Permeability of two-layer soils

The equivalent coefficient of permeability of a stratified soil system calculated theoretically has been observed to be not the same as that directly measured, when the flow is normal to the orientation of the bedding planes. A hypothesis has been proposed in this investigation to explain this deviation according to which the permeability of the exit layer controls whether the measured permeability is greater or lesser than the theoretically calculated value. The proposed hypothesis has been used to successfully and satisfactorily explain the experimental observations made with the two-layer systems. It has been shown that the coefficient of permeability of a soil in a layered system cannot be considered as its property and that it depends upon the permeabilities of adjoining layers, their thicknesses, and the flow direction.

Synthesis of acicular hydrogoethite (alpha-FeOOH center dot xH(2)O; 0.1 < x < 0.22) particles using morphology controlling cationic additives and magnetic properties of maghemite derived from hydrogoethite

A method for the preparation of acicular hydrogoethite (alpha -FeOOH.xH(2)O, 0.1 < x < 0.22) particles of 0.3-1 mm length has been optimized by air oxidation of Fe( II) hydroxide gel precipitated from aqueous (NH4)(2)Fe(SO4)(2) solutions containing 0.005-0.02 atom% of cationic Pt, Pd or Rh additives as morphology controlling agents. Hydrogoethite particles are evolved from the amorphous ferrous hydroxide gel by heterogeneous nucleation and growth. Preferential adsorption of additives on certain crystallographic planes thereby retarding the growth in the perpendicular direction, allows the particles to acquire acicular shapes with high aspect ratios of 8-15. Synthetic hydrogoethite showed a mass loss of about 14% at similar to 280 degreesC, revealing the presence of strongly coordinated water of hydration in the interior of the goethite crystallites. As evident from IR spectra, excess H2O molecules (0.1- 0.22 per formula unit) are located in the strands of channels formed in between the double ribbons of FeO6 octahedra running parallel to the c- axis. Hydrogoethite particles constituted of multicrystallites are formed with Pt as additive, whereas single crystallite particles are obtained with Pd (or Rh). For both dehydroxylation as well as H-2 reduction, a lower reaction temperature (similar to 220 degreesC) was observed for the former (Pt treated) compared to the latter (Pd or Rh) (similar to 260 degreesC). Acicular magnetite (Fe3O4) was prepared either by reducing hydrogoethite (magnetite route) or dehydroxylating hydrogoethite to hematite and then reducing it to magnetite (hematite- magnetite route). According to TEM studies, preferential dehydroxylation of hydrogoethite along < 010 > leads to microporous hematite. Maghemite (gamma -Fe2O3 (-) (delta), 0 < < 0.25) was obtained by reoxidation of magnetite. The micropores are retained during the topotactic transformation to magnetite and finally to maghemite, whereas cylindrical mesopores are formed due to rearrangement of the oxygen sublattice from hexagonal to cubic close packing during the conversion of hydrogoethite to magnetite and then to maghemite. Accordingly, three different types of maghemite particles are realized: strongly oriented multicrystalline particles, single crystalline acicular particles with micropores or crystallites having mesopores. Higher values of saturation magnetization ((s) = 74 emu g(-1)) and coercivity (H-c = 320 Oe) are obtained for single crystalline mesoporous particles. In the other cases, the smaller size of particles and larger distribution of micropores decreases sigma (s) considerably ( < 60 emu g(-1)) due to relaxation effects of spins on the surface atoms as revealed by Mossbauer spectroscopy.

Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes

In the present study, exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been used for the adsorption of various charged dyes such as methylene blue, methyl violet, rhodamine B, and orange G from aqueous solutions. EGO consists of single layer of graphite decorated with oxygen containing functional groups such as carboxyl, epoxy, ketone, and hydroxyl groups in its basal and edge planes. Consequently, the large negative charge density available in aqueous solutions helps in the effective adsorption of cationic dyes on EGO while the adsorption is negligible for anionic dyes. On the other hand, rGO that has high surface area does not possess as high a negative charge and is found to be very good adsorbent for anionic dyes. The adsorption process is followed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, while the material before and after adsorption has been characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Various isotherms have been used to fit the data, and kinetic parameters were evaluated. Raman and FT-IR spectroscopic data yield information on the interactions of dyes with the adsorbent. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

(4aR, 8aS, 9aR, 10aS)-8a, 9a-Difluoro-1,4,4a, 5,8,8a, 9,9a, 10,10a-decahydroanthracene-4a, 10a-diol hemihydrate

The title compound, C(14)H(18)F(2)O(2)center dot 0.5H(2)O, a hemihydrate of a C(s)-symmetric unsaturated difluorodiol, crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2/m (Z = 4). The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent difluorodiol half-molecules, occupying the mirror planes at (x, 0, z) and (x, 1/2, z), and half a molecule of water, lying on the twofold axis at (0, y, 0). Four difluorodiol molecules self-assemble around each solvent water molecule via O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds in a near tetrahedral symmetry to generate a cylindrical column-like architecture.

