Grouping PCBs with Minimum Feeder Changes

In printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, the majority of electronic components are inserted by high-speed placement machines. Although the efficient utilization of the machinery is important for a manufacturer, it is hard to fully realize in high-mix low-volume production environments. On the machine level, the component setup strategy adopted by the manufacturer has a significant impact on the overall production efficiency. Usually, the setup strategy is formulated as a part type grouping problem or a minimum setup problem. In this article, we consider a hybridization of these two problems for the single machine case: The object function to be minimized includes a weighted sum of the number of part type groups (giving the number of setup occasions) and the number of feeder changeovers. We present algorithms for the problem and compare their efficiency.     

Practical considerations in the use of polarized light microscopy in the analysis of the collagen network in articular cartilage

Polarized light microscopy is a traditional method for visualizing the collagen network architecture of articular cartilage. Articular cartilage repair and tissue engineering studies have raised new demands for techniques capable of quantitative characterization of the scar and repair tissues, including properties of the collagen network. Modern polarized light microscopy can be used to measure collagen fibril orientation, parallelism, and birefringence. New commercial instruments are computer controlled and the measurements are easy to perform. However, often the interpretation of results causes difficulties, even errors, because the theoretical aspects of the technique are demanding. The aim of this study was to describe the instrumentation and properties of a modern polarized light microscope, to point out some sources of error in the interpretation of the results, and to recall the theoretical background of the polarized light microscopy.     

Improved models for long-term prediction of troposphericscintillation on slant paths

The prediction models for tropospheric scintillation on Earth-satellite paths from Karasawa, Yamada, and Allnutt (1988) and the ITU-R are compared with measurement results from satellite links in Europe, the United States, and Japan at frequencies from 7 to 30 GHz and elevation angles of 3 to 33°. The existing prediction models relate the long-term average scintillation intensity to the wet term of refractivity at ground level. The comparison shows that the seasonal variation of scintillation intensity is well predicted by this relation, but for the annual average some additional meteorological information is needed. A much better agreement with measurement results is found when a parameter representing the average water content of heavy clouds is incorporated. This confirms the assumption that scintillation is, at least partly, associated with turbulence inside clouds. The asymmetry between the distributions of signal fade and enhancement can also be explained by turbulence inside clouds. The asymmetry depends on the intensity of the scintillation, which is consistent with the theory assuming a thin layer of cloudy turbulence. A new model based on this theory predicts the distributions of signal fade and enhancement significantly better     

Status report of the Finnish spent fuel geologic repository programme and ongoing corrosion studies

Posiva Oy is preparing to submit an operating licence application for a spent nuclear fuel geologic repository located at Olkiluoto, Finland. The construction licence for the underground disposal facility and encapsulation plant was granted in 2015 and construction of the disposal facility began in December 2016. Safe disposal is achieved by the KBS-3 concept, developed in collaboration with Posiva's Swedish counterpart, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, (SKB). The KBS-3 concept consists of disposal canisters (a cast iron insert and a copper overpack), surrounded by swelling bentonite and disposed in crystalline bedrock. The copper overpack ensures containment of radioactive materials and its performance against corrosion is a key driver for the design of the engineered barrier system and the repository overall. This paper describes the current status of the Posiva programme, recent learnings from the construction of the repository, and the implications for the long-term performance of the canister.     

Polar lipid fraction from oat (Avena sativa): characterization and use as an o/w emulsifier

Oat seeds have an oil content of up to 13?%, of which up to 34?% can be polar lipids (glycolipids and phospholipids). Because of their amphiphilic structure, these polar lipids are potential emulsifiers. In this study, polar lipid fraction from oat produced by a supercritical fluid extraction process was fractionated into different polar lipid classes by HPLC and the lipid classes in subfractions were identified by comparing retention times with reference compounds and performing co-injections. The oat polar lipid fraction contained monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, digalactosyldiacylglycerol, steryl glycoside, and phosphatidyl choline, and also possibly phosphatidyl inositol. The polar lipid fraction was also used as an emulsifier to produce oil-in-water emulsions with different amounts of emulsifier and oil, and the stability and other properties of emulsions were studied. Emulsions were formed quite easily, but they were prone to rapid creaming even after a couple of days of storage at ambient conditions. Droplet size and droplet size distribution of the emulsions seemed to be slightly smaller with smaller amount of oil and larger amount of emulsifier. Generally, the droplet size of the emulsions was in the range of 0.2?C4???m, and with the largest amount of oil (5?%, w/v) up to 10???m. The upper phase of creamed emulsions contained slightly larger droplets, up to 30???m, while the lower phase retained smaller droplets. Microscopic investigation revealed that the increase in droplet size of the upper phase was mainly due to aggregation, which implies that these emulsions may be stable against coalescence to some extent.     

