The Use of Modulated Temperature Programs in Thermal Methods

Temperature modulation has long been used in various aspects of thermal methods. Historically, the principle areas of application have been the determination of kinetic parameters using variants of the temperature jump method and the measurement of heat capacity by AC calorimetry. More recently the introduction of temperature modulation in a variety of techniques has been used in combination with deconvolution algorithms to separate sample responses that are dependent on rate of change of temperature from those principally dependent on temperature. Finally, temperature modulation is important in the new field of micro-thermal analysis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A modified descent method for co-coercive variational inequalities

This paper presents a modified descent method for solving co-coercive variational inequalities. Incorporating with the techniques of identifying descent directions and optimal step sizes along these directions, the new method improves the efficiencies of some existing projection methods. Some numerical results for an economic equilibrium problem are reported.     

Tin oxalate as a precursor of tin dioxide and electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Tin(II) oxalate was studied as a novel precursor for active electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The discharge of lithium cells using tin oxalate electrodes takes place by three irreversible steps: tin reduction, forming a lithium oxalate matrix; solvent decomposition to form a passivating layer; and oxalate reduction in a two-electron process. These are followed by reversible alloying of tin with lithium, leading to a maximum discharge of 11 F/mol. Cycling of the cells showed reversible capacities higher than 600 mAh/g during the first five cycles and ca. 200 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Tin oxalate was converted to tin dioxide by thermal decomposition at 450 °C and also by a chemical method by dissolving tin oxalate powder in 33% v/v hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The ultrafine nature of the tin dioxide powders obtained by this procedure allow their use as electrodes in lithium cells. The best capacity retention during the first five cycles was achieved for a sample heat treated to 250 °C to eliminate surface water. Electronic Publication     

γ谱仪测量系统样品旋转装置研制

利用球体随机旋转性好的特点，将包装样品的容器装入球内并放在样品旋转台中，在两台速度不同，方向垂直的步进电机带动下，球在旋转台上随机转动，实现对包装容器内的样品进行连续随机扫描，以达到减小由于包装容器的非均匀性对测量结果的影响，样品旋转装置由球面板、四根支柱，底座、步进电机及步进电机控制电路组成。采用两台型号为５７ＢＹＧ５０３的步进电机驱动球体旋转，步进电机控制器可对两台电机进行单独控制，并具有正反转功能，其转速分为２、５、８、１２、１６、２０转／ｍｉｎ六档，可连续长时间工作。     

Step structure on the fivefold Al-Pd-Mn quasicrystal surface, and on related surfaces

We compare step morphologies on surfaces of Al-rich metallic alloys, both quasicrystalline and crystalline. We present evidence that the large-scale step structure observed on Al-rich quasicrystals after quenching to room temperature reflects equilibrium structure at an elevated temperature. These steps are relatively rough, i.e., have high diffusivity, compared to those on crystalline surfaces. For the fivefold quasicrystal surface, step diffusivity increases as step height decreases, but this trend is not obeyed in a broader comparison between quasicrystals and crystals. On a shorter scale, the steps on Al-rich alloys tend to exhibit local facets (short linear segments), with different facet lengths, a feature which could develop during quenching to room temperature. Facets are shortest and most difficult to identify for the fivefold quasicrystal surface.     

A numerical technique for laminar swirling flow at the interface between porous and homogenous fluid domains

There have been a few recent numerical implementations of the stress‐jump condition at the interface of conjugate flows, which couple the governing equations for flows in the porous and homogenous fluid domains. These previous demonstration cases were for two‐dimensional, planar flows with simple geometries, for example, flow over a porous layer or flow through a porous plug. The present study implements the interfacial stress‐jump condition for a non‐planar flow with three velocity components, which is more realistic in terms of practical flow applications. The steady, laminar, Newtonian flow in a stirred micro‐bioreactor with a porous scaffold inside was investigated. It is shown how to implement the interfacial jump condition on the radial, axial, and swirling velocity components. To avoid a full three‐dimensional simulation, the flow is assumed to be independent of the azimuthal direction, which makes it an axisymmetric flow with a swirling velocity. The present interface treatment is suitable for non‐flat surfaces, which is achieved by applying the finite volume method based on body‐fitted and multi‐block grids. The numerical simulations show that a vortex breakdown bubble, attached to the free surface, occurs above a certain Reynolds number. The presence of the porous scaffold delays the onset of vortex breakdown and confines it to a region above the scaffold. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deterministic impulse control in native forest ecosystems management

This paper illustrates an application of impulse control systems analysis to the management of renewable resources. We obtain an explicit definition for the impulse optimal strategy in the case of a nonlinear natural system which models certain types of forests. The result is in agreement with an econo-ecological conservative action on the forest. The examples developed in this paper associate new theories on impulse or jump control with natural forest management. In addition, we compare our results with the classical ones. We also show that a nonoptimal managing action on the forest is frequently the cause for significant medium-term losses.This work was supported by CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and by the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina.     

Dynamics of a stochastic rumor propagation model incorporating media coverage and driven by Lévy noise

With the development of information technology, rumors propagate faster and more widely than in the past. In this paper, a stochastic rumor propagation model incorporating media coverage and driven by Lévy noise is proposed. The global positivity of the solution process is proved, and further the basic reproductive number R₀ is obtained. When R₀ < 1, the dynamical process of system with Lévy jump tends to the rumor-free equilibrium point of the deterministic system, and the rumor tends to extinction; when R₀ > 1, the rumor will keep spreading and the system will oscillate randomly near the rumor equilibrium point of the deterministic system. The results show that the oscillation amplitude is related to the disturbance of the system. In addition, increasing media coverage can effectively reduce the final spread of rumors. Finally, the above results are verified by numerical simulation.     

Multi-centred hydrogen bonds between water and perchlorate anion

Results of classical molecular dynamics simulations are presented for the re-orientational dynamics of water hydrogen bonded to perchlorate anion. Different mechanisms of bond formation are presented. Due to its regular tetrahedron geometry the perchlorate anion can make classical as well as bifurcated and trifurcated hydrogen bonds. The angular variation of water in the first solvation shell of perchlorate suggests the transitional character of multi-centred hydrogen bonds. As a result water molecules can slide around the anion.     

高温超导磁通跳跃过程中的磁致伸缩效应

文中基于超导磁通动力学理论,考虑电磁力与热激活对磁通运动的影响,基本模型包括由等效电阻率随超导体温度和磁场变化的磁通扩散方程,以及比热随超导体温度变化的热传导方程组成.在此基础上,用数值方法求解了这组非线性磁热耦合方程,主要研究了有磁通跳跃状发生状态时环境温度和外磁场速度对于高温超导磁致伸缩的影响.结果表明:磁通进入超...