Web interaction using very small Internet devices

Internet-enabled cell phones typically accommodate only three to 12 text lines, and their design emphasizes portability. Web interaction has, so far, been a secondary concern. For the most part, automated techniques to address the feature gap between the desktop and these phonetops rely on the notion of transducing-translating HTML and images into formats compatible with small devices, which typically cannot handle HTML content. The authors have developed a Web browsing model that supports navigation and action in separate interfaces, To demonstrate the model, they created m-Links, a middleware proxy system that retrieves Web documents using HTTP, lets users navigate and apply services to Web content, and delivers a suitable user interface to a variety of small Web-capable wireless devices.     

Implementation of a real option in a sustainable supply chain: an empirical study of alkaline battery recycling

Green supply chain management (GSCM) has emerged as a key approach for enterprises seeking to become environmentally sustainable. This paper aims to evaluate and describe the advantages of a GSCM approach by analysing practices and performance consequences in the battery recycling sector. It seeks to integrate works in supply chain management (SCM), environmental management, performance management and real option (RO) theory into one framework. In particular, life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied to evaluate the environmental impact of a battery recycling plant project, and life cycle costing (LCC) is applied to evaluate its economic impact. Firms, also understanding the relevance of GSCM, have often avoided applying the green principles because of the elevated costs that such management involved. Such costs could also seem superior to the potential advantages since standard performance measurement systems are internally and business focused; for these reasons, we consider all the possible value deriving also by uncertainty associated to a green project using the RO theory. This work is one of the few and pioneering efforts to investigate GSCM practices in the battery recycling sector.     

Particle–bubble interaction and attachment in flotation

Flotation is an important unit operation in the minerals industry, among others. Current state-of-the-art flotation modelling combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with user-defined algorithms based on the “induction time” concept to describe selective bubble–particle attachment and separation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles.We have undertaken experimental studies permitting direct observation of particle–bubble interaction and attachment at the microscale to provide empirical data for comparison with new theoretical predictions.Observations were made on a model system in which 150 μm glass particles were dropped onto a captive 1.3 mm air bubble formed in water within a glass cell. The interactions were recorded on high-speed digital video, permitting direct estimation of relevant parameters such as the approach velocity, and the duration of particle sliding over the bubble surface. A new experimental configuration has allowed the particle path toward, around, and away from the bubble to be totally unimpeded.Particle trajectories show a significant deviation at separations much larger than their own diameter; such deviations are due to the hydrodynamics. Comparisons with theoretical predictions indicate that the bubble surface exhibited mobility intermediate between “full slip” and “no slip”. Theoretical predictions for an immobile bubble surface were practically symmetrical about the bubble's equator, while asymmetry was apparent in the theoretical predictions for a mobile bubble surface. However, the strongest asymmetries were seen in the observed particle trajectories and speeds.Particles dropping more centrally were seen to slide over the surface of the bubble. In several cases the sliding particle ‘jumped in’ toward the bubble, which is interpreted as the precise moment of attachment. This provides for a direct estimate of the threshold duration to achieve attachment, i.e. “induction time”. Among the events observed were rotation of the particle upon jumping in, and particle jump-in below the bubble's equator. Explanations are proposed in terms of particle properties and flow phenomena.     

A study of color differences in women's ready‐to‐wear collections from world fashion cities: Intensive study of the Fall/Winter 2010 collections from New York,London, Milan,and Paris

The purpose of this study is to analyze the color differences in the four fashion collections from New York, London, Milan, and Paris while focusing on 2010 Fall and Winter women's ready‐to‐wear collections. The colors of the fashion collections were collected from American Vogue's website www.style.com and analyzed by using the ISCC –NBS color system which is made up of 10 basic hues of pink, red, orange, brown, yellow, olive, yellow green, green, blue, and purple, and three neutral categories of white, gray, and black. In addition to these 13 categories, yellowish pink, gold, and silver categories were classified. For analysis, one‐way ANOVA, the Scheffe test and the t‐test were adopted. The result of analysis showed that there was a statistical difference in purple compared with the other colors examined. The London collection showed the highest ratio of use in purple, whereas the Milan collection contrarily showed the lowest ratio of use in purple. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 38, 463–468, 2013     

Effects of mechanical force on crystalline structure of electrospun poly(1‐butene) membranes

Fibrous poly(1‐butene) membranes were prepared from solutions using mixed solvents via electrospinning. The electrospun fibrous poly(1‐butene) membranes were stretched at elongations of 8, 16 and 24%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy and stress–strain analysis showed that the deformation was elastic at an elongation of 8%, while plastic deformation occurred above 16%. The crystalline transformation induced by mechanical stretching was investigated using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The poly(1‐butene) membrane stretched at 24% exhibited decreased diffraction intensity at 2θ = 11.8° and 18.3°, corresponding to the (200) and (213) crystalline reflections, indicating that crystalline transformation from metastable form II to either stable form I or I′ occurred due to mechanical stretching. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced electrical and optical properties based on stress reduced graded structure of Al-doped ZnO thin films

