A numerical method for determining the shear stress of magnetorheological fluids using the parallel-plate measuring system

This work proposes a new numerical method for determining the shear stress, which does not need any preassumption about the exact behavior of the fluid to achieve absolute data using a parallel-plate measuring system. The ability for representing different behaviors along the entire shear-rate range makes this method particularly interesting for the study of magnetorheological (MR) fluids. In this work, the conversion factors used by the rheometer for concentric-cylinder, cone-plate, and parallel-plate measuring systems are first analyzed. This analysis shows that the software used by the rheometer is not appropriate for the quantitative characterization of non-Newtonian fluids using the parallel-plate measuring system. Therefore, a new method for conversion of the parameters measured by the rheometer to the rheological parameters of the fluid is proposed; simultaneously, this new method is compared with other correction methods proposed in the literature: the Rabinowitsch-type method and the single-point method. Finally, the proposed method is applied for the quantitative characterization of an MR fluid.     

A parallel descent algorithm for convex programming

In this paper, we propose a parallel decomposition algorithm for solving a class of convex optimization problems, which is broad enough to contain ordinary convex programming problems with a strongly convex objective function. The algorithm is a variant of the trust region method applied to the Fenchel dual of the given problem. We prove global convergence of the algorithm and report some computational experience with the proposed algorithm on the Connection Machine Model CM-5.     

Use of wood elemental composition to predict heat treatment intensity and decay resistance of different softwood and hardwood species

Heat treatment is an attractive alternative to improve decay resistance of low natural durability wood species. Decay resistance is strongly correlated to thermal degradations of wood cell wall components. Some recent studies proposed the use of wood elemental composition as a valuable marker to predict final properties of the material. These results, initially obtained with pine, have been extended to different softwood and hardwood species to check validity of the method using equipment specially designed to measure mass losses during thermal treatment. Heat treatment was performed on two softwood species (pine and silver fir) and three hardwood species (poplar, beech and ash) at 230 °C under nitrogen for different times to reach mass losses of 5, 10 and 15%. Heat-treated specimens were exposed to fungal decay using the brown rot fungus Poria placenta and the weight losses due to fungal degradation determined as well as initial wood elemental composition. Correlations between weight losses recorded after fungal exposure and elemental composition indicated that carbon content and O/C ratio can be used to predict wood durability conferred by heat treatment. Moreover, it was observed that for given curing conditions thermo-degradation patterns differed considerably according to the wood species. The sole analysis of wood physical properties like its density, thermal conductivity and diffusivity cannot allow explaining the observed differences, which should also depend on thermally activated chemical processes depending on wood chemical composition.     

Hydrogen Bonded, π···π Stacked and X···π Framework Structures in Bis(2,6-Lutidinium) Tetrahalocuprate(II) Complexes

Abstract  

In the crystal structures of (2,6-lutidinium)₂[CuCl₄], 1 and (2,6-lutidinium)₂[CuBr₄], 2, the anion CuX₄ ²⁻ is connected to eight and four surrounding cations in 1 and 2, respectively, through (N–H···X) (H₂C–H···X) and (C–H···X) hydrogen bonds to form two-dimensional layers approximately normal to the crystallographic b-axis. These layers are further connected by means of offset face-to-face interactions (parallel to b-axis) to give three-dimensional structures. The hydrogen bonding (type and number) around each anion could be influenced by the anion size, as same cation is used, allowing different cation…anion interpenetrations.     

A disposable immunosensor for detection of 17beta-estradiol in non-extracted bovine serum

This paper reports the assembly of a disposable immunosensor based on the direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for simple and fast measurement of 17β-estradiol (17β-E₂) in bovine serum, using screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) and a Palm-Sens portable electrochemical detector. The immunosensor strip was assembled immobilising, by passive adsorption, anti-rabbit IgG onto the surface of the working SPE electrode. After the interaction between anti-rabbit IgG and rabbit anti-17β-E₂ polyclonal antibodies (PAb), the competition was performed using 17β-estradiol-alkaline phosphatase conjugate (17β-E₂-AP) synthesised in our laboratory. The enzymatic substrate used for signal generation was 1-naphthylphosphate and its conversion to an electroactive product (1-naphthol) was measured using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). To develop a prototype for field measurements, the entire competitive protocol has been optimised directly in a blank non-extracted bovine serum.According to the new EU criteria established by the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC for qualitative and quantitative screening methods, the detection capability (CCβ), was determined. The CCβ value resulted below the action limit (40 pg mL⁻¹) fixed for 17β-E_2.Spiked and real samples were analysed using the electrochemical immunostrips obtaining precision values (relative standard deviation, R.S.D.%) ranging from 8.6 to 17.0% and a recovery (R%) from 88.2 to 120.0%.Results obtained on real samples were confirmed by liquid chromatography coupled on-line with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) source and a heated nebulizer (HN) interface; this is the method currently used to confirm illegal hormone administration for regulatory purposes. The disposable immunosensor appears suitable as a screening tool for field analysis of bovine serum estradiol.     

Improved Copper(I)–NHC Catalytic Efficiency on Huisgen Reaction by Addition of Aromatic Nitrogen Donors

A simple addition with a large impact : Addition of aromatic amines such as phenanthroline and 4‐DMAP (4‐dimethylaminopyridine) increases copper(I)‐catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) catalytic activity of [CuCl(SIMes)] at a large range of temperatures in such a way that efficient catalysis can safely take place in hydro‐alcoholic solvents (see scheme).