Stofftransport durch polymere und anorganische Schichten

Polymeric materials are to be found in an increasing number of applications. In many areas, however, their high permeability for substances such as gases or water vapour creates problems. Traditionally, additional barrier layers are deposited onto the polymeric substrates as a permeation barrier, i.e. as a barrier against the transport of substances. Typically, polymeric layers are deposited from solution in atmospheric pressure, inorganic layers in vacuum processes. Highest barrier properties can be achieved via multi layer systems from inorganic and organic layers. This article describes basic principles of the permeation of substances through layer systems, highlights the differences of the substance transport through polymeric materials and inorganic layers and gives consequences for the production of materials with high and ultra‐high barrier properties, on the basis of polymeric substrates     

Deformable M-Reps for 3D Medical Image Segmentation

M-reps (formerly called DSLs) are a multiscale medial means for modeling and rendering 3D solid geometry. They are particularly well suited to model anatomic objects and in particular to capture prior geometric information effectively in deformable models segmentation approaches. The representation is based on figural models, which define objects at coarse scale by a hierarchy of figures—each figure generally a slab representing a solid region and its boundary simultaneously. This paper focuses on the use of single figure models to segment objects of relatively simple structure.A single figure is a sheet of medial atoms, which is interpolated from the model formed by a net, i.e., a mesh or chain, of medial atoms (hence the name m-reps), each atom modeling a solid region via not only a position and a width but also a local figural frame giving figural directions and an object angle between opposing, corresponding positions on the boundary implied by the m-rep. The special capability of an m-rep is to provide spatial and orientational correspondence between an object in two different states of deformation. This ability is central to effective measurement of both geometric typicality and geometry to image match, the two terms of the objective function optimized in segmentation by deformable models. The other ability of m-reps central to effective segmentation is their ability to support segmentation at multiple levels of scale, with successively finer precision. Objects modeled by single figures are segmented first by a similarity transform augmented by object elongation, then by adjustment of each medial atom, and finally by displacing a dense sampling of the m-rep implied boundary. While these models and approaches also exist in 2D, we focus on 3D objects.The segmentation of the kidney from CT and the hippocampus from MRI serve as the major examples in this paper. The accuracy of segmentation as compared to manual, slice-by-slice segmentation is reported.     

Building Large,Complex, Distributed Safety-Critical Operating Systems

Safety-critical systems typically operate in unpredictable environments. Requirements for safety and reliability are in conflict with those for real-time responsiveness. Due to unpredictable environmental needs there is no static trade-off between measures to accommodate the conflicting objectives. Instead every feature or operating system service has to be adaptive. Finally, for any design problem, there cannot be any closed-form (formal) approach taking care at the same time of (external) time constraints or deadlines, and synchronization requirements in distributed design. The reason is that these two aspects are causally independent. - In this situation we worked out a heuristic experimental, performance-driven and performance-based methodology that allows in an educated way to start with a coarse system model, with accurate logical expectations regarding its behavior. Through experiments these expectations are validated. If they are found to successfully stand the tests extended expectations and model features are generated for refining the previous design as well as its performance criteria. The refinement is done in such a way that the previous experimental configurations are extreme model cases or data profiles which both logically and experimentally are to reproduce the behavior of the previous modeling step. Thus the novel performance aspects or tendencies could then unambiguously be attributed to the influences of the refined model features. We termed this methodology Incremental Experimentation. As a general methodology it relies on a principle of comparative performance studies rather than on realistic data for narrow application ranges. The paper describes how we applied a 5-step design and refinement procedure for developing, analyzing, and evaluating our distributed operating system MELODY that exhibits novel services for supporting real-time and safety-critical applications in unpredictable environments. Experimental set-ups and theme-related findings are discussed in particular.     

Semi‐Solid Processing of Metal Alloys

Semi‐solid metal casting is an innovative technology for the production of near‐net‐shape parts with demanding mechanical properties. The paper describes different processing routes and materials for semi‐solid‐metal casting (SSM), which have been investigated and also partially developed at the Foundry‐Institute of Aachen University. The standard thixocasting process for aluminium, highly reactive magnesium alloys and steel alloys with high melting points was investigated under variation of a wide range of process parameters. Specially adapted pre‐material production and reheating methods were developed for different materials and their application and future potential is pointed out. The thixocasting experiments were executed on a modified high pressure die‐casting machine with a specially designed “step‐die” providing wall thicknesses from 0.5 to 25 mm. The mechanical properties were tested in dependence of the wall thickness and the metal velocity. The results of these examination show high tensile strength values in combination with very good elongations. The rheocasting process is a new SSM‐forming method with liquid melt as feed‐stock and a high recycling potential. The research results of RCP‐technology (Rheo‐Container‐Process) invented at the Foundry‐Institute and of the Cooling‐Channel‐Process for aluminium and magnesium alloys are promising and are presented in this paper. Studies on semi‐solid processing of magnesium alloys and mixtures of them were conducted by Thixomolding^TM. To establish the most adequate process parameters, the temperature and the mixture relations were varied. Using a mould for tensile test specimens, the mechanical properties and the microstructure evolution could be evaluated. The chemical composition of the different phases was determined using SEM and EDX technologies. Evaluations of the flowing properties were conducted using a spiral mould with a total length of 2m and a cross section of 20mm x 1.5mm.     