Role of interface states associated with transitional nanophase precipitates in the photoluminescence enhancement of SrTiO3 : Pr3+,Al3+

SrTiO3:Pr3+,Al3+ phosphor samples with varying ratios of Sr/Ti/Al were prepared by the gel-carbonate method and the mechanism of enhancement of the red photoluminescence intensity therein was investigated. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of SrTiO3:Pr3+ show both D-1(2) --> H-3(4) and P-3(0) --> H-3(4) emission in the red and blue spectral regions, respectively, with comparable intensity. The emission intensity of D-1(2) --> H-3(4) is drastically enhanced by the incorporation of Al3+ and excess Ti4+ in the compositional range Sr(Ti,Al-y)(O3+3y/2):Pr3+ (0.2 less than or equal to y less than or equal to 0.4) and SrTi1+xAlyO3+z:Pr3+ (0.2 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.5; 0.05 less than or equal to y less than or equal to 0.1; z = 2x + 3y/2) with the complete disappearance of the blue band. This cannot be explained by the simple point defect model as the EPR studies do not show any evidence for the presence of electron or hole centers. TEM investigations show the presence of exsolved nanophases of SrAl12O19 and/or TiO2 in the grain boundary region as well as grain interiors as lamellae which, in turn, form the solid-state defects, namely, dislocation networks, stacking faults and crystallographic shear planes whereby the framework of corner shared TiO6 octehedra changes over to edge-sharing TiO5-AlO5 strands as indicated from the Al-27 MAS NMR studies. The presence of transitional nanophases and the associated defects modify the excitation-emission processes by way of formation of electronic sub-levels at 3.40 and 4.43 eV, leading to magnetic-dipole related red emission with enhanced intensity. This is evidenced by the fact that SrAl12O19:Pr3+,Ti4+ shows bright red emission whereas SrAl12O19:Pr3+ does not show red photoluminescence.

From the Icosahedron to Natural Triangulations of CP(2) and S(2) x S(2)

We present two constructions in this paper: (a) a 10-vertex triangulation CP(10)(2) of the complex projective plane CP(2) as a subcomplex of the join of the standard sphere (S(4)(2)) and the standard real projective plane (RP(6)(2), the decahedron), its automorphism group is A(4); (b) a 12-vertex triangulation (S(2) x S(2))(12) of S(2) x S(2) with automorphism group 2S(5), the Schur double cover of the symmetric group S(5). It is obtained by generalized bistellar moves from a simplicial subdivision of the standard cell structure of S(2) x S(2). Both constructions have surprising and intimate relationships with the icosahedron. It is well known that CP(2) has S(2) x S(2) as a two-fold branched cover; we construct the triangulation CP(10)(2) of CP(2) by presenting a simplicial realization of this covering map S(2) x S(2) -> CP(2). The domain of this simplicial map is a simplicial subdivision of the standard cell structure of S(2) x S(2), different from the triangulation alluded to in (b). This gives a new proof that Kuhnel's CP(9)(2) triangulates CP(2). It is also shown that CP(10)(2) and (S(2) x S(2))(12) induce the standard piecewise linear structure on CP(2) and S(2) x S(2) respectively.

4-(4-Chlorophenyl)-N-[(E)-4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene]-1,3-thiazol-2- amine

The title compound, C(18)H(16)ClN(3)S, adopts an extended molecular structure. The thiazole ring is inclined by 9.2 (1) and 15.3 (1)degrees with respect to the chlorophenyl and 4-(dimethylamino)phenyl rings, respectively, while the benzene ring planes make an angle of 19.0 (1)degrees. A weak intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi contact is observed in the crystal structure.

Ethyl 6-methyl-2-sulfanylidene-4-[4(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahyd ropyrimidine-5-carboxylate

The title compound, C(15)H(15)F(3)N(2)O(2)S, adopts a conformation with an intramolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interaction. The dihedral angles between the planes of the 4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl and ester groups with the plane of the six-membered tetrahydropyrimidine ring are 81.8 (1) and 16.0 (1)degrees, respectively. In the crystal structure, intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot S hydrogen bonds link pairs of molecules into dimers and N-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions generate hydrogen-bonded molecular chains along the crystallographic a axis.

A simple numerical method for three-dimensional analysis of simple expansion chamber mufflers of rectangular as well as circular cross-section with a stationary medium

Three-dimensional effects are a primary source of discrepancy between the measured values of automotive muffler performance and those predicted by the plane wave theory at higher frequencies. The basically exact method of (truncated) eigenfunction expansions for simple expansion chambers involves very complicated algebra, and the numerical finite element method requires large computation time and core storage. A simple numerical method is presented in this paper. It makes use of compatibility conditions for acoustic pressure and particle velocity at a number of equally spaced points in the planes of the junctions (or area discontinuities) to generate the required number of algebraic equations for evaluation of the relative amplitudes of the various modes (eigenfunctions), the total number of which is proportional to the area ratio. The method is demonstrated for evaluation of the four-pole parameters of rigid-walled, simple expansion chambers of rectangular as well as circular cross-section for the case of a stationary medium. Computed values of transmission loss are compared with those computed by means of the plane wave theory, in order to highlight the onset (cutting-on) of various higher order modes and the effect thereof on transmission loss of the muffler. These are also compared with predictions of the finite element methods (FEM) and the exact methods involving eigenfunction expansions, in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the simple method presented here.

