Hydrogen Production via Autothermal Reforming of Diesel Fuel

Hydrogen, for the operation of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, can be produced by means of autothermal reforming of liquid hydrocarbons. Experiments, especially with ATR 4, which produces a molar hydrogen stream equivalent to an electrical power in the fuel cell of 3 kW, showed that the process should be preferably run in the temperature range between 700 ° and 850 °. This ensures complete hydrocarbon conversion and avoids the formation of considerable amounts of methane and organic compounds in the product water. Experiments with commercial diesel showed promising results but insufficient long‐term stability. Experiments concerning the ignition of the catalytic reaction inside the reformer proved that within 60 s after the addition of water and hydrocarbons the reformer reached 95% of its maximum molar hydrogen flow. Measurements, with respect to reformer start‐up, showed that it takes approximately 7 min. to heat up the monolith to a temperature of 340 ° using an external heating device. Modelling is performed, aimed at the modification of the mixing chamber of ATR Type 5, which will help to amend the homogeneous blending of diesel fuel with air and water in the mixing chamber.     

Radiometrisches Verfahren für die maschinelle Holzortierung

Standardization of stress graded boards and planks was first promoted in countries with low production of sawn timber. The Skandinavian producers and importing countries mainly use stress graders based on MOE-determination. For the main timber consumers in the Federal Republic of Germany—first of all gluelam manufacturers-mechanically graded timber has to meet other grading rules according to valid grading and processing standards. The radiometric method for timber grading described in this article can be applied since October 1980 under the supervision of the “Forschungs- und Materialprüfungs-Anstalt Baden Württemberg” in Stuttgart. Supervision is effected together with the gluelam-manufacturer-licence or corresponding to special licences.     

Physico-chemical characterisation and crystallisation of immunoglobulins and their fragments: a contribution to the three dimensional structural determination of antibodies, III. Human immunoglobulin Kol, a myeloma protein of the type IgG, gamma2 kappa2, Gm (f)+. Comparative studies on dissolved and crystalline material (author's transl)

Immunoglobulin Kol has been isolated and characterised as the intact molecule, which consists of an antigen binding part (Fab) and the C-terminal fragment (Fc). Crystals of the protein are suitable for X-ray diffraction resolution of the fine structure, down to atomic dimensions; but this does not permit the representation of the Fc-part of the molecule. The following studies were performed on the protein in solution before and after crystallisation; the results were the same in both cases, thus showing that crystallisation does not alter the molecule: After enzymic cleavage of the protein, the products were isolated and identified by immunological reactions and by analytical ultracentrifugation; the behaviour of the protein in disc electrophoresis following reductive cleavage was also studied.     

Beta 1-adrenoceptor subtype selective antagonism of esmolol and its major metabolite in vitro and in man. Investigations using tricresylphosphate as red blood cell carboxylesterase inhibitor

Esmolol (CAS 103598-03-4, ASL-8052, Brevibloc) is an ultrashort acting beta-adrenoceptor antagonist which is rapidly hydrolyzed by a red blood cell esterase. In order to investigate the affinity profile of esmolol and its acid metabolite at beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in plasma and in whole blood in radioligand binding studies a potent esterase inhibitor was needed to prevent hydrolysis of esmolol and--in contrast to sodium fluoride--without influencing binding of the drugs at the receptor site. Tricresylphosphate was found to be a potent inhibitor of hydrolysis of esmolol which did not affect the parameters of radioligand binding. During an incubation time of 15 min at 25 degrees C in whole blood no significant metabolism of esmolol took place whereas without addition of inhibitor about 20% were inactivated. Thus, for the first time exact determinations of plasma concentrations of esmolol by ligand binding studies could be carried out. In vitro in radioligand binding studies esmolol had a 34 fold higher affinity for beta 1-adrenoceptors than for beta 2-adrenoceptors. Its acid metabolite had a very low and nonselective affinity for both adrenoceptor subtypes: Compared with esmolol it was 400fold less potent at beta 1-adrenoceptors. When plasma concentrations of esmolol and its metabolite after i.v. administration of esmolol to healthy volunteers (3000 micrograms/kg as a bolus and consecutively 500 micrograms/kg/min for 70 min) were determined in parallel by a beta 1-selective radioreceptor assay and an HPLC-method the following conclusions could be drawn from the direct correlation between the respective results: 1. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Home mortgage lenders and earthquake hazards

A survey of major home mortgage lenders and real-property appraisers in California and the Puget Sound region shows a general inattention to earthquake hazards in appraisal and lending policy. This inattention is demonstrated not only in responses to survey questions, but also in a lack of differentiation in lending decisions between properties within and outside surface-fault rupture zones. As posited by organizational theory, however, important variants exist in this overall policy, almost always resulting from the efforts of individuals within large lending organizations.     

A Lightweight Innovation Process for Software-Intensive Product Development

The product development environment facing most companies today requires a long-term perspective featuring the conception and development of long-term innovations. This can be hard when close quarter bottom-line results dominate. Without innovation, competitive advantages decrease over time. This is especially true for companies producing software-intensive systems. Software is becoming a large part of the competitive advantage of traditionally hardware-focused systems such as cars, robots, or power systems, where feature sets traditionally offered and controlled by hardware are transferred to software. As software's impact and influence grows, so do the possibilities for innovation and increasing the competitive advantage through software. Star Search is a lightweight innovation model based on best practices from innovation management literature as well as two industry cases. It employs face-to-face screening and idea refinement using heterogeneous audition teams. Star Search was developed in collaboration with, and subsequently piloted at, two companies. It has helped increase the long-term perspective of product development by increasing the level of new ideas that make it to product planning and development.     

On the Wave Field Due to a Moving Body Performing Oscillations in the Vicinity of the Critical Frequency

A two-dimensional submerged body translating under a free surface with steady velocity U while performing small oscillations with frequency is considered. It has been known for a long time that for a single source the solution becomes unbounded at the critical frequency, which is given by =U/g=1/4 where g is the acceleration of gravity. It was therefore believed that also the motion due to an oscillating body was unbounded at this frequency. It has, however, in the last few years been shown that this motion is bounded for =1/4. In this paper previous results are discussed, and the strong variation of the forces with respect to close to =1/4 is examined. Recently, a mathematical argument was given that the motion at the critical frequency is bounded for bodies with nonzero cross-section area. It is proved that also the motion generated by a thin foil with zero cross-section area is bounded at =1/4.