing function of their capacity, implying scale economies. The capacity of each supplier and therefore the cost is his private information. The buyer and other suppliers only know the probability distribution of the supplier’s capacity. The buyer’s demand is random and she has to decide how much capacity to reserve in advance from a subset of suppliers and how much to source from marketplace. In this study we determine the buyer’s optimum reservation quantity and the size of the supply base. We find the presence of such capacity cost correlation leads to supply base reduction.     

Eu3(AsS4)2 and AxEu(3-y)As(5-z)S10 (A = Li, Na): compounds with simple and complex thioarsenate building blocks

Eu(3)(AsS(4))(2) and A(x)Eu(3-y)As(5-z)S(10) (A = Li, Na) are the members of a new thioarsenate family. They feature As(5+) and As(3+) centers, respectively. The rhombohedral Eu(3)(AsS(4))(2) features a new structure type consisting of eight-coordinate Eu(2+) centers and AsS(4)(3-) anions, whereas the monoclinic A(x)Eu(3-y)As(5-z)S(10) (Li(0.73)Eu(3)As(4.43)S(10) and Na(0.66)Eu(2.86)As(4.54)S(10)) belong to the rathite sulfosalt family and are comprised of apparent [As(10)S(20)](10-) segments linked with Eu(2+) ions to give a three-dimensional network. They appear to be alkali-metal-stabilized derivatives of the putative parent phase "Eu(3)As(5)S(10)".     

Synthesis, isolation, and redispersion of resorcinarene-capped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in nonaqueous solvents

C-undodecylcalix[4]-resorcinarene (C(11)-resorcinarene)-capped anatase TiO(2) nanoparticles have been synthesized and could be isolated and redispersed in different nonaqueous solvents. The adsorption of C(11)-resorcinarene onto the surface of TiO(2) nanoparticles led the shifting of the onset wavelength of the optical absorption in the visible range along with a broad band centered at 422 nm corresponding to ligand-to-metal charge transfer transition within the surface titanium(IV)-C(11)-resorcinarene complex. The interaction of TiO(2) nanoparticle with C(11)-resorcinarenes was investigated by photoluminescence (PL). Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy study revealed that the C(11)-resorcenarene molecules adsorbed chemically onto the surfaces of TiO(2) nanoparticles. The average particle diameter of bare anatase TiO(2) and C(11)-resorcinarene-capped TiO(2) was determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and was found to be equal to ca. 5 nm.     

Enhancement in physicochemical properties of citric acid/nano SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> treated sustainable wood-starch nanocomposites

Citric acid was used as the cross-linker to prepare the sustainable wood starch nanocomposites (WSNC) from the renewable resources like starch and soft wood flour using water as the solvent. Nano SiO₂ was employed to develop the physicochemical properties of the WSNC via a green path. In this process, starch was grafted with methylmethacrylate (MMA) and SiO₂ was modified with N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium bromide. Three different percentage of modified nano SiO₂ (1–5 phr) were employed in the preparation of the composites and their properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphological features of the composites were investigated through transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study. Mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties like storage modulus, loss factors and tan δ value of the composites were thoroughly investigated. Thermal stability, water resistance and flammability of the composites were significantly improved after incorporation of modified SiO₂. The maximum improvements in properties were achieved containing 3 phr modified SiO₂ composites.