Effects of heat treatment on the aggregation and charging of Stöber-type silica

Measuring and modeling the surface charge of clays, and more especially smectites, has become an important issue in the use of bentonites as a waste confinement material aimed at retarding migration of water and solutes. Therefore, many studies of the acid-base properties of montmorillonite have appeared recently in the literature, following older studies principally devoted to cation exchange. It is striking that beyond the consensus about the complex nature of the surface charge of clays, there are many discrepancies, especially concerning the dissociable charge, that prevents intercomparison among the published data. However, a general trend is observed regarding the absence of common intersection point on raw titration curves at different ionic strengths. Analysis of the literature shows that these discrepancies originate from the experimental procedures for the preparation of the clays and for the quantification of their surface charge. The present work is an attempt to understand how these procedures can impact the final results. Three critical operations can be identified as having significant effects on the surface properties of the studied clays. The first one is the preparation of purified clay from the raw material: the use of acid or chelation treatments, and the repeated washings in deionized water result in partial dissolution of the clays. Then storage of the purified clay in dry or wet conditions strongly influences the equilibria in the subsequent experiments respectively by precipitation or enhanced dissolution. The third critical operation is the quantification of the surface charge by potentiometric titration, which requires the use of strong acids and bases. As a consequence, besides dissociation of surface sites, many secondary titrant consuming reactions were described in the literature, such as cation exchange, dissolution, hydrolysis, or precipitation. The cumulated effects make it difficult to derive proper dissociation constants, and to build adequate models. The inadequation of the classical surface complexation models to describe the acid-base behavior of clays is illustrated by the electrokinetic behavior of smectites, which is independent from the pH and the ionic strength. Therefore, there is still a need on one hand for accurate data recorded in controlled conditions, and on the other hand for new models taking into account the complex nature of the charge of clays.     

Seasonal variations of cytosolic antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver and white muscle of thinlip gray mullet (Liza ramada Risso) from the Adriatic Sea

The activity of cytosolic antioxidative defence enzymes in the liver and white muscle of thinlip gray mullet (Liza ramada Risso) were compared in winter and spring in the Adriatic Sea. Activity of antioxidative enzymes is functionally organized due to metabolic demands: analyses of variance and correlation analysis revealed tissue- and seasonal- specific organization of antioxidative enzymes. In winter GST activity increased in both tissues compared with spring. At the same time decreased GSH-Px and GR activities were observed and this effect was more pronounced in liver then in white muscle. From correlation analyses it is concluded that the antioxidative components correlate, but the composition of the antioxidative defence system is different in respect to season and tissue. This means that the antioxidative defence system reorganizes its structure due to oxidative demands and to protect the tissues against reactive oxygen species and to establish homeostasis. Discriminant analyses separated groups according to the complete organization of individual components of the system very well and identified individual components (CAT, GST and GR) which contribute most to the differences. Statistical differences were observed between enzyme activities in tissues (liver and muscle) in both winter and spring, and between seasons (winter and spring) for liver tissue only. Since environmental parameters, such as temperature and oxygen concentration in the sea differ with season, we conclude that in this species the tissues examined expressed their antioxidative defence systems in different ways in respect of external/environmental conditions. We propose that tissue- and seasonal- specific levels of antioxidant enzyme activities should be considered in the interpretation of data from future biomonitoring field studies, especially in relation to low temperature.     

Modeling the synergy level in a vertical collaborative supply chain through the IMP interaction model and DEA framework

This work develops a mathematical programming model that characterizes the main variables present in the interaction dynamics of each agent in a collaborative vertical logistical system, such as a supply chain, and measures the synergy level of such system. The model is based on the interaction model developed by the IMP (Industrial Marketing and Purchasing) group and also on the DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) framework. The basics of these two approaches allow modeling of the characteristics of an agent as well as the collaborative relationships with other agents within the chain. The model was validated using information of supply chain of leather and its products, classified by DANE (Departamento Nacional de Estadistica—Colombia) as the sector CIIU323.     

A versatile algorithm for calculating vapour—liquid equilibria

A versatile algorithm is proposed for solving vapour—liquid equilibrium problems. It has been prepared so that the search procedure is generally applicable with any analytical equation of state and any kind of data. Special attention is paid to the applicability of the method in critical and high-pressure regions. Derivatives of the quantities describing the state of the system can be obtained for any equilibrium state as soon as equilibrium is determined. Results are reported for computing based on the use of a modified Redlich—Kwong equation of state.     

Existence of Gradings on Associative Algebras

In this article, we study the existence of gradings on finite dimensional associative algebras. We prove that a connected algebra A does not have a nontrivial grading if and only if A is basic, its quiver has one vertex, and its group of outer automorphisms is unipotent. We apply this result to prove that up to graded Morita equivalence there do not exist nontrivial gradings on the blocks of group algebras with quaternion defect groups and one isomorphism class of simple modules.     

