Forcing biological sciences into architectural design:On conceptual confusions in the field of biomimetic architecture

Certain confusion may be observed in the field of biomimetic architecture,as it emerges at the crossroad of two disciplinary domains:architectural design and bi...     

Quantitative estimates of gas maldistribution and methods for their localization in absorption columns

In the present work, we carry out evaluation of gas flow maldistribution in different types of gas distributing devices (GDD) and packings by using experimental data for the output velocity profiles for both the absorption pilot column and industrial column. Two GDD construction types—with circular and with local tube gas feed, together with their modifications—are investigated. Two pilot columns—with random packing RSRM 1.5″ and with structured ceramic Honey-comb packing, and one industrial contact economizer with Honey-comb and inclined rings—have been studied. Six types of quantitative estimations of GDD and packings maldistribution are determined by the help of MATHCAD. Then, their sensitivity toward several factors, such as the type of GDD and packing, the initial gas flow velocity, the number and dimension of measuring cells on the column cross-section, the measurement error, and so on, is investigated. It is found that only two of the quantitative maldistribution estimations take into account the formation of maldistribution clusters, which deteriorates the uniform gas distribution. A novel method for quantitative determination of these clusters and also for identification of the zones at column cross-section, in which they appeared, has been developed. It is established that the measurement error and the dimension of measuring cell deeply influence the number, the area, and spatial distribution of these zones on the cross-section, as well as the values of maldistribution estimates.     

Magnetically responsive polypyrrole nanotubes using Ce(III)-stabilized maghemite nanoparticles

Nanocomposites (NCs) that are made magnetically responsive in controlled conditions attract continuing interest for their added magnetic properties. In this study, we report on the preparation and full characterization of a multifunctional NC composed of magnetic γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles (NPs) covalently attached to the surface of polyaminated (polyNH(2)) poly(2,6-di-pyrrol-1-yl-hexanoic acid) (pDPL) nanotubes (NTs). Such a hybrid conducting polymer iron oxide maghemite γ-Fe(2)O(3)@pDPL NC built specifically on covalent bonding has never been reported. The maghemite γ-Fe(2)O(3) NPs were prepared using an innovative ultrasound-assisted Ce(3+) doping process, resulting in polycarboxylation of the NP surface useful for control of aggregation and derivatization of functionality. The second component of the NC, i.e. polyNH(2)-modified pDPL NTs, was prepared from an acid functional pyrrole species followed by amine modification. The resulting innovative γ-Fe(2)O(3)@pDPL NC can be viewed as a multifunctional nanomaterial since it possesses both types of derivatization, i.e. polyCOOH (NPs) and polyNH(2) (NTs) combined with magnetic responsivity.     

Microchemomechanical Systems

The development of microchemomechanical systems (MCMS) as an analogy to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is reviewed, with the distinction that the mechanical actuation of microscale structures is effected by chemical cues as opposed to electricity. The intellectual motivation to pursue MCMS, or the creation of integrated chemical‐stimuli‐responsive devices, is that such structures are widely observed in nature. From a practical standpoint, since chemicals can readily diffuse and produce changes over large distances, this approach is especially attractive in enabling wireless and autonomous devices at small size scales.     

Coprimeness properties of nonlinear fractional system realizations

In this paper, the relationship between the Bezout and the set-theoretic approaches to left coprimeness is studied. It is shown that left coprimeness in the set-theoretic sense implies left coprimeness in the Bezout sense. In addition to these results, we investigate whether some properties for linear left coprime realizations carry over to the nonlinear case, for example we examine the relations between two left coprime realizations of the same system.     

Bisimulations for Temporal Logic

We define bisimulations for temporal logic with Since and Until. This new notion is compared to existing notions of bisimulations, and then used to develop the basic model theory of temporal logic with Since and Until. Our results concern both invariance and definability. We conclude with a brief discussion of the wider applicability of our ideas.     

The cross-classified multilevel measurement model: an explanation and demonstration

The link between the hierarchical generalized linear model (HGLM) and the Rasch model's parameterization has already been demonstrated by several researchers. Extensions have been described that include higher clustering levels to model more appropriately the contextual effects that are frequently encountered in educational research. However, pure hierarchies are relatively rare and instead cross-classified data structures are more frequently encountered. Cross-classified random effect modeling (CCREM) is still not commonly used. Use of CCREM in combination with the multilevel measurement model (MMM) has been recently introduced and is described further in the current study. Specifically, the link between the MMM and the CCREM MMM (termed "CCMMM" model) is provided. A dataset was simulated to demonstrate interpretation of the CCMMM model's parameters and to compare results under a CCMMM versus HGLM analysis. An Appendix is provided to demonstrate SAS GLIMMIX code used to estimate HGLM and CCMMM models' parameters.     

Methods for characterizing plant fibers

The effectiveness of different microscopy techniques for measuring the dimensions of ultimate fibers from harakeke (Phormium tenax, New Zealand flax) was investigated using a factorial experimental design. Constant variables were geographical location, location of specimens along the leaf, season (winter), individual plant, a fourth leaf from a north-facing fan, age of plant, and cultivars (two). Experimental variables were microscopy techniques and measurement axis. Measurements of width and length of harakeke ultimate fibers depended on the microscopic preparation/technique used as well as the cultivar examined. The best methods were (i) transverse sections of leaf specimens 4 microm thick, embedded in Paraplast and observed using light microscopy, and (ii) nonfixed ultimate fibers observed using scanning electron microscopy.