Influence of the Ni-Co/Al-Mg catalyst loading in the continuous aqueous phase reforming of the bio-oil aqueous fraction

The effect of catalyst loading in the Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of bio-oil aqueous fraction has been studied with a Ni-Co/Al-Mg coprecipitated catalyst. Because of the high content of water in the bio-oil aqueous fraction, APR could be a useful process to convert this fraction into valuable products. Experiments of APR with continuous feeding of aqueous solution of acetol, butanol and acetic acid as the only compound, together with a simulated and a real aqueous fraction of bio-oil, were carried out. Liquid products in the liquid effluent of the APR model compounds were quantified and the reaction pathways were revised. The increase of catalyst loading produced an increase of gas production and a gas with higher alkanes content. Acetol was the compound with the highest reactivity while the conversion of acetic acid was very low. The presence of acetic acid in the feed caused catalyst deactivation

A dedicated electric oven for characterization of thermoresistive polymer nanocomposites

AbstractThe construction, characterization and control of an electric oven dedicated to the study of thermoresistive polymer nanocomposites is presented. The oven is designed with a heating plate capable of reaching 300°C with a resolution of 0.3°C and an area of uniform temperature of 3.8cm×2.5cm. The temperature is regulated by means of a discrete proportional–integral–derivative controller. A heat transfer model comprising three coupled non-linear differential equations is proposed to predict the thermal profiles of the oven during heating and cooling, which are experimentally verified. The oven is used for thermoresistive characterization of polymer nanocomposites manufactured from a polysulfone polymer and multiwall carbon nanotubes

Monitoring of outdoor tourism demand

The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was used in order to understand the tourism competitiveness of the different sub-regions that make up the North Region of Portugal. This index is a measure which helps to analyse market concentration and at the same time determines the competitiveness of the market.Project “TURNOUT: Desenvolvimento do Turismo Outdoor da Região Norte de Portugal”, with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032289 and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work is, also, funded by National Funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UIDB/04752/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The TOF counters of the AMS-02 experiment: space qualification tests and beam test results

The scintillator counters of the TOF system of AMS-02 is beeing constructed to match the needs of the AMS-02 experiment that is armed by a high aperture superconducting dipole magnet. The goals of the TOF-02 hodoscopes actually are: to give the fast trigger to the all sub-detectors of AMS-02; to measure the particle velocity ensuring a 1 × 10 9 albedo rejection; to measure the absolute charge by particle energy loss, up to at least Z = 20 . In spring of 2005 all the TOF counter planes will be assembled and the space qualification tests will be performed. A description of the first test results and of the TOF performances will be given

The internal alignment and position resolution of the AMS-02 silicon tracker determined with cosmic-ray muons

Abstract The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is a large acceptance cosmic-ray detector ( 0.5 m 2 sr ) designed to operate at an altitude of 400 km on the International Space Station. The AMS-02 silicon tracker contains 2264 silicon microstrip sensors (total active area 6.75 m 2 ). The internal alignment parameters of the assembled tracker have been determined on the ground with cosmic-ray muons. The alignment procedure is described and results for the alignment precision and position resolution are reported

Precision Measurement of the Proton Flux in Primary Cosmic Rays from Rigidity 1 GV to 1.8 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precise measurement of the proton flux in primary cosmic rays with rigidity (momentum/charge) from 1 GV to 1.8 TV is presented based on 300 million events. Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the proton flux is important in understanding the origin, acceleration, and propagation of cosmic rays. We present the detailed variation with rigidity of the flux spectral index for the first time. The spectral index progressively hardens at high rigidities.</p

Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds: Effect of Applied Voltage

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the applied voltage on the morphological and mechanical properties of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for potential use in tissue engineering. The morphology of the scaffolds was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the BET techniques for measuring the surface area and pore volume. Stress-strain curves from tensile tests were obtained for estimating the mechanical properties. Additional studies for detecting changes in the chemical structure of the electrospun PCL scaffolds by Fourier transform infrared were performed, while contact angle and X-ray diffraction analysis were realized for determining the wettability and crystallinity, respectively. The SEM, AFM and BET results demonstrate that the electrospun PCL fibers exhibit morphological changes with the applied voltage. By increasing the applied voltage (10 to 25 kV) a significate influence was observed on the fiber diameter, surface roughness, and pore volume. In addition, tensile strength, elongation, and elastic modulus increase with the applied voltage, the crystalline structure of the fibers remains constant, and the surface area and wetting of the scaffolds diminish. The morphological and mechanical properties show a clear correlation with the applied voltage and can be of great relevance for tissue engineering

