1,720,996 research outputs found

    Amino acid encapsulation in zeolite MOR: Effect of spatial confinement

    No full text
    In this study the absorption of glycine, α-alanine and β-alanine amino acids into the pores of the synthetic zeolite Na-mordenite was investigated with the aim of: (i) evaluating the effectiveness of the MOR framework type in amino acid adsorption (viavapor and aqueous loading); (ii) understanding the host-guest and guest-guest interactions to possibly design a tailor made material and a loading procedure able to maximize the amino acid adsorption; (iii) studying the effect of pressure on the adsorbed amino acids such as, for instance, possible amino acid condensation. The structural characterization, carried out with the combination of diffractometric and infrared spectroscopy analyses, shows that MOR can adsorb amino acids, which are found both in protonated/deprotonated (possibly also generating zwitterions) form. Vapor loading is ineffective for α-alanine, while it is effective in β-alanine and glycine adsorption, even if using different loading degrees. The shape and size of MOR channels make this zeolite suitable to accommodate a peptide. In a glycine loaded sample some molecules condensate to form cyclic dimers, while linear oligomers are detected only in a β-alanine MOR hybrid. The sample loaded with α-l-alanine from aqueous solution does not show the presence of amide bond signals, indicating that the molecules are mostly hosted in zwitterionic form in Na-MOR channels. The application of external baric stimuli does not induce substantial modifications in the structure of the glycine loaded zeolite; this result may be explained by the low number of molecules hosted in the channels. The amino acid amount within the zeolite pores is the most important reactivity parameter and an increased loading could induce chemical modifications

    Comparison of inorganic constituents in bottom and fly residues from pelletised wood pyro-gasification

    No full text
    Wood biomass is a source of renewable energy and now recognized as a potential alternative for sustainable energy production. During the pyro-gasification process, the species of the mineral component of the biomass accumulate under the grate of the pyro-gasifier (bottom residue) or become volatile and are deposited as fly residue in the cyclone filters. This work analyses the constituents of the two residues produced by a pilot scale downdraft pellet fuelled system. The residues are characterised by a high carbon content and ash content of 7 % (bottom residue) and 38 % (fly residue). The Ca, Mg, Na, S, P, Si and Cu contents in the two residues are more or less comparable. Fe, Al, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Mn and B are concentrated in the fly residue. Potassium is a case apart and is present in a lower concentration in the fly residue. Mass balance has revealed that certain elements succeed in passing the first filtration phase (cyclones) and are entrained in the gas which must be cleaned. Therefore, knowledge of the composition of the biomass (macro and microelements) and of the behaviour of their transformation products is important for plant design and functioning and equally important for disposal or utilisation of process by-products, e.g. as actived carbons or as fuels

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

    Full text link
    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Simulation of temperature and chemical weathering effect on marble rocks

    Full text link
    Physical and mechanical properties of building stones can vary due to different degradation mechanisms caused by temperature and chemical agents. The problem of chemical and thermal weathering on marble rocks is an important issue to consider for designing building façades since it may cause sugaring, bowing, cracking and spalling. Moreover, an accurate comprehension of induced damages is required for restoration and conservation of heritage monument purposes. While thermal weathering has been widely studied in the last years, the combined effect of thermal and chemical weathering (that here is intended as the combined action of rainwater and atmospheric pollutants) is still poorly understood. In this study, no- destructive (ultrasonic pulse velocities) and destructive tests (bending tests) were performed on Carrara marble slabs in natural and after thermal (with target temperatures respectively of 50 and 90°C) and thermo-chemical treatment. Thermo-chemical treatments were performed by soaking the specimens in a 5x10-6 mol/l solution of sulphuric acid at pH=5 to simulate the acid rain behavior, at constant target temperatures, for one week. In general, for each weathering mechanism, progressive degradation of the physical and mechanical properties of marble specimens was observed. In particular, a marked drop in flexural strength, mirrored by a wide variation in P- and S-wave velocity, was found in specimens chemically treated at target temperature equal to 90 °C

    MSWI Fly Ash Multiple Washing: Kinetics of Dissolution in Water, as Function of Time, Temperature and Dilution

    No full text
    Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (FA) can represent a sustainable supply of supplementary material to the construction industries if it is pre-treated to remove hazardous substances such as chloride, sulfate, and heavy metals. In this paper, the phenomenology associated with a water washing multi-cycle treatment of FA is investigated, focusing attention upon the mineral dissolution process. The efficacy of the treatment is assessed by leaching tests, according to the European Standard, and discussed in light of the occurring mineral phases. The water-to-solid (L/S) ratio is a crucial parameter, along with the number of washing cycles, for removing halite and sylvite, whereas quartz, calcite, anhydrite, and an amorphous phase remain in the solid residue. The sequential extraction method and dissolution kinetics modelling provide further elements to interpret leaching processes, and suggest that dissolution takes place through a two-step mechanism. Altogether, multi-step washing with L/S = 5 is effective in reducing contaminants under the legal limits for non-hazardous waste disposal, while the legal limits for non-reactive or reusable material cannot be completely reached, owing to sulfate and some heavy metals which still leached out from the residue

    Variations on the Author

    Full text link
    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

    Full text link
    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
    corecore