http://www.hindawi.comThe latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation© 2008, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/2008/938645Thermodynamic functions, including enthalpy (Hθ) and entropy (Sθ) for 76 polychlorophenazines (PCPZs) in the gas state at 298.15 K and 101.325 kPa, have been calculated using the B3LYP/6-31G∗ level with Gaussian 03 program, and considered on solvation affects. Total free energy in water (Gw) was calculated with the same program. Based on these data, the isodesmic reactions were designed to calculate the standard formation heat (ΔfHθ) and standard free energy of formation in water (ΔfGwθ). The dependences of these thermodynamic parameters on the numbers and positions of chlorine substitution (NPCS) were discussed. It is suggested that Sθ,  ΔfHθ, and ΔfGwθ of PCPZs varied greatly with NPCS. Moreover, the values of molar heat capacity at constant pressure (Cp,m) from 200 to 1800 K for PCPZ congeners were calculated using a statistical thermodynamics calculation program based on Gaussian output files, and the temperature-dependence relation of Cp,m was obtained using the least-squares method. In addition, according to the relative magnitude of their ΔfGwθ, the relative stability order of PCPZ congeners was theoretically proposed.Hong-Xia Yu, Hui Liu, Zun-Yao Wang, and Lian-Sheng Wang© 2008, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/2008/603957Plant polyphenol, including vanillin, is often used as the intermediate materials of the medicines and vanilla flavoring. In agriculture generally vanillin is produced from vanilla plant and in industry from lignin of disposed wood pulp. We have recently developed a method for the production of plant polyphenol with the excrement as a natural resource of lignin, of the herbivorous animals, by using the subcritical water. The method for using the subcritical water is superior to that of the supercritical water because in the latter complete decomposition occurs. We have successfully produced the vanillin, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and syringic acid in products. Our method is simpler and more efficient not only because it requires the shorter treatment time but also because it releases less amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.Mayu Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Futamura, Kouki Fujioka, and Kenji Yamamoto© 2008, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/GetArticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/2008/178292Scaling analyses based on subsurface layer instability were performed to explore the role of three independent (surface tension, gravity, and viscosity) influences on the mechanism of pulsating flame spread under normal and microgravity conditions. These three influences form two independent pi-numbers: the Marangoni (Ma) number and Grashof (Gr) number, which include the characteristic length scale ratio (depth of subsurface circulation)/(horizontal length of preheated liquid surface). The Prandtl (Pr) number was introduced to compensate for the different thermal diffusivity and kinematic viscosity of different liquids. Also a nondimensional flame spread rate, V/VD (= Vδ/D, where δ is the quenching distance and D is the diffusivity of fuel vapor) was introduced. Using these nondimensional parameters, the flame spread mechanism was divided into two separate regimes: for the shallow liquid pool the nondimensional flame spread rate was correlated with {Gr0.2/(Ma·Pr)}1.0, while for the deep liquid pool it was correlated with {Gr0.2/(Ma·Pr)}1.5.Kozue Takahashi, Akihiko Ito, Yuji Kudo, Tadashi Konishi, and Kozo Saito© 2008, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.