On the effect of electric field application during the curing process on the electrical conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes–epoxy composites

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)/epoxy composites were cured under external electric fields andthe influence of the processing parameters (electric field magnitude and frequency, SWCNT concentrationand curing temperature) on the electrical response of the system was evaluated. A mold for theelectric field application was designed and manufactured, allowing in situ measurements of the electricalresistivity of the composite, during and after the curing process. The resulting electrical propertiesrevealed a strong dependence on the processing parameters. By rising the curing temperature, the solidbulk resistivity was decreased by one order of magnitude. Further reduction was observed with electricfields, up to an additional order of magnitude. Such improvements can be related with the decrease inviscosity and improvement of interconnected-nanotube paths within the polymer matrix. The effect ofthe electric field on the rotation and interconnection of the SWCNTs was investigated using a classicalmechanics model based on the dielectrophoretic theory for the liquid state. The influence of internanotubedistances on the bulk electrical properties was calculated at different particle concentrations,using finite element models of the microstructure. This processing technique presents promisingresults for enhancing the electrical conductivity of polymer composites with carbon-based nanoparticle

Information to the user on the procedures realized by the personnel of nursery.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El papel del profesional de enfermería comprometido con la excelencia al brindar cuidados competentes de calidad a la población usuaria en las instituciones de salud, le proporcionan información durante los procedimientos que realiza y facilita la aceptación y el cumplimiento del tratamiento. OBJETIVO: Identificar la participación de Enfermería sobre la información que otorga a los usuarios al realizar procedimientos y administración de medicamentos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo elaborado en los meses de Agosto y Septiembre de 2004, el tamaño de la muestra fue de 43 usuarios adultos hospitalizados en los servicios de Medicina Interna, Ginecología y Cirugía, en los turnos matutino y vespertino del Hospital General Regional N°1 del IMSS. La info rmación se recolectó a través de una entrevista directa al usuario con un formulario estructurado con 16 ítems de opción múltiple, utilizando para su medición las categorías siempre, algunas veces, nunca y no aplica, el contenido del instrumento fue validado por expertos. Para el análisis de los resultados se utiliza frecuencia y porcentaje. RESULTADOS: La enfermera participa dando información en los siguientes procedimientos: toma de signos vitales siempre 77%, resultado de los signos vitales siempre 68%; venopunción siempre 79%, cuidados de la venopunción siempre 74%; procedimiento de curaciones siempre 49%, signos de alarma de la lesión siempre 30%; administración de interacciones y contraindicaciones siempre 39%. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados obtenidos reflejan que la enfermera informa a los usuarios en los procedimientos que realiza siempre en un 43%, en el servicio que menos informa es cirugía y el que más informa es ginecología.ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The role of the professional of nursery compromised with the excellence on giving care competent of quality to the population user in the institutions of health is to provide information during the procedures that it realizes, and facilitates the acceptance and the fulfilment of the treatment. OBJETIVE: To identify the participation of nursery on the information that grants the users on having realized procedures and ministration of medicines. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study elaborated in August and September 2004, the size of the sample was 43 adults users, in the services of internal medicine, gynaecology and surgery, in the shifts morning and vespertine of the Hospital Genreal Regional N°1 of IMSS. The i nformation was gathered across a direct interview to the wer loy a constructed form with 16 items of multiple options,using for it´s measuring the categories: always, sometimes, never and doesn´t apply, the content of the instrument was valited by experts. For the analysis is used the arithmetic mean, frecuency and percentage. RESULTS: The nurse takes part giving information in them following procedures: capture of vital signs always77%, results of the vital signs always68%, venopunción always79% , Taken care of the venopunción always 74% , ministration of medicines :medicine name’s always 42%, possible allergies , interaction and contraindications always 39 % , in the signs of the alarm of the injuries always 30%. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results reflect that the nurse if it informs the users in the procedures that it realizes, the service that less reports is a surgery and the fact that more it reports it is gynaecology