Heterogeneous oxidation of alcohols

The selective oxidation of alcohols is one of the most challenging reactions in green chemistry. While the current chemical industry uses organic and inorganic oxidants to produce carbonyl compounds, it is highly desirable to use a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient oxidation of alcohols. The present research is focused on increasing the activity and selectivity towards the corresponding carbonyl of the heterogeneous oxidation for alcohols. The low activity of 5 wt.%Pt-1 wt. %Bi/Carbon for the oxidation of 2-octanol was investigated in a 500ml stirred tank reactor. The fast reaction rate drops dramatically from 0.23 M/hr to 0.006 M/hr after 15 minutes reaction time when heptane was used as solvent. Different possible causes such as overoxidation, leaching and poisoning were examined. It was found that the loss of high conversion rate was due to product adsorption and hence, different solvents were investigated. A mixture of 16-18% v/v dioxane in heptane was able to effectively regenerate active sites and allow a constant reaction rate of 0.07M/hr. The effects of temperature and pressure were also studied. Gas-liquid, liquid-solid and internal mass transfer effects were determined experimentally and semi-empirically. Six different Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate models were examined where a modified model based on Schuurman et al. (1992) was found to adequately describe the experimental data. The novel 2.5%Au-2.5%Pd/titania catalyst was investigated for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Different parameters such as catalyst oxidation state, pressure and stirrer design were studied to increase the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. The selectivity was shown to be highly dependent on the oxygen concentration. Therefore, the pressure, temperature, catalyst treatment were optimised and the reactor configuration was re-designed to enhance oxygen transport to the catalyst. While the conversion rate was unaffected by the oxygen concentration, the catalyst pre-treatment significantly increased the reaction rate. Eventually, the use of a Rushton Turbine at 20 rps with a shower disc sparger and a treated catalyst allowed the selectivity to reach 93%. The reaction could be described with a Power Law model satisfactorily. Transition Metal Oxide catalysts such as $AgO/ SiO_2, Fe_2O_3/SiO_2, CuO/SiO_2$ and $CuO/Al_2O_3$ were investigated as an alternative to the expensive noble metal based catalyst. However, it was shown that such catalysts are ineffective for the oxidation of different alcohols by studying the effects of different engineering parameters. The maximum conversion reached was 15% with calcined copper oxide catalyst for 1-octanol oxidation

Weight-finite modules over the quantum affine and double quantum affine algebras of type a1\mathfrak a_1

We define the categories of weight-finite modules over the type $\mathfrak a_1$ quantum affine algebra $\dot{\mathrm{U}}_q(\mathfrak a_1)$ and over the type $\mathfrak a_1$ double quantum affine algebra $\ddot{\mathrm{U}}_q(\mathfrak a_1)$ that we introduced in a previous paper. In both cases, we classify the simple objects in those categories. In the quantum affine case, we prove that they coincide with the simple finite-dimensional $\dot{\mathrm{U}}_q(\mathfrak a_1)$-modules which were classified by Chari and Pressley in terms of their highest (rational and $\ell$-dominant) $\ell$-weights or, equivalently, by their Drinfel'd polynomials. In the double quantum affine case, we show that simple weight-finite modules are classified by their ($t$-dominant) highest $t$-weight spaces, a family of simple modules over the subalgebra $\ddot{\mathrm{U}}_q^0(\mathfrak a_1)$ of $\ddot{\mathrm{U}}_q(\mathfrak a_1)$ which is conjecturally isomorphic to a split extension of the elliptic Hall algebra. The proof of the classification, in the double quantum affine case, relies on the construction of a double quantum affine analogue of the evaluation modules that appear in the quantum affine setting.Comment: 46 page

Prediction-based classification for longitudinal biomarkers

Assessment of circulating CD4 count change over time in HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a central component of disease monitoring. The increasing number of HIV-infected subjects starting therapy and the limited capacity to support CD4 count testing within resource-limited settings have fueled interest in identifying correlates of CD4 count change such as total lymphocyte count, among others. The application of modeling techniques will be essential to this endeavor due to the typically nonlinear CD4 trajectory over time and the multiple input variables necessary for capturing CD4 variability. We propose a prediction-based classification approach that involves first stage modeling and subsequent classification based on clinically meaningful thresholds. This approach draws on existing analytical methods described in the receiver operating characteristic curve literature while presenting an extension for handling a continuous outcome. Application of this method to an independent test sample results in greater than 98% positive predictive value for CD4 count change. The prediction algorithm is derived based on a cohort of $n=270$ HIV-1 infected individuals from the Royal Free Hospital, London who were followed for up to three years from initiation of ART. A test sample comprised of $n=72$ individuals from Philadelphia and followed for a similar length of time is used for validation. Results suggest that this approach may be a useful tool for prioritizing limited laboratory resources for CD4 testing after subjects start antiretroviral therapy.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/10-AOAS326 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

