Considerations on modelling the market for softwood lumber in the United States

The analysis in this paper looks at two important elements in modelling the market for timber in the United States. First, the issue of directional causality between price and quantity and its implications in a modelling effort is investigated. Second, the extent of the geographic market for timber is discussed and a method of detecting it is suggested. The method for detecting the extent of the geographical market is tractable and can be applied in a straightforward way. Both considerations are applied to the softwood lumber market in the United States.     

The Elimination of Grains and Grain Boundaries in Grain Growth

The topological changes that occur during coarsening of 2D and 3Dcellular structures, such as polycrystals, areinvestigated. Particular attention is given to the elimination ofgrain boundaries and grains with more than the minimum number oftopological elements. A thermodynamic criterion is introduced tofind out which topological transformations are favoured, based on theevaluation of the Gibbs free energy of the initial and finalconfigurations. In general, elimination of grains is possible only ifthe number of their neighbours is below a critical value, which maybe affected by geometry.     

Heat of formation of yttrium-bismuth alloys

In the Y—Bi system the formation heats were measured using a direct isoperibol calorimeter. The following values were found for the two known compounds:

     

LC-MS–MS Determination of Pregabalin in Human Plasma

A rapid, sensitive and specific method to quantify pregabalin in human plasma using metaxalone as the internal standard is described. Sample preparation involved simple protein precipitation by using acetronitrile as solvent. The extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS–MS). Chromatography was performed isocratically on Thermo Hypurity C₁₈ 5 μm analytical column, (50 mm × 4.6 mm i.d.). The assay of pegabalin was linear calibration curve over the range 10.000–10000.000 ng mL^?1. The lower limit of quantification was 10.000 ng mL^?1 in plasma. The method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence study of pregabalin capsules (150.0 mg) administered as a single oral dose.     

Treatment of zinc-contaminated water using a multistage ferrihydrite sorption system

Previous studies demonstrated the environmental and economic benefits of treating lead(II)-contaminated water streams with ferrihydrite in multiple equilibrium sorption stages. In this work, multistage ferrihydrite sorption systems were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing single-solute zinc(II) (Zn(II)) concentrations in contaminated water streams to very low levels. As for lead(II) (Pb(II)), experimental data and modeling results indicate that a multistage sorption system can significantly reduce Zn(II) effluent concentrations for the same total amount of sorbent or, alternatively, dramatically lower total sorbent consumption for the same effluent Zn(II) concentration. Compared to Pb(II), however, Zn(II) removal requires on the order of 10 times more sorbent to achieve the same target effluent concentration for the same pH and number of stages. Model predictions were made using a steady-state, multistage, equilibrium adsorber model that was previously developed for and integrated into OLI Systems' Environmental Simulation Program (ESP). The modified triple-layer model was used to simulate Zn(II) surface-liquid equilibria within the adsorber model. Engineering screening evaluations again indicate that a 2- to 3-stage sorption process can provide significant economic savings when compared to a 1-stage process operating with the same target effluent Zn(II) concentration. Additional equilibrium stages beyond 2 or 3 provide diminishing economic returns. The major economic driver for multiple contacting stages is reduced capital investment and operating costs for sludge handling, dewatering, and disposal.     

Coexistence of multiple conformations in cysteamine monolayers on Au(111)

The structural organization, catalytic function, and electronic properties of cysteamine monolayers on Au(111) have been addressed comprehensively by voltammetry, in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in anaerobic environment, and a priori molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and STM image simulation. Two sets of voltammetric signals are observed. One peak at -(0.65-0.70) V (SCE) is caused by reductive desorption of cysteamine. The other signal, at -(0.25-0.40) V consists of a peak doublet. The pH dependence of the latter suggests that the origin is catalytic dihydrogen evolution. The doublet feature is indicative of two distinct cysteamine configurations. Cysteamine monolayer formation from initial nucleation to a highly ordered phase has been successfully observed in real time using oxygen-free in situ STM. Random cellular patterns, disordered adlayer formation accompanied by high step edge mobility, and ultimately a highly ordered (square root 3 x 4) R30 degrees lattice are observed sequentially. Pits are formed due to enclosure of the mobile edges during the adsorption process. In the highly ordered cysteamine layer, each unit has two spots with apparent 0.6 A height difference in STM images. The coverage 5.7 +/- 0.1 x 10(-10) mol cm(-2) determined by voltammetry supports that the spots represent two individual cysteamine molecules. A priori MD and density functional simulations hold other clues to the image interpretation and indicate that the NH(3)(+) groups dominate the tunneling contrast. A wide range of interface structures, showing variations in the sulfur binding site and orientation, gauche and trans conformers, and especially hydrogen-bonding interactions, are examined, from which it is concluded that the adsorbate structure is controlled by interactions with the solvent rather than with the substrate.     

Electric-field-driven deracemization.

We demonstrate, both theoretically and experimentally, that it is possible to use an electric field to drive the formation of macroscopic chiral (conglomerate) domains from an initially homogeneous fluid racemate. Field-induced segregation is exhibited in a fluid smectic liquid-crystal phase of a racemic mesogen, wherein enantiomerically-enriched domains are readily identifiable by their chiral electro-optical response. The sharp field-generated boundaries that form between opposite-handed domains broaden by diffusion in the absence of field, but reform rapidly if the field is switched on again, providing unambiguous evidence for the field-driven physical separation of enantiomers. A mean-field model successfully describes the steady-state and the dynamic evolution of conglomerate formation.     

A direct isoperibol aneroid calorimeter

An aneroid isoperibol calorimetric apparatus is described which is particularly suitable for measurement of the reaction heat among solids. Such an apparatus contains four calorimeters and allows to carry out differential measurements. Each calorimeter includes two small electric furnaces employed for heating the solid mixture until the reaction begins and for the successive electric calibrations, respectively. The temperature trend of each calorimeter is followed by 80 thermocouples in series. The instrument characteristics are briefly discussed. Examples of its employment in the alloy thermochemistry are given.     

C(3)-azido cephem II

The major product from the thermolysis and photolysis of C(3)-azido cephem 2 is the ring expanded 1,4,6-thiadiazepine azetidinone.