Temperature and frequency‐dependent creep and recovery studies on PVDF‐HFP/organo‐modified layered double hydroxides nanocomposites

A series of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) loaded with various contents of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanoparticles were prepared via a melt mixing method. Detailed investigations on LDH dispersion state in the polymeric matrix conducted by TEM revealed intercalated/exfoliated, and agglomerated structures at low (1 wt %) and high (>3 wt %) loadings of LDH contents, respectively. Wide angle X‐ray scattering and DSC results showed that incorporation of LDH into PVDF‐HFP matrix reduced its overall crystallinity and helped to form polar crystallites, while the crystal size at 020 crystallographic directions was found to be most affected by presence and dispersion state of LDH in the matrix. TGA results showed LDH improved thermal stability of matrix however, unlike many other nanomaterials it significantly reduced the residual mass which highlights catalytic role of LDH in degradation of residual carbon char. Detailed analysis on creep and recovery data over wide range of selected temperatures revealed that the creep compliance of nanocomposites are basically controlled by crystallinity and presence of LDH at low and high temperatures, respectively. Based on obtained storage modulus and creep compliance master curves it was also found that the influence of LDH on decreasing the creep compliance and improving viscoelastic properties of PVDF‐HFP over long time period and over high frequency ranges becomes more pronounced. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46352.     

Reconstitution of the dynamics of an urban building stock

What are the patterns and influences on the lifespan of the building stock? This paper presents (1) the reconstitution of an urban building stock composed of more than 60 000 buildings, (2) the analysis of the development of this stock over a period of 180 years (constructions and demolitions), and (3) the analysis of building mortality patterns and reasons for demolition resulting from historic decisions and regimes. A method to reconstitute the stock from different data sources is presented. The mortality models take into account not only the present demolition rates and the age distribution of the ‘survivors' but also the disappeared buildings. The main results are new insights into the lifespan behaviour of buildings according to their period of construction (cohorts) as well as the reasons for demolition. The demolitions do not show specific explanation patterns, but changing influences of the construction activities over time. The average demolition age of all buildings in Zurich, Switzerland, decreased from over 200 years to fewer than 70 years. A total of 18 000 buildings have been demolished over the 180-year period. The presented methods and results can be integrated in multidimensional geographical information systems (GIS) as comprehensive planning, scenario and regulatory tools.     

Interaction of Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys and RGD Peptides for Mechanical Coupling to Cells: from Ab Initio Calculations to Cell Studies

Due to their magneto‐mechanical coupling and biocompatibility, Fe‐Pd based ferromagnetic shape memory alloys are a highly promising materials class for application as contact‐less magneto‐mechanical transducers in biomedical environments. For use in cell and tissue actuators or strain sensors, sufficient adhesion to mediate strains clearly constitutes a prerequisite. As the RGD sequence is the most important binding motif for mammalian cells, which they express to facilitate adhesion, the potential of RGD coatings to achieve this goal is explored. Employing large‐scale density functional theory calculations the physics of bonding between RGD and Fe‐Pd surfaces, which is characterized by coordinate bonds of O and N atoms to Fe, accompanied by electrostatic contributions, is clarified. Theoretical predictions on adhesion, that are confirmed experimentally, suggest RGD as suitable strain mediator to Fe‐Pd surfaces. On the cell side, favorable adhesion properties of RGD‐coated Fe‐Pd are manifested in cell morphology and spreading behavior. Demonstrating that the adhesion forces between RGD and Fe‐Pd exceed those exerted by cells to the RGD coating, as well as traction forces acting onto integrin bonds, the findings pave the way for novel type of applications as cell and tissue actuator or sensor within the areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.     

Experimental and modeling approach to study sorption of dissolved hydrophobic organic contaminants to microbial biofilms

A biofilm reactor was developed to investigate the sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) as model compounds for hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOC) to intact microbial biofilms at environmentally realistic concentrations. When operated as a differential column batch reactor, the system can be used to study the thermodynamics as well as the kinetics of the exchange of HOC between an aqueous phase and microbial biofilms. Organic carbon normalized partition coefficients (K(oc)) for phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were at the lower end of those known for other organic sorbents. Intra-biofilm diffusion coefficients (D) were calculated from decrease in solute concentration over time using a model for diffusion through a plane sheet and ranged from 0.23 to 0.45x10(-9)cm(2)s(-1) for the three PAH. These diffusion coefficients are about four orders of magnitude lower than those reported in literature for free aqueous solution. These data and the experimental approach presented here are useful to assess the importance of microbial biofilms for exchange processes of HOC in heterogeneous systems such as water distribution systems, membranes and aquifers, sewer systems or surface soils.     