La remodelación de los grandes hospitales de Madrid después de la ley de sanidad

La Ley de Sanidad de 1986 nació con el fundamental propósito de extender la atención sanitaria a todo el territorio español. Los Planes Directores, objeto de estudio de esta tesis, se concibieron como una respuesta a los graves problemas de funcionamiento de sus hospitales. La tesis se inicia con una introducción que trata, en líneas generales, del desarrollo del concepto de hospital y su diseño. El capítulo siguiente se introduce en la arquitectura de los hospitales y estudia algunos conceptos fundamentales, como la Unidad, el Área y el Sistema, y se expone la estructura funcional del hospital y la relación entre las partes. A continuación, estudia el contenido propio de un Plan Director como solución arquitectónica global a los problemas organizativos derivados del crecimiento caótico de los hospitales. En concreto, se examina dos de ellos: el Plan Director del Clínico y el de La Fundación Jiménez Díaz. El trabajo describe las situaciones anterior y posterior a la modificación de los dos hospitales citados, analizando el cumplimiento de los objetivos y efectuando una evaluación crítica de la que se obtienen las conclusiones generales, que son recogidas en los apartados de conclusiones y recomendaciones. La edición de la tesis es bilingüe, en árabe y español

O art. 285-A do CPC: Uma abordagem crítica Análise da resolução liminar do mérito em ações repetitivas

O presente estudo visa a realizar uma análise legal, doutrinária e jurisprudencial acerca do novo art. 285-A do Código de Processo Civil, seus pressupostos de cabimento, bem como sua constitucionalidade, dentro do contexto de aproximação da common law à civil law no sistema jurídico brasileiro

نمذجة ثنائية الأبعاد لموجة فيضانية ناتجة عن انهيار افتراضي لسد الثورة

يتضمن هذا البحث تحليل الفيضان الناتج عن انهيار افتراضي لسد الثورة وهو سد ركامي بنواة غضارية يقع في حوض الصنوبر في محافظة اللاذقية. وذلك من خلال بناء نموذج رياضي ثنائي الأبعاد لمنطقة الدراسة بعد جمع بيانات عن السد والخزان والاستعانة بنموذج الارتفاعات الرقمية، والتنبؤ ببارامترات الخرق المتوقع بتطبيق معادلات(XU, Y. and Zhang, 2009) وهي: ارتفاع الخرق المتشكل، عرض الخرق، الميول الجانبية، الزمن اللازم لتطور الخرق، وتم استخدام برنامج HEC-RAS في بناء هذا النموذج. أظهرت النتائج خروج موجة فيضانية ضخمة ناتجة عن الانهيار بسبب انسكاب الماء فوق قمة السد  Overtopping))، حيث بلغت غزارتها الاعظمية ( (44778 m3/secبعد 55 دقيقة من بدء الانهيار، يصل الخرق الى الشكل النهائي بعد ساعتين و34 دقيقة، وتصل سرعة الموجة الفيضانية بالقرب من السد إلى 23.45 m/sec، تراوحت أعماق الغمر بين(0 - 20)m، وتساعد خرائط الغمر التي توضح المناطق المتضررة من سرعات المياه الأعظمية وأعماق المياه الكبيرة، في وضع خطط الطوارئ

Cardiovascular Side Effects of Atomoxetine and Its Interactions with Inhibitors of the Cytochrome P450 System

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence. Classically, stimulants have been used in the treatment of this condition. Atomoxetine (Strattera; Eli Lilly and Company) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), one of the first medications in the nonstimulant class of medications that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD. Atomoxetine is a phenoxypropylamine derivative and is structurally related to the antidepressant fluoxetine. The common side effects reported with the use of atomoxetine include mainly GI disturbances. Cardiovascular side effects are less commonly reported. The increase in the noradrenergic tone may explain some of the side effects noted with the use of this medication. Here, we present a case of a patient who presented with syncope, orthostatic hypotension, and tachycardia and discuss the various clinical implications based on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug

DWX Values & Trends prediction Using Artificial Neural networks

إنّ الهدف من هذا البحث هو بناء شبكة عصبية اصطناعية ذات مواصفات مناسبة اعتماداً على خبرة الباحث وقاعدة التجربة والخطأ، وذلك من أجل التنبؤ بقيم مؤشر سوق دمشق للأوراق المالية واتجاهاتها ليوم التداول التالي. لقد تمّ تدريب الشبكة العصبية وفق خوارزمية التكاثر الارتدادي على مجموعة من المتغيرات التي جرى تحديدها وحسابها في ضوء الدراسات السابقة وأساليب التحليل الفني. البيانات المستخدمة جميعها تمّ الحصول عليها من الموقع الرسمي الالكتروني لسوق دمشق للأوراق المالية خلال الفترة الواقعة بين (4/1/2010 و7/3/2013) والتي تمت معايرتها لتسهيل عملية التدريب. وقد أظهرت النتائج بأنّ الشبكة العصبية المستخدمة قد نجحت في التنبؤ بقيمة مؤشر سوق دمشق للأوراق المالية ليوم التداول التالي بدرجة عالية من الدقة ودرجة خطأ أقل من واحد بالمائة، وبالتالي إمكانية اتخاذ قرارات استثمارية ناجحة في السوق المدروسة اعتماداً على هذه النتائج. the purpose of this research is to build a suitable artificial neural network depending on the researcher's experience, and trial & error base for predicting the values and trends of Damascus Securities Exchange Weighted Index (DWX) in the next trading day. The neural network trained by back propagation algorithm on the set of variables determined and computed according to the literature review and technical analysis techniques. All used data was driven from the website of (DSE) Damascus Securities Exchange through the period (4/1/2010 – 7/3/2013) which is also normalized to facilitate the training process. The results showed that the trained neural network successfully had predicted the value of (DWX) in the next trading day with high degree of accuracy and less than 1% of error, therefore it may be made successful investment decisions in the studied market due to these results