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Bacterial lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) show strong biological effects at very low concentrations in human beings and many animals when entering the blood stream. These include affecting structure and function of organs and cells, changing metabolic functions, raising body temperature, triggering the coagulation cascade, modifying hemodynamics and causing septic shock. Because of this toxicity, the removal of even minute amounts is essential for safe parenteral administration of drugs and also for septic shock patients' care. The absence of a general method for endotoxin removal from liquid interfaces urgently requires finding new methods and materials to overcome this gap. Nanostructured carbonized plant parts is a promising material that showed good adsorption properties due to its vast pore network and high surface area. The aim of this study was comparative measurement of endotoxin- and blood proteins-related adsorption rate and adsorption capacity for different carboneous materials produced at different temperatures and under different surface modifications. As a main surface modificator, positively cbarged polymer, polyethileneimine (PEl) was used. Activated carbon materials showed good adsorption properties for LPS and some proteins used in the experiments. During the batch experiments, several techniques (dust removal, autoclaving) were used and optimized for improving the material's adsorption behavior. Also, with the results obtained it was possible to differentiate the materials according to their adsorption capacity and kinetic characteristics. Modification of the surface apparently has not affected hemoglobin binding to the adsorbent's surface. Obtained adsorption isotherms can be used as a powerful tool for designing of future column-based setups for blood purification from LPS, which is especially important for septic shock treatment.
The development of new interfaces for (bio-)chemical sensors requires comprehensive analyses and testing. The light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) can be used as a platform to investigate the sensitivity of a newly developed interface towards (bio-)chemical agents. LAPS measurements are spatially resolved by utilisation of focused light beams to define individual measurement spots. In this work, a new digitally modulated LAPS set-up based on an FPGA design will be introduced to increase the number of measurement spots, to shorten the measurement time and to improve the measurement accuracy.
Chemical imaging systems allow the visualisation of the distribution of chemical species on the sensor surface. This work represents a new flexible approach of read out in a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) with the help of a digital light processing (DLP) set-up. The DLP, known well for video projectors, consists of a mirror-array MEMS device which allows fast and flexible generation of light patterns. With the help of these light patterns the sensor surface of the LAPS device can be read out sequentially in a raster like scheme (scanning LAPS). The DLP approach has several advantages compared to conventional scanning LAPS set-ups, e.g., the spot size, the shape and the intensity of the light pointer can be changed easily and no mechanical movement is necessary, which reduces the size of the set-up and increases the stability and speed of measurement.
Objectives
Interest in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 7 T is motivated by the expected increase in spatial and temporal resolution, but the method is technically challenging. We examined the feasibility of cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T.
Methods
A stack of short axes covering the left ventricle was obtained in nine healthy male volunteers. At 1.5 T, steady-state free precession (SSFP) and fast gradient echo (FGRE) cine imaging with 7 mm slice thickness (STH) were used. At 7 T, FGRE with 7 mm and 4 mm STH were applied. End-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction and mass were calculated.
Results
All 7 T examinations provided excellent blood/myocardium contrast for all slice directions. No significant difference was found regarding ejection fraction and cardiac volumes between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE at 7 T, while volumes obtained from FGRE at 1.5 T were underestimated. Cardiac mass derived from FGRE at 1.5 and 7 T was larger than obtained from SSFP at 1.5 T. Agreement of volumes and mass between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE improved for FGRE at 7 T when combined with an STH reduction to 4 mm.
Conclusions
This pilot study demonstrates that cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T using FGRE is feasible and agrees closely with SSFP at 1.5 T.
