Viscosity reduction of isotonic solutions of the photosensitizer TPCS2a by cyclodextrin complexation

Meso-tetraphenyl chlorin disulphonate (TPCS_2a) is a photosensitizer (PS) particularly developed and patented for use in the technology of photochemical internalization (PCI) against cancer. TPCS_2a is known to aggregate in aqueous media even at low concentrations (≥0.1?µM) and to form a high-viscosity network at clinically relevant concentrations (mM). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of two hydroxypropylated cyclodextrin derivatives of beta and gamma type, respectively i.e. HPβCD and HPγCD, on the aggregation and solubilization of TPCS_2a in isotonic solutions. Samples containing micromolar concentrations of TPCS_2a were studied spectrophotometrically, while samples containing a clinical relevant concentration (10?mM?=?9?mg/ml) of TPCS_2a were evaluated by dynamic viscosity measurements. HPβCD was determined to be a more suitable solubilizer of TPCS_2a than HPγCD in aqueous media both in the absence and presence of salt. The complexation stoichiometry between TPCS_2a/HPβCD at micromolar to millimolar concentrations of TPCS_2a was determined to be 1:3 and 1:2 in the absence and presence of isotonic NaCl, respectively. The network of TPCS_2a (10?mM) was broken down in the presence of 3% w/v (=?20?mM) HPβCD, i.e. a 1:2 molar ratio between TPCS_2a and the cyclodextrin. Formation of the inclusion complex resulted in low viscosity samples both in water and in the presence of isotonic NaCl or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 25?°C and 37?°C.     

Hybrid damper with stroke amplification for damping of offshore wind turbines

The magnitude of tower vibrations of offshore wind turbines is a key design driver for the feasibility of the monopile support structure. A novel control concept for the damping of these tower vibrations is proposed, where viscous‐type hybrid dampers are installed at the bottom of the wind turbine tower. The proposed hybrid damper consists of a passive viscous dashpot placed in series with a load cell and an active actuator. By integrated force feedback control of the actuator motion, the associated displacement amplitude over the viscous damper can be increased compared with the passive viscous case, hereby significantly increasing the feasibility of viscous dampers acting at the bottom of the wind turbine tower. To avoid drift in the actuator displacement, a filtered time integration of the measured force signal is introduced. Numerical examples demonstrate that the filtered time integration control leads to performance similar to that of passive viscous damping and substantial amplification of the damper deformation without actuator drift. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new thickness parameterization for Discrete Material and Thickness Optimization

In this work, a new thickness parameterization which allows for internal ply-drops without intermediate voids is introduced in the Discrete Material and Thickness Optimization (DMTO) method. With the original DMTO formulation, material had to be removed from the top in order to prevent non-physical intermediate voids in the structure. The new thickness formulation relies on a relation between density variables and ply-thicknesses rather than constitutive properties. This new formulation allows internal ply-drops which is essential for composite structures as it is common practice to cover dropped plies as to avoid delaminations. Furthermore, it is demonstrated how the new thickness formulation in some cases improves the convergence characteristics. Finally, it is also shown how solid-shell elements can be utilized within the DMTO method for structural optimization of tapered laminated composite structures.     

Effect of Energy Deposition on High-Voltage Electropulse Drilling Efficiency in Granite

The study shows that in electropulse drilling, an increment in energy deposition into the discharge channel results in the linear increase in the drilling rate that grows with the spacing of electrodes. The energy consumption due to energy deposition undergoes a minimal change, while the size of cuttings is conditioned by the energy deposition and spacing of electrodes.     

Interpreting Housing Allowance: The Norwegian Case

Housing allowances are part of both the housing policy and the general welfare policy. In order to understand fully how the housing allowances affect welfare and well-being, one needs to use multiple approaches. We propose to complement traditional analyses of marginal effects and short-run incentives with long-run perspectives taken from the new social investment literature and elements of self-esteem and fairness taken from the literature on universalism. A neo-liberal approach where analysts limit themselves to studies of marginal effects and short-run incentives both in the housing and in the labour market runs the risk of neglecting important aspects of the effects of housing allowances. Therefore, this may lead to retrenchment. The approach we propose is illustrated through a closer analysis of important elements of the housing allowance system in Norway as it is today, and the development of the system over time.     

A constraint-based variability modeling framework

Constraint-based variability modeling is a flexible, declarative approach to managing solution-space variability. Product variants are defined in a top-down manner by successively restricting the admissible combinations of product artifacts until a specific product variant is determined. In this paper, we illustrate the range of constraint-based variability modeling by discussing two of its extreme flavors: constraint-guarded variability modeling and constraint-driven variability modeling. The former applies model checking to establish the global consistency of product variants which are built by manual specification of variations points, whereas the latter uses synthesis technology to fully automatically generate product variants that satisfy all given constraints. Each flavor is illustrated by means of a concrete case study.     

Actuator line/Navier–Stokes computations for the MEXICO rotor: comparison with detailed measurements

In the European collaborative MEXICO (Model Experiments in Controlled Conditions) project, a series of experiments was carried out on a 4.5 m diameter wind turbine rotor to validate numerical diagnostics tools. Here, some of the measured data are compared with computations of the combined actuator line/Navier–Stokes (AL/NS) model developed at the Technical University of Denmark. The AL/NS model was combined with a large eddy simulation technique and used to compute the flow past the MEXICO rotor in free air and in the DNW German‐Dutch wind tunnel for three commonly defined test cases at wind speeds of 10, 15 and 24 m s ^?1. Two sets of airfoil data were used. Comparisons of blade loadings showed that the AL/NS technique with the modified airfoil data is in better agreement with the measurements than with the original 2D airfoil data. Comparisons of detailed near‐wake velocities showed good agreement with the measurements. Computations including the influence of the geometry of the wind tunnel showed that tunnel effects are not significant and the effect of the geometry of the wind tunnel only results in a speedup of 3% at a thrust coefficient of C_T = 1.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.