On a free boundary problem for the Reynolds equation derived from the Stokes system with Tresca boundary conditions

The asymptotic behaviour of a Stokes flow with Tresca free boundary friction conditions when one dimension of the fluid domain tends to zero is studied. A specific Reynolds equation associated with variational inequalities is obtained and uniqueness is proved.     

Maximum-entropy data analysis

The reconstruction of physical quantities from (computer-) experimental data is very often hampered by the presence of noise, insufficient information and above all by the ill-posed nature of the underlying inversion problem. It will be demonstrated that the maximum entropy concepts is particularly suited for this type of data-analysis problems. It is based on Bayesian statistics and provides a consistent probabilistic theory to obtain unbiased results, independent of any model assumptions. This is particularly desirable if there is no additional information to justify these hypotheses. If, on the other hand, additional prior knowledge is available, it can be effectively incorporated into the computation, leading to more stringent confidence intervals.     

Kinetics of the bromate–bromide reaction at high bromide concentrations

At bromide concentrations higher than 0.1 M, a second term must be added to the classical rate law of the bromate–bromide reaction that becomes ?d[BrO₃^?]/dt = [BrO₃^?][H⁺]²(k₁[Br^?] + k₂[Br^?]²). In perchloric solutions at 25°C, k₁ = 2.18 dm³ mol^?3 s^?1 and k₂ = 0.65 dm⁴ mol^?4 s^?1 at 1 M ionic strength and k₁ = 2.60 dm³ mol³ s^?1and k₂ = 1.05 dm⁴ mol^?4 s^?1 at 2 M ionic strength. A mechanism explaining this rate law, with Br₂O₂ as key intermediate species, is proposed. Errors that may occur when using the Guggenheim method are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 17–21, 2007     

Acetylene weak bands at 2.5 μm from intracavity Cr:ZnSe laser absorption observed with time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy

The spectral dynamics of a mid-infrared multimode Cr(2+):ZnSe laser located in a vacuum sealed chamber containing acetylene at low pressure is analyzed by a stepping-mode high-resolution time-resolved Fourier transform interferometer. Doppler-limited absorption spectra of C(2)H(2) in natural isotopic abundance are recorded around 4000 cm(-1) with kilometric absorption path lengths and sensitivities better than 3 10(-8) cm(-1). Two cold bands are newly identified and assigned to the ν(1)+ν(4) (1) and ν(3)+ν(5) (1) transitions of (12)C(13)CH(2). The ν(1)+ν(5) (1) band of (12)C(2)HD and fourteen (12)C(2)H(2) bands are observed, among which for the first time ν(2)+2ν(4) (2)+ν(5) (-1).     

A geometric theory forL 2-stability of the inverse problem in a one-dimensional elliptic equation from anH 1-observation

This study provides a stability theory for the nonlinear least-squares formulation of estimating the diffusion coefficient in a two-point boundary-value problem from an error-corrupted observation of the state variable. It is based on analysing the projection of the observation on the nonconvex attainable set.This research was started while G. Chavent visited the Technical University of Graz. Support through the Steiermaerkische Landesregierung is gratefully acknowledged.     

Plant processing by simultaneous lactic acid fermentation and enzyme hydrolysis

Traditional ensiling of plant material by anaerobic lactic acid fermentation was combined with enzymatic hydrolysis (ENLAC for short) with cell wall degrading enzymes (hemicellulases, cellulases, and pectinases) to increase fiber digestibility or to increase the recovery of cell content from plants. Such findings were made using 0.015% (w/w, wet basis) Phylacell® enzyme preparation by ENLAC of corn and corn-sorghum mixtures, but not of forage grasses. Addition to alfalfa of a mixture of cell wall degrading enzymes, such as NOVO Viscozyme® together with NOVO Celluclast® each at 0.2–1.0% (w/w, wet basis), resulted in more rapid ensiling and improvement of rumen digestibility of silage by 20%. After 20 d of ensiling at 25 °C when the same enzymes were added to alfalfa at the 1.0% level, protein recovery by pressing increased by 35%, β-carotene recovery by 80%, and chlorophyll/xanthophyll recovery by 30%. ENLAC with the same enzymes also increased the recovery of sclareol from muscatel sage by 400%.

     

Molecule-to-metal bonds: electrografting polymers on conducting surfaces.

Electrografting is a powerful and versatile technique for modifying and decorating conducting surfaces with organic matter. Mainly based on the electro-induced polymerization of dissolved electro-active monomers on metallic or semiconducting surfaces, it finds applications in various fields including biocompatibility, protection against corrosion, lubrication, soldering, functionalization, adhesion, and template chemistry. Starting from experimental observations, this Review highlights the mechanism of the formation of covalent metal-carbon bonds by electro-induced processes, together with major applications such as derivatization of conducting surfaces with biomolecules that can be used in biosensing, lubrication of low-level electrical contacts, reversible trapping of ionic waste on reactive electrografted surfaces as an alternative to ion-exchange resins, and localized modification of conducting surfaces, a one-step process providing submicrometer grafted areas and which is used in microelectronics.     

Toward phenanthridin-2-ylidene: electrophilicity versus acidity in planar-constrained C-aryl iminium salts

A phenanthridinium salt was prepared in four steps, including an intramolecular CH-arylation and a hydride abstraction reaction. Treatment with sterically demanding bases does not lead to the corresponding carbene, but rather to addition products: the planar-constrained geometry significantly enhances the electrophilicity over the acidity of C-aryl iminium salts.