Quantifying and minimizing uncertainty is vital for simulating technically and economically successful geothermal reservoirs. To this end, we apply a stochastic modelling sequence, a Monte Carlo study, based on (i) creating an ensemble of possible realizations of a reservoir model, (ii) forward simulation of fluid flow and heat transport, and (iii) constraining post-processing using observed state variables. To generate the ensemble, we use the stochastic algorithm of Sequential Gaussian Simulation and test its potential fitting rock properties, such as thermal conductivity and permeability, of a synthetic reference model and—performing a corresponding forward simulation—state variables such as temperature. The ensemble yields probability distributions of rock properties and state variables at any location inside the reservoir. In addition, we perform a constraining post-processing in order to minimize the uncertainty of the obtained distributions by conditioning the ensemble to observed state variables, in this case temperature. This constraining post-processing works particularly well on systems dominated by fluid flow. The stochastic modelling sequence is applied to a large, steady-state 3-D heat flow model of a reservoir in The Hague, Netherlands. The spatial thermal conductivity distribution is simulated stochastically based on available logging data. Errors of bottom-hole temperatures provide thresholds for the constraining technique performed afterwards. This reduce the temperature uncertainty for the proposed target location significantly from 25 to 12 K (full distribution width) in a depth of 2300 m. Assuming a Gaussian shape of the temperature distribution, the standard deviation is 1.8 K. To allow a more comprehensive approach to quantify uncertainty, we also implement the stochastic simulation of boundary conditions and demonstrate this for the basal specific heat flow in the reservoir of The Hague. As expected, this results in a larger distribution width and hence, a larger, but more realistic uncertainty estimate. However, applying the constraining post-processing the uncertainty is again reduced to the level of the post-processing without stochastic boundary simulation. Thus, constraining post-processing is a suitable tool for reducing uncertainty estimates by observed state variables.
The determination of spacing, edge and end distance requirements for self-tapping screws requires numerous and comprehensive insertion tests. Yet the results of such tests cannot be transferred to other types of screws or even to screws of different diameter because of differences in shape or geometry. To reduce the effort of insertion tests a new method was developed which allows the estimation of required spacings, distances and timber thickness.
Simultaneous detection of cyanide and heavy metals for environmental analysis by means of µISEs
(2010)
In environmental analysis, cyanide and heavy metals play an important role, because these substances are highly toxic for biological systems. They can lead to chronic and acute diseases. Due to the chemical properties of cyanide it is frequently used for industrial processes such as extraction of silver and gold. Heavy metals can be found as trace elements in nature and are often applied in industries e.g., galvanization processes. Up to now, cyanide and heavy metals can be detected by several sensors separately and their detection is often limited to laboratory investigations. In this publication, with regard to an in situ analysis, a new miniaturized silicon-based sensor system for the simultaneous detection of cyanide and heavy metals in aqueous solutions is presented that is based on chalcogenide glass-based micro ion-selective electrodes (µISEs). The µISEs are incorporated into a specially designed measuring system for the simultaneous detection of heavy metals and cyanide in solutions and validated by simultaneous measurements of Cu2+- and CN−-ions, Cd2+- and CN−- ions and Pb2+- and CN−-ions. The particular sensor system has shown good sensor properties in the µ-molar ion-concentration range. For simultaneous measurements in complex heavy metal and cyanide solutions an intelligent software using fuzzy logic is discussed.
Shakedown analysis of two dimensional structures by an edge-based smoothed finite element method
(2010)
Paracoccus denitrificans for the effluent recycling during continuous denitrification of liquid food
(2010)
Nitrate is an undesirable component of several foods. A typical case of contamination with high nitrate contents is whey concentrate, containing nitrate in concentrations up to 25 l. The microbiological removal of nitrate by Paracoccus denitrificans under formation of harmless nitrogen in combination with a cell retention reactor is described here. Focus lies on the resource-conserving design of a microbal denitrification process. Two methods are compared. The application of polyvinyl alcohol-immobilized cells, which can be applied several times in whey feed, is compared with the implementation of a two step denitrification system. First, the whey concentrate's nitrate is removed by ion exchange and subsequently the eluent regenerated by microorganisms under their retention by crossflow filtration. Nitrite and nitrate concentrations were determined by reflectometric color measurement with a commercially available Reflectoquant® device. Correction factors for these media had to be determined. During the pilot development, bioreactors from 4 to 250 mg·L-1 and crossflow units with membrane areas from 0.02 to 0.80 m2 were examined. Based on the results of the pilot plants, a scaling for the exemplary process of denitrifying 1,000 tons per day is discussed.
Biomechanics studies biological soft tissue materials (growth, remodeling) in vivo. For this objective, the detailed information of material properties must be well defined to construct reliable constitutive models. In the paper, the bulge test is carried out with elastomers in order to develop a test method. Then, application of the test for soft tissue materials is straightforward due to the similarities between elastomers with soft tissue materials as proved in Holzapfel 2005, Ogden 2009. It means, after the preliminary experiments and parameter identification with rubber materials has been setup, experiments on soft tissue materials can be similarly carried out. Elastomers have a complex behavior which strongly depends on the largest previous load cycle. For simplicity we consider only the first loading.