Cellular interactions of surface modified nanoporous silicon particles

In this study, the self-assembly of hydrophobin class II (HFBII) on the surface of thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon (THCPSi) nanoparticles was investigated. The HFBII-coating converted the hydrophobic particles into more hydrophilic ones, improved the particles' cell viability in both HT-29 and Caco-2 cell lines compared to uncoated particles, and enhanced the particles' cellular association. The amount of HFBII adsorbed onto the particles was also successfully quantified by both the BCA assay and a HPLC method. Importantly, the permeation of a poorly water-soluble drug, indomethacin, loaded into THCPSi particles across Caco-2 monolayers was not affected by the protein coating. In addition, (125)I-radiolabelled HFBII did not extensively permeate the Caco-2 monolayer and was found to be stably adsorbed onto the THCPSi nanoparticles incubated in pH 7.4, which renders the particles the possibility for further track-imaging applications. The results highlight the potential of HFBII coating for improving wettability, increasing biocompatibility and possible intestinal association of PSi nanoparticulates for drug delivery applications.     

Studies on Chemical Modification of Porous Silicon‐Based Graded‐Index Optical Microcavities for Improved Stability Under Alkaline Conditions

Preparation of graded‐index optical microcavities based on porous silicon is demonstrated, and chemical modifications for obtaining improved stability under alkaline conditions are studied. Four surface modification methods for stabilizing the samples are examined, and the effects on the optical properties are verified. Two different thermal carbonization treatments resulting in hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces are employed. In addition, modification with undecylenic acid is performed on as‐prepared and thermally hydrocarbonized porous silicon surfaces. Stability and sensing capabilities of the modified samples are examined by subjecting them to different concentrations of methylamine and trimethylamine vapors. Vapor induced changes in the reflectance spectra are used for evaluating sensitivity and stability. Sensitivity towards ethanol vapor is also measured in order to compare the sensitivity to a normal organic solvent. The results show that the two carbonization treatments and the undecylenic acid functionalization of the hydrocarbonized surface result in greatly improved stability. In contrast, derivatization of as‐prepared porous silicon with undecylenic acid does not protect the surface sufficiently against oxidation under the highly basic conditions produced by the amine vapors. Surface chemistry is also shown to have a large effect on sensitivity towards the examined vapors. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to assess changes in elemental composition of sample surface. The results suggest that thermally promoted addition of undecylenic acid on hydrocarbonized porous silicon is an effective method for producing highly stable optical structures with a carboxyl group functionalization.     

Porous Silicon‐Based Optical Microsensors for Volatile Organic Analytes: Effect of Surface Chemistry on Stability and Specificity

Sensing of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and heptane in air using sub‐millimeter porous silicon‐based sensor elements is demonstrated in the concentration range 50–800 ppm. The sensor elements are prepared as one‐dimensional photonic crystals (rugate filters) by programmed electrochemical etch of p⁺⁺ silicon, and analyte sensing is achieved by measurement of the wavelength shift of the photonic resonance. The sensors are studied as a function of surface chemistry: ozone oxidation, thermal oxidation, hydrosilylation (1‐dodecene), electrochemical methylation, reaction with dicholorodimethylsilane and thermal carbonization with acetylene. The thermally oxidized and the dichlorodimethylsilane‐modified materials show the greatest stability under atmospheric conditions. Optical microsensors are prepared by attachment of the porous Si layer to the distal end of optical fibers. The acetylated porous Si microsensor displays a greater response to heptane than to IPA, whereas the other chemical modifications display a greater response to IPA than to heptane. The thermal oxide sensor displays a strong response to water vapor, while the acetylated material shows a relatively weak response. The results suggest that a combination of optical fiber sensors with different surface chemistries can be used to classify VOC analytes. Application of the miniature sensors to the detection of VOC breakthrough in a full‐scale activated carbon respirator cartridge simulator is demonstrated.     

Bioengineered Porous Silicon Nanoparticles@Macrophages Cell Membrane as Composite Platforms for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Biohybrid nanosystems are at the center of personalized medicine, affording prolonged circulation time and targeting to the disease site, and serving as antigenic sources of vaccines. The optimization and functionality parameters of these nanosystems vary depending on the properties of the core particles. In this work, the effects of the core particles' surface charge and hydrophobicity are evaluated on the nanosystem coating with vesicles derived from plasma membrane. The measured parameters are the dimensions, surface charge, shape, and stability of the biohybrid nanosystems, both in buffer and in biologically relevant media (plasma and simulated synovial fluid). Moreover, the cytocompatibility properties of the developed nanosystems are evaluated in different cell lines mimicking the target cell populations and other districts of the body involved in the distribution and elimination of the nanoparticles. Finally, the immunological profile of the particles is investigated, highlighting the absence of immune activation promoted by the nanoplatforms.