Orientation Gradients at Boundaries in Micron‐Sized Bicrystals

In micron‐sized Ni bicrystals, after compression tests, orientation gradients are measured by electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD). The results clearly show that EBSD can be used to study dislocation pile‐ups at boundaries. Using bicrystals with single and multiple slip orientations our results show that with decreasing the size of the pillars the orientation changes due to cross‐slip decreases and the orientation changes at the boundary increases. This directly indicates a change in the hardening mechanism when the probability of dislocation–dislocation interaction decreases due to source‐limited plasticity in the bicrystals with diameters below approximately two microns.     

Model-based test case generation and prioritization: a systematic literature review

Software and Systems Modeling - Model-based test case generation (MB-TCG) and prioritization (MB-TCP) utilize models that represent the system under test (SUT) for test generation and...     

Electrospinning and Imaging

Polymer processing via electrospinning is a cost effective and scalable method for preparing nanofibers with industrial, electrical, and biomedical applications, particularly tissue engineering and drug delivery. Characterization methods for these fibers include microscopy techniques for vitro surface morphology information, spectroscopy methods to determine in vitro chemical composition, and medical imaging tools for in vivo assessment of morphology and efficacy of implanted material. The focus of this paper is be on recent applications for electrospun nanofibers, in vitro characterization methods, and medical imaging modalities that can be used for in vivo assessment of the fibers, as well as insights in how to adapt existing techniques toward the characterization of electrospun materials.     

Quantification of 1,8‐cineole and of its metabolites in humans using stable isotope dilution assays

The metabolism of 1,8‐cineole after ingestion of sage tea was studied. After application of the tea, the metabolites 2‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole, 3‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole, 9‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole and, for the first time in humans, 7‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole were identified in plasma and urine of one volunteer. For quantitation of these metabolites and the parent compound, stable isotope dilution assays were developed after synthesis of [²H₃]‐1,8‐cineole, [9/10‐²H₃]‐2‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole and [¹³C,²H₂]‐9‐hydroxy‐1,8‐cineole as internal standards. Using these standards, we quantified 1,8‐cineole by solid phase microextraction GC‐MS and the hydroxyl‐1,8‐cineoles by LC‐MS/MS after deconjugation in blood and urine of the volunteer. After consumption of 1.02 mg 1,8‐cineole (19 μg/kg bw), the hydroxycineoles along with their parent compound were detectable in the blood plasma of the volunteer under study after liberation from their glucuronides with 2‐hydroxycineole being the predominant metabolite at a maximum plasma concentration of 86 nmol/L followed by the 9‐hydroxy isomer at a maximum plasma concentration of 33 nmol/L. The parent compound 1,8‐cineole showed a low maximum plasma concentration of 19 nmol/L. In urine, 2‐hydroxycineole also showed highest contents followed by its 9‐isomer. Summing up the urinary excretion over 10 h, 2‐hydroxycineole, the 9‐isomer, the 3‐isomer and the 7‐isomer accounted for 20.9, 17.2, 10.6 and 3.8% of the cineole dose, respectively.     

A process for the production of a diacylglycerol‐based milk fat analogue

We propose a novel process for the production of a DAG‐rich acylglycerol mixture derived from milk fat. This product has potentially interesting nutritional properties, derived from both its high content of DAG and of short‐chain fatty acids (FAs). The proposed process consists of three steps: lipase‐catalysed partial ethanolysis of milk fat, extraction of the by‐product fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO₂) and isomerization of DAG to increase the proportion of 1,3‐DAG. The experimental investigation of the process steps was done using milk fat and trilaurin. Several lipases were tested for maximizing the percentage of DAG in the acylglycerol mixture produced by ethanolysis. The selectivity of the chosen lipase was such that the produced AG mixture was enriched in short‐chain FAs in relation to the original milk fat. FAEEs were completely extracted from the ethanolysis mixture by SC‐CO₂. In the final process step, we explored the reaction conditions for facilitating acyl migration in the DAG mixture, so that the equilibrium proportion of 1,3‐DAG (～64%) was attained. Our results set the basis for the development of a simple process for the production of a DAG‐rich milk fat analogue.