The optical study carried out on insulating polymers namely polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) has been described. The polymers are exposed to different radiation doses by exposing them to swift heavy ions of carbon (90 MeV), silicon (120 MeV) and nickel (100 MeV) which influence on their optical properties. The studies show that amongst the investigated polymers, PVC and PET have potential for application as dosimeter beyond a threshold dose which is strongly dependent on the nature of the material and the radiation type. The optical micrographs show a distinct change in colour of the sample with increase in radiation dose.
Chalcogenide glass materials as membranes for potentiometric sensors for chemical analysis in solutions have been studied since more than 20 years. In this work, an electrolyte–insulator–semiconductor structure was combined with chalcogenide glass membranes prepared by means of the pulsed laser deposition technique. Depending on the membrane composition a selectivity to different ions (Cd2+ and Pb2+) is achieved. The different sensor membranes have been physically characterised using microscopy, ellipsometry, profilometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). The electrochemical behaviour has been investigated via capacitance/voltage (C/V) and constant capacitance (ConCap) measurements and results in a Cd2+ sensitivity of 23.1 ± 0.6 mV per decade in a linear range from 7 × 10−6 to 10−2 mol/l and 24.4 ± 0.5 mV per decade in a linear range from 5 × 10−6 to 10−2 mol/l for Pb2+, respectively.
The control of molecular architecture provided by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique has led to enhanced biosensors, in which advantageous features of distinct materials can be combined. Full optimization of biosensing performance, however, is only reached if the film morphology is suitable for the principle of detection of a specific biosensor. In this paper, we report a detailed morphology analysis of LbL films made with alternating layers of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, which were then covered with a layer of penicillinase (PEN). An optimized performance to detect penicillin G was obtained with 6-bilayer SWNT/PAMAM LbL films deposited on p-Si-SiO2-Ta2O5 chips, used in biosensors based on a capacitive electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) and a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) structure, respectively. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images indicated that the LbL films were porous, with a large surface area due to interconnection of SWNT into PAMAM layers. This morphology was instrumental for the adsorption of a larger quantity of PEN, with the resulting LbL film being highly stable. The experiments to detect penicillin were performed with constant-capacitance (ConCap) and constant-current (CC) measurements for EIS and LAPS sensors, respectively, which revealed an enhanced detection signal and sensitivity of ca. 100 mV/decade for the field-effect sensors modified with the PAMAM/SWNT LbL film. It is concluded that controlling film morphology is essential for an enhanced performance of biosensors, not only in terms of sensitivity but also stability and response time.
The integration of nanostructured films containing biomolecules and silicon-based technologies is a promising direction for reaching miniaturized biosensors that exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity. A challenge, however, is to avoid cross talk among sensing units in an array with multiple sensors located on a small area. In this letter, we describe an array of 16 sensing units of a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS), which was made with layer-by-layer (LbL) films of a poly(amidomine) dendrimer (PAMAM) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), coated with a layer of the enzyme penicillinase. A visual inspection of the data from constant-current measurements with liquid samples containing distinct concentrations of penicillin, glucose, or a buffer indicated a possible cross talk between units that contained penicillinase and those that did not. With the use of multidimensional data projection techniques, normally employed in information visualization methods, we managed to distinguish the results from the modified LAPS, even in cases where the units were adjacent to each other. Furthermore, the plots generated with the interactive document map (IDMAP) projection technique enabled the distinction of the different concentrations of penicillin, from 5 mmol L−1 down to 0.5 mmol L−1. Data visualization also confirmed the enhanced performance of the sensing units containing carbon nanotubes, consistent with the analysis of results for LAPS sensors. The use of visual analytics, as with projection methods, may be essential to handle a large amount of data generated in multiple sensor arrays to achieve high performance in miniaturized systems
Gas sensor investigation based on a catalytically activated thin-film thermopile for H2O2 detection
(2010)
In aseptic filling systems, hydrogen peroxide vapour is commonly used for the reduction of microbial contaminations in carton packages. In this process, the germicidal efficiency of the vapour depends especially on the H₂O₂ concentration. To monitor the H₂O₂ concentration, a calorimetric H₂O₂ gas sensor based on a catalytically activated thin-film thermopile is investigated. Two different sensor layouts, namely a circular and a linear form, as well as two various material pairs such as tungsten/nickel and gold/nickel, have been examined for the realization of a thin-film thermopile. Additionally, manganese oxide and palladium particles have been compared as responsive catalysts towards H₂O₂. The thin-film sensors have been investigated at various H₂O₂ concentrations, gas temperatures and flow rates.