Graded structures of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) multilayered thin film were prepared on quartz glass substrate by sol-gel process, and then sequentially annealed by raped thermal annealing(RTA) and UV laser annealing technologies for transparent conducting oxide (TCO) applications. Different Al mol% (0, 0.17, 0.33,0.5, 0.66, 0.83, 1) doped ZnO graded structures of multilayer thin films were prepared to optimize the lattice parameter to reduce stress, and then the annealing processes were sequentially performed. Introducing graded multilayered thin films, reduced the stress between the layers. The AZO graded structures of multilayer thin films were annealed by RTA followed by a 350 nm nanosecond pulsed UV laser annealing method. The graded structures of multilayered AZO thin films were investigated and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), four-point probe, and UV–vis spectrophotometer, respectively. These results show that multilayered graded thin films were well grown with decreased stress, and well crystallized along the c-axis. The optical transmittance of the films is around 94.8% at 400–800 nm wavelength, and the energy band-gap is around 3.27 eV, respectively. The sheet resistance value of 13.2 kΩ/sq shows a 30% improvement.     

Improved Low-Temperature Environmental Degradation of Yttria-Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals by Surface Encapsulation

An encapsulating layer was deposited on the surface of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals doped with 3 mol% of yttria (3Y-TZP), to prevent low-temperature environmental degradation (aging) of the material. The layer, which was composed of silica and zircon, was formed on the surface by exposing the specimens next to a bed of silicon carbide powder in a flowing hydrogen atmosphere that contained ∼0.1% water vapor at 1450°C. The layer was ∼0.5 µm thick and is expected to be under strong residual compressive stress. This encapsulation process remarkably improved the low-temperature degradation of the material. The strength of the specimens also was improved by this process.     

Ozonated Mineral Oil: Preparation,Characterization and Evaluation of the Microbicidal Activity

The ozonation of vegetable oils has been studied, since the produced ointments have antibacterial and fungicidal activities. However, the ozonation of mineral oils has not been reported in the literature yet, opening an interesting field for examination. In this work, we have shown the ozonation of a commercial mineral oil (Nujol). The main goal was to produce oils containing free ozone, so that this gas could act as antimicrobial agent. It was found that in Nujol, ozone remains for at least 40 days and in the sample ozonized for 15 h its concentration was 7.5 mg mL^?1. Neat Nujol showed no antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms, however, when ozonated it showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.     

Physical characteristics of sweet potato pulp/polycaprolactone blends

Sweet potato pulp (SSP) obtained as a by‐product from starch extraction was blended with polycaprolactone (PCL) to prepare a biodegradable plastic material. In the blends, PCL was used as a reinforcing agent. The SPP/PCL blends were prepared by compression‐molding under high temperature and pressure, at different SPP/PCL ratios, and the mechanical properties of the molded specimens were tested. Matrix structure and thermal properties were measured by using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Mechanical properties (tensile and flexural properties) were also measured to find the most suitable ratio in a SSP/PCL blend. During compression molding of the SPP/PCL blends under high pressure and temperature, chemical reaction occurred between SPP and PCL, and thus, thermal stability and mechanical strength of the blends increased and water uptake decreased. Also, by increasing the PCL content in the blend, the matrix in the blend became more homogeneous, and consequently, mechanical strength of the molded specimen increased. At 7/3 or 6/4 weight ratio of SSP/PCL, water uptake of the molded specimen became substantially less than that at 8/2. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 861–866, 2004     

Alkaline weight reduction and dyeing properties of black dope-dyed poly(ethylene terephthalate) microfibre fabrics

Sea–island-type, black dope-dyed poly(ethylene terephthalate) microfibre fabrics were compared with normal sea–island-type PET microfibres in terms of their thermal properties, alkaline weight reduction, and dyeing properties. A comparison of the weight reduction behaviours of the two microfibre yarns revealed that the microfibre yarn containing carbon black exhibited a higher dissolution speed than that containing no carbon black. The incorporation of carbon black particles in the polyester fibre matrix therefore accelerates the degradation of the less crystalline sea component during alkali treatment. A cationic dye staining method was used to monitor the alkaline dissolution behaviour of the sea–island-type PET microfibres, and compared with the K/S values and the colour difference, the f_k value is the most-desirable indicator for determination of the termination point of the alkaline dissolution process. The colour strength and the colour fastness of the dope-dyed sea–island-type PET microfibre fabrics are superior to those of the normal type.