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Synthetic and natural polymeric esters find applications in transport and construction sectors, where fire safety is an important concern. One polymer that is widely used is poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which almost completely undergoes thermal decomposition into methyl methacrylate (its monomer) CH2=C(CH3) - C(= O) - O - CH3 (MMA) at ~250–300°C. In order to analyze the high-temperature gas-
The parabolic equation is approximated by a set of ordinary differential equations and by finite difference equations. special attention is given to the approximation of the boundary condition. Some identities suitable to check numerical calculations are also derived.
The properties of combined multiplier and penalty function methods are investigated using a second-order expansion and results known for the Riccati equation. It is shown that the lower bound of the values of the penalty constant necessary to obtain a minimum is given by a certain Riccati equation. The convergence rate of a common updating rule for the multipliers is shown to be linear.
Background: The aims of this study were to establish the diagnostic accuracy of the European Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) for dementia in different ethnic populations in Western Europe, to examine its ability to differentiate cognitive impairment profiles for dementia subtypes, and to assess the impact of demographic variables on diagnostic properties. Methods: The study w
Purpose: This paper aims to explore how the ownership transfer from a highly industrialised country to less industrialised countries influences consumers’ brand perceptions. Design/methodology/approach: Three acquisition cases of premium car brands (Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo) are investigated using qualitative data from online brand communities. Findings: When country of ownership (COOW) for br
Performing risk assessments for hierarchical, multi-functional systems, such as a municipality, is an activity that requires input from a multitude of actors. In such systems risk assessments can be performed at many system levels and support different types of decisions. For issues that are constrained to a specific sub-system, such as a municipal department, decisions can be preferably taken at
This paper presents the case study of a newly constructed 1600 m2 kindergarten building in Oslo, Norway. The building has been designed within the framework of the Norwegian Research Council Project LowEx, which aims at engineering solutions to achieve a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of 6–10 for heating, a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 80–100 for cooling, and an 80% reduc
Many reinforced concrete bridges in Europe and around the world are damaged by reinforcement corrosion and the annual maintenance costs are enormous. It is therefore important to develop reliable methods to assess the structural capacity of corroded reinforced concrete structures and avoid unnecessary maintenance costs. Although there are advanced models for determining the load carrying capacity
Background: It is important to quantify a static posture to evaluate the need for and effectiveness of interventions such as physical management, physiotherapy, spinal orthosis or surgical treatment on the alignment of body segments. Motion analysis systems can be used for this purpose, but they are expensive, require a high degree of technical experience and are not easily accessible. A simpler m
Novel carboxymethyl cellulose-chitosan (CMC-Cht) hybrid micro- and macroparticles were successfully prepared in aqueous media either by drop-wise addition or via nozzle-spray methods. The systems were either physically or chemically crosslinked using genipin as the reticulation agent. The macroparticles (ca. 2 mm) formed are found to be essentially of the core-shell type, while the microparticles
The non line-of-sight (NLOS) scenario in urban intersections is critical in terms of traffic safety—a scenario where Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication really can make a difference by enabling communication and detection of vehicles around building corners. A few NLOS V2V channel models exist in the literature but they all have some form of limitation, and therefore further research is need. I
There is an increasing interest in modelling and control of integrated urban wastewater systems (UWS). Nevertheless, given the multiple interactions between the sub-systems–catchment, sewer system, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and receiving water system–the selection of effective control handles for improving receiving water quality is a major challenge. In this paper, a systematic study to i
Combining sustainable consumption with the circular economy concept could help tackle challenges, such as resource scarcity and climate change by reducing resource throughput and increasing cycling of products and materials within the economic system, thereby reducing emissions and virgin material use. To achieve sustainable consumption in a circular economy production and consumption practices ne
Insect migrations are spectacular natural events and resemble a remarkable relocation of biomass between two locations in space. Unlike the well-known migrations of daytime flying butterflies, such as the painted lady (Vanessa cardui) or the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), much less widely known are the migrations of nocturnal moths. These migrations - typically involving billions of moths f