Graded Brauer tree algebras

In this paper we construct non-negative gradings on a basic Brauer tree algebra A_Γ corresponding to an arbitrary Brauer tree Γ of type (m,e). We do this by transferring gradings via derived equivalence from a basic Brauer tree algebra A_S, whose tree is a star with the exceptional vertex in the middle, to A_Γ. The grading on A_S comes from the tight grading given by the radical filtration. To transfer gradings via derived equivalence we use tilting complexes constructed by taking Green’s walk around Γ (cf. Schaps and Zakay-Illouz (2001) [17]). By computing endomorphism rings of these tilting complexes we get graded algebras.We also compute , the group of outer automorphisms that fix the isomorphism classes of simple A_Γ-modules, where Γ is an arbitrary Brauer tree, and we prove that there is unique grading on A_Γ up to graded Morita equivalence and rescaling.     

Extensions between Cohen–Macaulay modules of Grassmannian cluster categories

In this paper we study extensions between Cohen–Macaulay modules for algebras arising in the categorifications of Grassmannian cluster algebras. We prove that rank 1 modules are periodic, and we give explicit formulas for the computation of the period based solely on the rim of the rank 1 module in question. We determine \(\mathrm{Ext}^i(L_I, L_J)\) for arbitrary rank 1 modules \(L_I\) and \(L_J\). An explicit combinatorial algorithm is given for the computation of \(\mathrm{Ext}^i(L_I, L_J)\) when i is odd, and when i even, we show that \(\mathrm{Ext}^i(L_I, L_J)\) is cyclic over the centre, and we give an explicit formula for its computation. At the end of the paper we give a vanishing condition of \(\mathrm{Ext}^i(L_I, L_J)\) for any \(i>0\).     

Two-phase structure above hot surfaces in jet impingement boiling

Jet impingement boiling is very efficient in cooling of hot surfaces as a part of the impinging liquid evaporates. Several studies have been carried out to measure and correlate the heat transfer to impinging jets as a function of global parameters such as jet subcooling, jet velocity, nozzle size and distance to the surface, etc. If physically based mechanistic models are to be developed, studies on the fundamentals of two-phase dynamics near the hot surface are required. In the present study the vapor–liquid structures underneath a subcooled (20 K) planar (1 mm × 9 mm) water jet, impinging the heated plate vertically with a velocity of 0.4 m/s, were analyzed by means of a miniaturized optical probe. It has a tip diameter of app. 1.5 μm and is moved toward the plate by a micrometer device. The temperature controlled experimental technique enabled steady-state experiments in all boiling regimes. The optical probe data provides information about the void fraction, the contact frequencies and the distribution of the vapor and liquid contact times as a function of the distance to the surface. The measured contact frequencies range from 40 Hz at the onset of nucleate boiling to nearly 20,000 Hz at the end of the transition boiling regime. Due to condensation in the subcooled jet vapor disappears at a distance to the surface of app. 1.2 mm in nucleate boiling. This vapor layer becomes smaller with increasing wall superheat. In film boiling a vapor film thickness of 8 ± 2 μm was found.     

Thermodynamic and structural analysis of the Pb–InSb system

Results of thermodynamic and structural analysis of the Pb–InSb system are presented in this paper. Thermodynamic investigations were performed experimentally by Oelsen’s calorimetric method and calculated by thermodynamic predicting according to Chou’s general solution model, while structural analysis of the alloys in Pb–In–Sb system was done by SEM–EDX and diffractometry.     

Antioxidant systems in supporting environmental and programmed adaptations to low temperatures

Hetero and endothermic adaptive responses arising as a result of natural responses to environmental cues include antioxidant systems that support adaptations to environmental low temperatures in the broadest sense. These temperatures induce phase changes in energy production and consequently changes in the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The latter may lead to oxidative stress and the impairment of cellular homeostasis and antioxidant defence systems (ADS) scavenge the ROS so generated. In endotherms the ADS responds to oxidative pressure during acute cold stress conditions, this response is tissue specific and does not extend to prevent other oxidative damage. The early acute phase of cold exposure is accompanied by a significant depletion in redox equivalents. Under such conditions it is questionable if ADS has the capacity to neutralize elevated levels of ROS since there is also an increased energy demand and enhanced ATP consumption. Prolonged exposure to cold leads to ADS adaptation. Hibernators and freeze-tolerant species elevate their ADS before hibernation or freezing in order to prepare for and cope with re-awakening. The involvement of ROS and the role of the ADS in organisms subjected to low temperatures are features intercalated into physiological mechanisms of homestasis. The exact mechanisms for ADS regulation have not been fully defined and are the subject of many ongoing intriguing scientific investigations.