Catalytic properties of a composite material based on belarusian dolomites in relation to the decomposition of pyrolysis tar

The paper discusses results of an experimental study of the thermal decomposition of pyrolysis tar in a homogeneous process and in the presence of a catalyst. Experiments on thermal decomposition of pyrolysis tar were carried out under isothermal conditions in a laboratory setup at temperatures of 300, 400, 450 and 500 °C. The rate of the homogeneous process of thermal decomposition of tar and maximal degrees of decomposition were determined. According to the data of this work, the activation energy of the homogeneous process was 320 kJ/mol. It was found that the rate of thermal decomposition of the tar increases in the case of introducing samples of natural dolomites into the reaction zone, as well as a composite material based on them. This increase is due to the occurrence of a heterogeneous catalytic decomposition reaction of the pyrolysis tar. The apparent activation energy of this process was 210 kJ/mol (when using dolomites) and 202 kJ/mol (when using composites). It was noted that the composite material has significantly more favorable mechanical properties than dolomite. Based on the established data, it was concluded that the creation of composite catalysts for the thermal decomposition of heavy hydrocarbons formed in the processes of thermochemical conversion of biomass is promising.

Post-Concussion Syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome is no longer an accepted medical term and has been replaced by the phrase “persistent post-concussive symptoms” or simply “persistent symptoms.” Post-concussion syndrome had been used to identify individuals with prolonged symptoms following concussion, but the term assumed that concussion is a homogeneous process and that persistent symptoms were always a manifestation of the original brain injury. Concussion often manifests in different clinical domains, and it is important that these domains be managed more specifically. Domain-specific interventions seek to address the somatic, cognitive, and emotional issues that are common following concussion. Such specific interventions mitigate the development of persistent symptoms.

Random forests for homogeneous and non-homogeneous Poisson processes with excess zeros

We propose a general hurdle methodology to model a response from a homogeneous or a non-homogeneous Poisson process with excess zeros, based on two forests. The first forest in the two parts model is used to estimate the probability of having a zero. The second forest is used to estimate the Poisson parameter(s), using only the observations with at least one event. To build the trees in the second forest, we propose specialized splitting criteria derived from the zero truncated homogeneous and non-homogeneous Poisson likelihood. The particular case of a homogeneous process is investigated in details to stress out the advantages of the proposed method over the existing ones. Simulation studies show that the proposed methods perform well in hurdle (zero-altered) and zero-inflated settings, for both homogeneous and non-homogeneous processes. We illustrate the use of the new method with real data on the demand for medical care by the elderly.

Rate exchange rather than relaxation controls structural recovery

Observing frequency invariant aging dynamics suggests that the homogeneous process of rate exchange rather than heterogeneous relaxation governs structural recovery.

Apollo as a Precedent to the Coinage of Sol Invictus

Summary The purpose of this paper is to produce an approach to Sol through Numismatics. I intend to point out the possible correspondences existing between the god Sol, referred to as Sol Invictus in historiography,1 and Apollo. While the solar facet of Phoebus Apollo is well known, to what extent he exerted an influence over Sol Invictus has yet to be elucidated. Comparing types and chronologies plus describing correspondences between the two gods in an homogeneous process may actually constitute a different approach. Three aspects will be taken into consideration: iconography exchange, the chronological relationship and the propagandistic function of coin legends. The aim is to incorporate the knowledge thus gained into a critical analysis of Sol in the 3rd century.

SWEET-Cat updated

Context. Exoplanets have now been proven to be very common. The number of its detections continues to grow following the development of better instruments and missions. One key step for the understanding of these worlds is their characterization, which mostly depend on their host stars. Aims. We perform a significant update of the Stars With ExoplanETs CATalog (SWEET-Cat), a unique compilation of precise stellar parameters for planet-host stars provided for the exoplanet community. Methods. We made use of high-resolution spectra for planet-host stars, either observed by our team or found in several public archives. The new spectroscopic parameters were derived for the spectra following the same homogeneous process (ARES+MOOG). The host star parameters were then merged together with the planet properties listed in exoplanet.eu to perform simple data analysis. Results. We present new spectroscopic homogeneous parameters for 106 planet-host stars. Sixty-three planet hosts are also reviewed with new parameters. We also show that there is a good agreement between stellar parameters derived for the same star but using spectra obtained from different spectrographs. The planet-metallicity correlation is reviewed showing that the metallicity distribution of stars hosting low-mass planets (below 30 M⊕) is indistinguishable from that from the solar neighborhood sample in terms of metallicity distribution.

Integrating knowledge in the face of epistemic uncertainty: Dialogically drawing distinctions

In this article, we contribute to a processual understanding of knowledge integration in interdisciplinary collaboration by foregrounding the role of dialogue in dealing with epistemic uncertainty. Drawing on an ethnographic study of collaboration among scientists involved in developing a highly novel bioreactor, we suggest that knowledge integration is not a homogeneous process but requires switching between different knowledge integration practices over time. This is particularly notable in the case of ‘epistemic breakdowns’ – deeply unsettling events where hitherto-held understandings of the nature of problems appear unworkable. In such cases, it is not sufficient to deal solely with coordination issues; collaborators need to find ways to address generative knowledge integration processes and to venture, collectively, into the unknown. We demonstrate how this generative quest of knowledge integration is achieved through a dialogical process of drawing and testing new distinctions that allows actors to gradually handle the epistemic uncertainty they face.