The mission of the COMPASS-1 picosatellite is to take pictures of the earth, to validate a space-borne GPS receiver developed by the German Aerospace Center, and to verify the proper operation of the magnetic attitude control system in orbit. The spacecraft was launched on April 28, 2008 from the Indian space port Sriharikota, as part of the PSLV-C9 world record launch that simultaneously brought ten satellites into orbit. The mission operations were carried out from the ground stations in Aachen and Tainan. Arising difficulties in the communication link were overcome with the support of individuals from the amateur radio community. After several months of mission operation, abundant housekeeping and mission data has been commanded, received and analyzed and is presented in this paper.
In steps of the production chain of carbide inserts, such as unloading or packaging, the conformity test of the insert type is done manually, which causes a statistic increase of errors due to monotony and fatigue of the worker and the wide variety of the insert types. A machine vision system is introduced that captures digital frames of the inserts in the production line, analyses inspects automatically and measures four quality features: coating colour, edge radius, plate shape and chip-former geometry. This new method has been tested on several inserts of different types and has shown that the prevalent insert types can be inspected and robustly classified in real production environment and therefore improves the manufacturing automation.
Short term effects of magnetic resonance imaging on excitability of the motor cortex at 1.5T and 7T
(2010)
Rationale and Objectives
The increasing spread of high-field and ultra-high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners has encouraged new discussion of the safety aspects of MRI. Few studies have been published on possible cognitive effects of MRI examinations. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes are measurable after MRI examinations at 1.5 and 7 T by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Materials and Methods
TMS was performed in 12 healthy, right-handed male volunteers. First the individual motor threshold was specified, and then the cortical silent period (SP) was measured. Subsequently, the volunteers were exposed to the 1.5-T MRI scanner for 63 minutes using standard sequences. The MRI examination was immediately followed by another TMS session. Fifteen minutes later, TMS was repeated. Four weeks later, the complete setting was repeated using a 7-T scanner. Control conditions included lying in the 1.5-T scanner for 63 minutes without scanning and lying in a separate room for 63 minutes. TMS was performed in the same way in each case. For statistical analysis, Wilcoxon's rank test was performed.
Results
Immediately after MRI exposure, the SP was highly significantly prolonged in all 12 subjects at 1.5 and 7 T. The motor threshold was significantly increased. Fifteen minutes after the examination, the measured value tended toward normal again. Control conditions revealed no significant differences.
Conclusion
MRI examinations lead to a transient and highly significant alteration in cortical excitability. This effect does not seem to depend on the strength of the static magnetic field.
Purpose
To assess potential cognitive deficits under the influence of static magnetic fields at various field strengths some studies already exist. These studies were not focused on attention as the most vulnerable cognitive function. Additionally, mostly no magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences were performed.
Materials and Methods
In all, 25 right-handed men were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent one MRI examination of 63 minutes at 1.5 T and one at 7 T within an interval of 10 to 30 days. The order of the examinations was randomized. Subjects were referred to six standardized neuropsychological tests strictly focused on attention immediately before and after each MRI examination. Differences in neuropsychological variables between the timepoints before and after each MRI examination were assessed and P-values were calculated
Results
Only six subtests revealed significant differences between pre- and post-MRI. In these tests the subjects achieved better results in post-MRI testing than in pre-MRI testing (P = 0.013–0.032). The other tests revealed no significant results.
Conclusion
The improvement in post-MRI testing is only explicable as a result of learning effects. MRI examinations, even in ultrahigh-field scanners, do not seem to have any persisting influence on the attention networks of human cognition immediately after exposure.