The x¿n-x Plane for Analysis of Certain Second-Order Nonlinear Systems

Analysis of certain second-order nonlinear systems, not easily amenable to the phase-plane methods, and described by either of the following differential equations xÿn-2ÿ+ f(x)xÿ2n+g(x)xÿn+h(x)=0 ÿ+f(x)xÿn+h(x)=0 n≫0 can be effected easily by drawing the entire portrait of trajectories on a new plane; that is, on one of the xÿnÿx planes. Simple equations are given to evaluate time from a trajectory on any of these n planes. Poincaré's fundamental phase plane xÿÿx is conceived of as the simplest case of the general xÿnÿx plane.

Techniques for Analysis of Certain Nonlinear Systems

This paper suggests the use of simple transformations like ÿ=kx, kx2 for second-order nonlinear differential equations to effect rapid plotting of the phase-plane trajectories. The method is particularly helpful in determining quickly the trajectory slopes along simple curves in any desired region of the phase plane. New planes such as the tÿ-x, tÿ2-x are considered for the study of some groups of nonlinear time-varying systems. Suggestions for solving certain higher-order nonlinear systems are also made.

Gas-phase synthesis of size-classified polyhedral In(2)O(3) nanoparticles

Monodisperse polyhedral In(2)O(3) nanoparticles were synthesized by differential mobility classification of a polydisperse aerosol formed by evaporation of indium at atmospheric pressure. When free molten indium particles oxidize, oxygen is absorbed preferentially on certain planes leading to the formation of polyhedral In(2)O(3) nanoparticles. It is shown that the position of oxygen addition, its concentration, the annealing temperature and the type of carrier gas are crucial for the resulting particle shape and crystalline quality. Semiconducting nanopolyhedrals, especially nanocubes used for sensors, are expected to offer enhanced sensitivity and improved response time due to the higher surface area as compared to spherical particles.

Influence of minor addition of boron on tensile and fatigue properties of wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Addition of boron to cast Ti-6Al-4V alloy leads to significant refinement in grain size, which in turn improves processibilty as well as the mechanical properties of the as-cast alloy. Room temperature tensile and fatigue properties of Wrought Ti-6Al-4V-B alloys with B up to 0.09 wt.% are investigated. Thermo-mechanical processing at 950 degrees C caused kinking of alpha lamellae and alignment of TiB particles in the flow direction with a negligible change in prior beta grain and colony sizes, indicating the absence of dynamic recrystallisation during forging. Characterisation with the aid of X-ray and electron back scattered diffraction reveal a strong basal texture in B free alloy which gets randomised with the 0.09B addition in the forged condition. Marginal enhancement in tensile and fatigue properties upon forging is noted. B free wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloy exhibits better tensile strength as compared to B containing alloy, due to the operation of < c+a > slip on pyramidal planes with high value of CRSS as compared to < a > slip on basal and prismatic planes. Decrease in fatigue strength of Ti-6Al-4V-0.04B in as-cast and the wrought state is observed due to increase in the volume fraction of grain boundary a phase with B addition, which acts as a crack nucleation site. No significant effect of TiB particles on tensile and fatigue properties is observed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human action recognition using a fast learning fully complex-valued classifier

In this paper, we use optical flow based complex-valued features extracted from video sequences to recognize human actions. The optical flow features between two image planes can be appropriately represented in the Complex plane. Therefore, we argue that motion information that is used to model the human actions should be represented as complex-valued features and propose a fast learning fully complex-valued neural classifier to solve the action recognition task. The classifier, termed as, ``fast learning fully complex-valued neural (FLFCN) classifier'' is a single hidden layer fully complex-valued neural network. The neurons in the hidden layer employ the fully complex-valued activation function of the type of a hyperbolic secant function. The parameters of the hidden layer are chosen randomly and the output weights are estimated as the minimum norm least square solution to a set of linear equations. The results indicate the superior performance of FLFCN classifier in recognizing the actions compared to real-valued support vector machines and other existing results in the literature. Complex valued representation of 2D motion and orthogonal decision boundaries boost the classification performance of FLFCN classifier. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Triangulation of CP3 as Symmetric Cube of S-2

The symmetric group acts on the Cartesian product (S (2)) (d) by coordinate permutation, and the quotient space is homeomorphic to the complex projective space a'',P (d) . We used the case d=2 of this fact to construct a 10-vertex triangulation of a'',P (2) earlier. In this paper, we have constructed a 124-vertex simplicial subdivision of the 64-vertex standard cellulation of (S (2))(3), such that the -action on this cellulation naturally extends to an action on . Further, the -action on is ``good'', so that the quotient simplicial complex is a 30-vertex triangulation of a'',P (3). In other words, we have constructed a simplicial realization of the branched covering (S (2))(3)-> a'',P (3).