Polymerization of styrene started by free radicals,generated by external force action-chemical potential gradient of the swelling agent — on the PVC/solvent optical phase boundary

Summary There were studied the process of styrene polymerization in PVC swollen surface layer initiated by free radicals generated under the action of chemical potential gradient as an external force. It was found that conversion of styrene into the block copolymer is an diffusion controlled process.

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Zusammenfassung Die Initiation des Prozesses der Polymerization von Styrol in den Oberflächenquellungsschichten von PVC wurde untersucht.Dabei wurde festgestellt, daß die freien Radikale, welche bei Zerreißung von spannungsbeanspruchten Bindungen, wie sie durch Einfluß von äußeren Kräften auf den Gradienten des chemischen Potentials des Quellungsmittels an Oberflächenquell bildungsmittel Polymer entstehen können, Polymerizationsprozesse des olefinischen Quellungsmittels initiieren können.

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Dedicated to ProfessorV. Kellö in celebration of his 60th birthday.     

Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes: Spectroscopic characterization

Hyaluronic acid-copper(II) complexes were studied by ultraviolet and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), as well as by rheological measurements. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters were obtained from experimental spectra measured at 200 K by non-linear optimization method. These showg _x g _y <g _z and indicate the ground electronic state of copper ion, which is characteristic for carboxylato-copper(II) complexes. The non-axial symmetry of theg-tensor suggest rhombic crystal field symmetry. Formation of HA-Cu(II) complex is realized through the interaction of copper ions with carboxyl groups of the HA macromolecule. This complex is characteristic of the network-like rheological properties of its aqueous solution.     

A two-directional synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin

An entirely two-directional synthesis of (+/-)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin is presented, utilizing a tandem oxime formation/Michael addition/[3 + 2] cycloaddition as the key step. This approach also constitutes formal syntheses of (+/-)-histrionicotoxin and (+/-)-histrionicotoxin 235A.     

Relative raman line intensities for H2 and for D2. Correction factors for molecular non-rigidity

Ab initio calculations are presented for H₂ and D₂ relative Raman intensities originating from common rotational levels for both vibrational-rotational and pure rotational transitions. Factors f(J) required to correct measured intensities for molecular non-rigidity (e.g. in temperature measurements) are tabulated. The calculations are compared with literature perturbation-theory equations (significant differences at large J in vibration-rotation) and with experiment.     

Photochemical degradation of hyaluronic acid by singlet oxygen

Changes of the rheological properties of hyaluronic acid (sodium-magnesium salt) solutions after exposure to UV radiation indicate a vigorous decrease in their viscosity, but its still strong shear rate dependence. Whereas the presence of the singlet oxygen sensitizer (anthracene-1-sulphonic acid) brings about a loss of shear dependence; the studied solutions show newtonian behavior.     

On free quadratic extensions of rings

The quaternion algebraB[j] over a commutative ringB with 1 defined byS. Parimala andR. Sridharan is generalized in two directions: (1) the ringB may be non-commutative with 1, and (2)j ² may be any invertible element (not necessarily –1). LetG={} be an automorphism group ofB of order 2, andA={b inB| (b)=b}. LetB[j] be a generalized quaternion algebra such thataj (a) for eacha inB. It will be shown thatB is Galois (for non-commutative ring extensions) overA which is contained in the center ofB if and only ifB[j] is Azumaya overA. Also,A[j] is a splitting ring forB[j] such thatA[j] is Galois overA. Moreover, we shall determine which automorphism group ofA[j] is a Galois group.     

A multi-stage financial hedging approach for the procurement of manufacturing materials

This paper addresses the problem of mitigating procurement risk that arises from volatile commodity prices by proposing a hedging strategy within a multi-stage time frame. The proposed multi-stage hedging strategy requires a commodity futures position to be correctly initialised and rebalanced with adequate volumes of short/long positions, so as to reduce the volatility in the total procurement cost that would otherwise be generated by varying commodity spot prices. The novelty in the approach is the introduction of the rebalancing of commodity futures position at defined intermediate stages. To obtain an efficient or near optimal multi-stage hedging strategy, a discrete-time stochastic control model (DSCM) is developed. Numerical experiments and Monte Carlo simulation are used to show that the proposed multi-stage hedging strategy compares favourably with the minimal-variance hedge and the one-stage hedge. A close-form optimal solution is also presented for the case when procurement volume and price are independent.     

Potential Mitigation of Smoke Taint in Wines by Post-Harvest Ozone Treatment of Grapes

When bushfires occur near grape growing regions, vineyards can be exposed to smoke, and depending on the timing and duration of grapevine smoke exposure, fruit can become tainted. Smoke-derived volatile compounds, including volatile phenols, can impart unpleasant smoky, ashy characters to wines made from smoke-affected grapes, leading to substantial revenue losses where wines are perceivably tainted. This study investigated the potential for post-harvest ozone treatment of smoke-affected grapes to mitigate the intensity of smoke taint in wine. Merlot grapevines were exposed to smoke at ~7 days post-veraison and at harvest grapes were treated with 1 or 3 ppm of gaseous ozone (for 24 or 12 h, respectively), prior to winemaking. The concentrations of smoke taint marker compounds (i.e., free and glycosylated volatile phenols) were measured in grapes and wines to determine to what extent ozonation could mitigate the effects of grapevine exposure to smoke. The 24 h 1 ppm ozone treatment not only gave significantly lower volatile phenol and volatile phenol glycoside concentrations but also diminished the sensory perception of smoke taint in wine. Post-harvest smoke and ozone treatment of grapes suggests that ozone works more effectively when smoke-derived volatile phenols are in their free (aglycone) form, rather than glycosylated forms. Nevertheless, the collective results demonstrate the efficacy of post-harvest ozone treatment as a strategy for mitigation of smoke taint in wine.     

Time-dependent discrete road network design with both tactical and strategic decisions

This paper aims to model and investigate the discrete urban road network design problem, using a multi-objective time-dependent decision-making approach. Given a base network made up with two-way links, candidate link expansion projects, and candidate link construction projects, the problem determines the optimal combination of one-way and two-way links, the optimal selection of capacity expansion projects, and the optimal lane allocations on two-way links over a dual time scale. The problem considers both the total travel time and the total CO emissions as the two objective function measures. The problem is modelled using a time-dependent approach that considers a planning horizon of multiple years and both morning and evening peaks. Under this approach, the model allows determining the sequence of link construction, the expansion projects over a predetermined planning horizon, the configuration of street orientations, and the lane allocations for morning and evening peaks in each year of the planning horizon. This model is formulated as a mixed-integer programming problem with mathematical equilibrium constraints. In this regard, two multi-objective metaheuristics, including a modified non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and a multi-objective B-cell algorithm, are proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem. Computational results for various test networks are also presented in this paper.