Dexamethasone (DEX) is a potent and widely used anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant glucocorticoid. It can bind and activate the pregnane X receptor (PXR), which plays a critical role as xenobiotic sensor in mammals to induce the expression of many enzymes, including cytochromes P450 in the CYP3A family. This induction results in its own metabolism. We have used a series of transgenic mouse lines, including a novel, improved humanized PXR line, to compare the induction profile of PXR-regulated drug-metabolizing enzymes after DEX administration, as well as looking at hepatic responses to rifampicin (RIF). The new humanized PXR model has uncovered further intriguing differences between the human and mouse receptors in that RIF only induced Cyp2b10 in the new humanized model. DEX was found to be a much more potent inducer of Cyp3a proteins in wild-type mice than in mice humanized for PXR. To assess whether PXR is involved in the detoxification of DEX in the liver, we analyzed the consequences of high doses of the glucocorticoid on hepatotoxicity on different PXR genetic backgrounds. We also studied these effects in an additional mouse model in which functional mouse Cyp3a genes have been deleted. These strains exhibited different sensitivities to DEX, indicating a protective role of the PXR and CYP3A proteins against the hepatotoxicity of this compound.
Mouse nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens phenobarbital (PB) and chlordane induce hepatomegaly characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Increased cell proliferation is implicated in the mechanism of tumor induction. The relevance of these tumors to human health is unclear. The xenoreceptors, constitutive androstane receptors (CARs), and pregnane X receptor (PXR) play key roles in these processes. Novel “humanized” and knockout models for both receptors were developed to investigate potential species differences in hepatomegaly. The effects of PB (80 mg/kg/4 days) and chlordane (10 mg/kg/4 days) were investigated in double humanized PXR and CAR (huPXR/huCAR), double knockout PXR and CAR (PXRKO/CARKO), and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J mice. In WT mice, both compounds caused increased liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, and cell proliferation. Both compounds caused alterations to a number of cell cycle genes consistent with induction of cell proliferation in WT mice. However, these gene expression changes did not occur in PXRKO/CARKO or huPXR/huCAR mice. Liver hypertrophy without hyperplasia was demonstrated in the huPXR/huCAR animals in response to both compounds. Induction of the CAR and PXR target genes, Cyp2b10 and Cyp3a11, was observed in both WT and huPXR/huCAR mouse lines following treatment with PB or chlordane. In the PXRKO/CARKO mice, neither liver growth nor induction of Cyp2b10 and Cyp3a11 was seen following PB or chlordane treatment, indicating that these effects are CAR/PXR dependent. These data suggest that the human receptors are able to support the chemically induced hypertrophic responses but not the hyperplastic (cell proliferation) responses. At this time, we cannot be certain that hCAR and hPXR when expressed in the mouse can function exactly as the genes do when they are expressed in human cells. However, all parameters investigated to date suggest that much of their functionality is maintained.
Increasing Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) mortality has been recently observed in the dry inner valleys of the European Alps. Besides drought, infection with pine mistletoe (Viscum album ssp. austriacum) seems to play an important role in the mortality dynamics of Scots pines, but how mistletoes promote pine decline remains unclear. To verify whether pine mistletoe infection weakens the host via crown degradation, as observed for dwarf mistletoes, we studied the negative effects of pine mistletoe infestation on the photosynthetic tissues and branch growth of pairs of infested and non-infested branches. Pine mistletoe infection leads to crown degradation in its host by reducing the length, the radial increment, the ramification, the needle length and the number of needle years of the infested branches. This massive loss in photosynthetic tissue results in a reduction in primary production and a subsequent decrease in carbohydrate availability. The significant reduction in needle length due to mistletoe infection is an indication for a lower water and nutrient availability in infested branches. Thus, mistletoe infection might lead to a decrease in the availability of water and carbohydrates, the two most important growth factors, which are already shortened due to the chronic drought situation in the area. Therefore, pine mistletoe increases the risk of drought-induced mortality of its host when growing in a xeric environment.
Self metathesis of oleochemicals offers a variety of bifunctional compounds, that can be used as monomer for polymer production. Many precursors are in huge scales available, like oleic acid ester (biodiesel), oleyl alcohol (tensides), oleyl amines (tensides, lubricants). We show several ways to produce and separate and purify C18-α,ω-bifunctional compounds, using Grubbs 2nd Generation catalysts, starting from technical grade educts.
