Blow‐up criterion for 3D viscous‐resistive compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations

In this paper, we establish a blow‐up criterion of strong solutions for 3D viscous‐resistive compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations, which depends only on and . Our result improves the previous criterion in Lu's paper (Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications 2011; 379: 425–438.) for compressible magnetohydrodynamic equations by removing a stringent condition on the viscous coefficients μ > 4λ. In addition, initial vacuum states are also allowed in our cases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using Unfold‐PCA for batch‐to‐batch start‐up process understanding and steady‐state identification in a sequencing batch reactor

In chemical and biochemical processes, steady‐state models are widely used for process assessment, control and optimisation. In these models, parameter adjustment requires data collected under nearly steady‐state conditions. Several approaches have been developed for steady‐state identification (SSID) in continuous processes, but no attempt has been made to adapt them to the singularities of batch processes. The main aim of this paper is to propose an automated method based on batch‐wise unfolding of the three‐way batch process data followed by a principal component analysis (Unfold‐PCA) in combination with the methodology of Brown and Rhinehart 2 for SSID. A second goal of this paper is to illustrate how by using Unfold‐PCA, process understanding can be gained from the batch‐to‐batch start‐ups and transitions data analysis. The potential of the proposed methodology is illustrated using historical data from a laboratory‐scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operated for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The results demonstrate that the proposed approach can be efficiently used to detect when the batches reach the steady‐state condition, to interpret the overall batch‐to‐batch process evolution and also to isolate the causes of changes between batches using contribution plots. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of acidic drugs in biological and environmental matrices by membrane‐based dual emulsification liquid‐phase microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A simple method is introduced providing a highly clean microextraction for the determination of some anti‐inflammatory drugs as the model analytes in human urine and environmental matrices. This method is based upon the implementation of two consecutive emulsification liquid‐phase microextractions, which are separated by a syringe filtration step. In this method, the organic extraction solvent (dihexyl ether) is dispersed into the aqueous sample solution (20 mL), and the resulting cloudy mixture is passed through a hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene syringe filter. By this action, the extraction phase containing the analytes and many interfering species that could be transferred into the organic phase is retained behind the hydrophilic membrane. The filter is then detached from the syringe and attached to another syringe containing an aqueous solution (pH 12.0, 150 μL), and by the in‐syringe dispersion of the organic phase into the aqueous phase, the analytes are selectively back‐extracted into the aqueous phase. The developed method is centrifuge‐free and very simple, and provides a high sample clean‐up in a few minutes. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the developed method provided a linearity in the range of 2.0–2000 ng/mL, a low limit of detection (0.5 ng/mL), and enrichment factors of 47–53.     

The experimental design approach to the optimization of a simple quick easy cheap effective rugged and safe method for the analysis of phytoestrogens in complex soy‐based food

The present paper deals with the multivariate optimization of an extraction‐purification strategy for the determination of phytoestrogens (daidzein, genistein, coumestrol, formononetin, and biochanin A) in soy‐based meat substitutes by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. For a reliable quantitation of these new concerning compounds in such a complex matrix, recovery and matrix effect must be carefully evaluated. Therefore, two sequential experimental designs were used to optimize the sample‐pretreatment of soy‐based burgers: the chosen technique was the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe methodology, which does not require any particular facility or instrumentation. Thanks to the first screening design (Plackett‐Burman), the significant factors influencing the studied responses were identified and further investigated through a response surface design (Box‐Behnken). The optimal values of the variables (volume of extraction solvent mix/sample mass ratio and two clean‐up sorbents) led to quantitative recoveries (97–104%) and low ion suppression (matrix effect 60–93%) for all analytes. This optimized method was characterized by low detection limits (0.2–1.5 ng/g) and excellent intraday precision (RSD 2–4%). It was applied to the determination of the considered compounds in several soy‐burgers from the Italian market, detecting low ng/g levels (up to 40 ng/g) of coumestrol, formononetin, and biochanin A, and high concentrations (7.9–78 µg/g) of genistein and daidzein.     

Extremal generalized centralizers in matrix algebras

We describe matrices with extremal generalized centralizers over algebraically closed fields.     

Scale up and stability test for oxidative coupling of methane over Na2WO4-Mn/SiO2 catalyst in a 200 ml fixed-bed reactor

The study of scale up for the oxidative coupling of methane （OCM） has been carried out in a 200 ml stainless steel fixed-bed reactor over a 5wt% Na2WO4-1.9wt% Mn/SiO2 （W-Mn/SiO2） catalyst. The effects of reaction conditions were investigated in detail. The results showed that, with increasing reaction temperature, the gas-phase reaction was enhanced and a significant amount of methane was converted into COx; with the CH4/O2 molar ratio of 5, the highest C2 （ethylene and ethane） yield of 25% was achieved; the presence of steam （as diluent） had a positive effect on the C2 selectivity and yield. Under lower methane gaseous hourly space velocity （GHSV）, higher selectivity and yield of C2 were obtained as the result of the decrease of released heat energy. In 100 h reaction time, the C2 selectivity of 66%-61% and C2 yield of 24.2%-25.4% were achieved by a single pass without any significant loss in catalytic performance.     

Effects of take‐up speed on the structure and properties of melt‐spun poly(L‐lactic acid) fibers

Poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) filament fibers were prepared by one‐step melt spinning process and the effects of variations in take‐up speed on their thermal properties, mechanical properties, and crystalline structures were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed that the PLLA fibers showed multiple melting peaks and that the melting peak appearing at a lower temperature moved lower while that at a higher temperature moved higher with increasing take‐up speed. The glass transition temperature (T_g) obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) increased with increasing take‐up speed. The tenacity increased and the boiling water shrinkage (BWS) decreased with increasing take‐up speed. However, these mechanical and thermal properties were stabilized at take‐up speeds over 3500 m/min. The melt‐spun PLLA fibers of this study showed an α‐form crystal structure which was not affected by the take‐up speed. The change in the tendency of the thermal and mechanical properties at around 3500 m/min did not appear to result from the change in crystal form but rather from the change in crystallite size and crystallite orientation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.