Optimization of an Alkylpolyglucoside-Based Dishwashing Detergent Formulation.

The aim of this work was to formulate and optimize the washing performance of an alkylpolyglucoside-based dishwashing detergent. The liquid detergent was formulated with five ingredients of commercial origin: anionic (linear sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate and sodium laurylethersulfate), nonionic (C12–C14 alkylpolyglucoside) and zwitterionic (a fatty acid amide derivative with a betaine structure) surfactants, and NaCl for viscosity control. In addition to the plate test, other properties were investigated including ‘‘cloud point’’, viscosity, and emulsion stability. Statistical analysis software was used to generate a central composite experimental design. Then, a second order design and analysis of experiments approach, known as the Response Surface Methodology, was set up to investigate the effects of the five components of the formulation on the studied properties in the region covering plausible component ranges. The method proved to be efficient for locating the domains of concentrations where the desired properties were met

Organizing For Its: Computer Integrated Transportation Phase 2: Results For Emergency Operations

This paper extends research on Computer Integrated Transportation (CIT) to emergency operations (EOs). The objectives of the study are to examine EOs in California, identify their role in gathering and using traffic incident information, establish the basis of coordination between EOs and TMCs, identify Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) services and technologies that may be beneficial to their operations, and finally compare and contrast similarities and differences between the California emergency operations and the emerging ITS National Architecture. This report covers the findings for the San Francisco Bay Area

Effect of nitrogen gas flow on amorphous Si–C–N films produced by PVD techniques

Si C N thin films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on glass and steel substrates. The films were grown in a x y z rotation mode over a carbon and a silicon targets in a mixed Ar/N2 atmosphere at a substrate temperature of 300 °C. The 2 substrates were held grounded or at a negative bias of -25 and -50 V. The film characteristics were also controlled by nitrogen flow. Binary and ternary films were obtained. The films were analysed with respect to microstructure, state of chemical bonding and optical properties by Raman spectroscopy (RS) and optical transmittance. RS was used as a probe of micro-structural modifications induced by deposition conditions. The main features observed in RS spectra are the well-known D- and G-bands characteristic of amorphous carbon. The position, widths and intensity ratio of these bands are found to be dependent on the film composition. The refractive index, the absorption coefficient and also the thickness were calculated from transmittance spectra obtained between 200 and 2500 nm. The hardness and Young’s modulus of the films were measured by nano-indentation experiments. The average hardness and Young’s modulus of the produced coatings was 21 and 200 GPa, respectively