C-terminal truncation of a metagenome-derived detergent protease for effective expression in E. coli
(2010)
Recently, a new alkaline protease named HP70 showing highest homology to extracellular serine proteases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Xanthomonas campestris was found in the course of a metagenome screening for detergent proteases (Niehaus et al., submitted for publication). Attempts to efficiently express the enzyme in common expression hosts had failed. This study reports on the realization of overexpression in Escherichia coli after structural modification of HP70. Modelling of HP70 resulted in a two-domain structure, comprising the catalytic domain and a C-terminal domain which includes about 100 amino acids. On the basis of the modelled structure the enzyme was truncated by deletion of most of the C-terminal domain yielding HP70-C477.
This structural modification allowed effective expression of active enzyme using E. coli BL21-Gold as the host. Specific activity of HP70-C477 determined with suc-l-Ala-l-Ala-l-Pro-l-Phe-p-nitroanilide as the substrate was 30 ± 5 U/mg compared to 8 ± 1 U/mg of the native enzyme. HP70-C477 was most active at 40 °C and pH 7–11; these conditions are prerequisite for a potential application as detergent enzyme. Determination of kinetic parameters at 40 °C and pH = 9.5 resulted in KM = 0.23 ± 0.01 mM and kcat = 167.5 ± 3.6 s⁻¹. MS-analysis of peptide fragments obtained from incubation of HP70 and HP70-C477 with insulin B indicated that the C-terminal domain influences the cleavage preferences of the enzyme. Washing experiments confirmed the high potential of HP70-C477 as detergent protease.
We propose a formalism for reasoning about actions based on multi-modal logic which allows for expressing observations as first-class objects. We introduce a new modal operator, namely [o |α], which allows us to capture the notion of perceiving an observation given that an action has taken place. Formulae of the type [o |α]ϕ mean ’after perceiving observation o, given α was performed, necessarily ϕ’. In this paper, we focus on the challenges concerning sensing with explicit observations, and acting with nondeterministic effects. We present the syntax and semantics, and a correct and decidable tableau calculus for the logic
Bead-on-plate butt joints of 2.5 mm hot rolled DP600/DP600 and 1.2 mm cold rolled TRIP700/TRIP700 steel sheets were performed using 6 kW CO2 laser beam welding. The welding speed ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 and from 2.1 to 3.9 m/min in DP/DP and TRIP/TRIP steel weldments respectively. A top surface helium gas was used as a shielding gas at a flow rate of 20 l/min. Metallographic examinations and transverse tensile testing (DIN EN 895: 1995) were carried out to characterize the weldments. The formability of base metals and weldments were investigated by standard Erichsen test (DIN EN ISO 20482). It was found that the uniaxial plastic behavior of both DP600 and TRIP700 base metals was in agreement with Swift and modified Mecking–Kocks models respectively. In a perpendicular tensile test to the weld line, all specimens were fractured at the base metal however the strengths were somewhat higher than those of base metal. There was a significant reduction in formability caused by welding of both DP/DP and TRIP/TRIP steel weldments and the formability has been improved with the increase of the welding speed.
Shielding gas influences on laser weldability of tailored blanks of advanced automotive steels
(2010)
The effects of shielding gas types and flow rates on CO2 laser weldability of DP600/TRIP700 steel sheets were studied in this work. The evaluated shielding gases were helium (He), argon (Ar) and different mixtures of He and Ar. Weld penetration, tensile strength and formability (Erichsen test) of laser welds were found to be strongly dependent upon the shielding gas types. The ability of shielding gas in removing plasma plume and thus increasing weld penetration is believed to be closely related to ionization potential and atomic weight which determine the period of plasma formation and disappearance. It was found that the higher helium shielding gas flow rate, the deeper weld penetration and the lower weld width.
A handheld sensor system for the online measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in aseptic sterilisation processes has been developed. It is based on a calorimetric-type gas sensor that consists of a differential set-up of two temperature sensors, of which one is catalytically activated and the second one is passivated and used as reference. The sensor principle relies in detecting a rise in temperature on the active sensor due to the exothermic reaction of H2O2 on the catalytic surface. To characterise the sensor system towards H2O2 sensitivity and other influencing factors, measurements have been carried out both at an experimental set-up and a manufacturer's sterilisation machine. Physical sensor characterisation was done by means of the optical microscopy.
With the final objective of optimizing the "Micromix" hydrogen combustion principle, a round jet in a laminar cross-flow prior to its combustion is investigated experimentally using Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry. Measurements are performed at a jet to cross-stream momentum ratio of 1 and a Reynolds number, based on the jet diameter and jet velocity, of 1600. The suitability to combine side, top and end views is analyzed statistically. The statistical theory of testing hypotheses, pertaining to the joint distribution of the averaged velocity along intersecting observation planes, is employed. Overall, the averaged velocity fields of the varying observation planes feature homogeneity at a 0.05 significance level. Minor discrepancies are related to the given experimental conditions. By use of image maps, averaged and instantaneous velocity fields, an attempt is made to elucidate the flow physics and a kinematically consistent vortex model is proposed. In the time-averaged flow field, the principal vortical systems were identified and the associated mixing visualized. The jet trajectory and physical dimensions scale with the momentum ratio times the jet diameter. The jet/cross-flow mixture converging upon the span-wise centre-line, the lifting action of the Counter Rotating Vortex Pair and the reversed flow region contribute to the high entrainment and mixedness. It is shown that the jet width is larger on the downstream side as compared to the upstream side of the centre-streamline. The deepest penetration of the particles on the outer boundary occurs in the centre-plane. Meanwhile, with increasing off-centre position, the boundaries all lay further from the centre-line position than does the boundary in the centre-plane, corresponding to a kidney-like shape of the flow cross-section. The generation of the Counter Rotating Vortex Pair and the instability mechanism is documented by instantaneous image maps and vector fields. The necessary circulation for the Counter Rotating Vortex Pair originates from a combined effect of steady in-hole, hanging and wake vortices. The strong cross-flow and jet interaction induces a three-dimensional waving, the stream-wise Counter Rotating Vortex Pair pair, leading to the formation of Ring Like Vortices. A secondary Counter Rotating Vortex Pair forms on top of the primary Counter Rotating Vortex Pair, resulting in mixing by "puffs". Overall, Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry proofed capable of elucidating the Jet in Cross-Flow complex flow field. The gained insight in the mixing process will definitely contribute to the "Micromix" hydrogen combustion optimization.
Patients after coarctation repair still have an increased risk of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. This has been explained by the persisting hypertension and alterations in the peripheral vessels. However, involvement of the central vessels such as the retinal arteries is virtually unknown. A total of 34 patients after coarctation repair (22 men and 12 women; 23 to 58 years old, age range 0 to 32 years at surgical repair) and 34 nonhypertensive controls underwent structural and functional retinal vessel analysis. Using structural analysis, the vessel diameters were measured. Using functional analysis, the endothelium-dependent vessel dilation in response to flicker light stimulation was assessed. In the patients after coarctation repair, the retinal arteriolar diameter was significantly reduced compared to that of the controls (median 182 μm, first to third quartile 171 to 197; vs 197 μm, first to third quartile 193 to 206; p <0.001). These findings were independent of the peripheral blood pressure and age at intervention. No differences were found for venules. The functional analysis findings were not different between the patients and controls (maximum dilation 3.5%, first to third quartile 2.1% to 4.5% vs 3.6%, first to third quartile 2.2% to 4.3%; p = 0.81), indicating preserved autoregulative mechanisms. In conclusion, the retinal artery diameter is reduced in patients after coarctation repair, independent of their current blood pressure level and age at intervention. As a structural marker of chronic vessel damage associated with past, current, or future hypertension, retinal arteriolar narrowing has been linked to stroke incidence. These results indicate an involvement of cerebral microcirculation in aortic coarctation, despite timely repair, and might contribute to explain the increased rate of cerebrovascular events in such patients.
Numerical solution of the heat equation with non-linear, time derivative-dependent source term
(2010)
The mathematical modeling of heat conduction with adsorption effects in coated metal structures yields the heat equation with piecewise smooth coefficients and a new kind of source term. This term is special, because it is non-linear and furthermore depends on a time derivative. In our approach we reformulated this as a new problem for the usual heat equation, without source term but with a new non-linear coefficient. We gave an existence and uniqueness proof for the weak solution of the reformulated problem. To obtain a numerical solution, we developed a semi-implicit and a fully implicit finite volume method. We compared these two methods theoretically as well as numerically. Finally, as practical application, we simulated the heat conduction in coated aluminum fibers with adsorption in the zeolite coating. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.