Development of neuronal and sensorimotor systems in the absence of gravity: Neurobiological research on four soyuz taxi flights to the international space station

Neurobiological experiments on 4 animal species (Xenopus laevis, Pleurodeles waltl, Drosophila melanogaster, Acheta domesticus) were performed to study effects of microgravity on development and aging of neuronal, sensory and motor systems. Animal models were selected according to their suitability to answer questions concerning μg-effects on neuroanatomy, neuronal activity, and behaviour. The studies were performed on the Soyuz Taxi flights Andromède, Cervantes, Eneide and LDM-TMA8/TMA7. Observations from these flights include: (1) In tadpoles and cricket larvae, morphological features of sensory cells and neurons are rarely affected by microgravity. (2) In crickets, in-flight fertilization was successful; after landing, flight larvae hatched earlier than ground reared siblings. (3) In crickets, proliferation of peptidergic neurons and their projection patterns within the nervous system were not affected by microgravity. (4) During aging, the impact of microgravity on peptidergic neurons of male Drosophila was limited to the size of cell body. (5) In Xenopus, neurophysiological features of the spinal motor system during fictive swimming were partially modified. (6) In Xenopus tadpoles, the vestibuloocular reflex was affected in an age-related manner. Modifications were also related to the occurrence of a tail lordosis induced by microgravity. It is concluded that adaptation to microgravity during development and aging is mainly based on physiological mechanisms within the central nervous system while structural modifications of the sensory and neuronal system contribute less.     

Efficacy of isoflavones in relieving vasomotor menopausal symptoms – A systematic review

This review assessed the efficacy of isoflavone supplements to reduce vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women by reviewing all published randomized controlled trials. Systematic literature searches were carried out in 70 databases. Randomized and placebo controlled studies were included if they investigated the treatment of isoflavone supplements derived from soy or red clover on vasomotor symptoms in peri‐ or postmenopausal women for at least 12 wks. Data were analyzed concerning outcome and methodological quality of the study. Twenty‐three trials met the inclusion criteria, thereof 17 investigated soy isoflavones and 6 red clover isoflavones. Without exception, selected trials examining the effect of red clover isoflavones were already assessed in several meta‐analyses and were therefore excluded from this evaluation. As the soy isoflavone studies were very heterogeneous concerning interventions and outcome measures, meta‐analysis could not be performed and trials were systematically assessed in a structured approach. Included soy isoflavone studies had numerous quality deficiencies and did not consistently show a reduction of flushes after treatment with soy isoflavones. Therefore, there is no conclusive evidence, but only some indication of a benefit of soy isoflavones on hot flush frequency or severity.     

Oxygen Tracer Diffusion in Lanthanum-Doped Single-Crystal Strontium Titanate

Strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) is known as a good high-temperature resistive oxygen sensor material; its response time depends on oxygen bulk diffusion and surface exchange processes. In the present work, ¹⁸O diffusion has been investigated in lanthanum-doped SrTiO₃, single crystals in the temperature range 700° to 900°C by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Oxygen tracer diffusivities between 2 × 10⁻¹⁵ and 1 × 10⁻¹³ cm²/s have been calculated from the SIMS results. Low surface enrichment of ¹⁸O compared to the ¹⁸O concentration in the gas atmosphere gives clear evidence for a surface exchange reaction.     

Kommunikative Kompetenz in der Informatik und die curricularen Konsequenzen

Eingegangen am 06.01.1997, in überarbeiteter Form am 28.02.1997     

Retention of a standard operating procedure under the influence of social stress and refresher training in a simulated process control task

In a simulated process control task, we investigated the effects of refresher training and acute social stress on performing a standard operating procedure (SOP) containing a production and monitoring task and knowledge recall after a retention interval of two weeks. In a 2?×?2 between-group design (Factor 1: induced social stress, Factor 2: refresher training), 76 engineering students performed an SOP at t1 in week 1 and at t2 in week 3. A MANOVA in week three (t2) indicated a main effect of the refresher training for the SOP execution containing a production and a monitoring task and an impairing effect of stress on the monitoring task. That means that after a retention interval, stress mainly affects the SOP’s monitoring task. An additional correlational analysis showed that knowledge test performance is negatively associated with cortisol level and that retentivity is a strong predictor for knowledge test performance and production task performance, too.

Practitioner Summary: We investigated effects of social stress and refresher training on performing a standard operating procedure (SOP) after a retention interval of two weeks. The impact of social stress reduced the monitoring task performance as part of the SOP, but not the production outcome. Without refresher training, performance is significantly worse.

Abbreviation: SOP: Standard Operating Procedure; MANOVA: Multivariate Analysis of Variance; CSB: Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; TSST: Trierer Social Stress Test; P-TSST: Placebo Trierer Social Stress Test; WaTrSim: Water Treatment Simulation; HPA axis: hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis; WIT-2: Wilde Intelligenztest – 2; SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance.     

Towards psychology-aware preference construction in recommender systems: Overview and research issues

Journal of Intelligent Information Systems - User preferences are a crucial input needed by recommender systems to determine relevant items. In single-shot recommendation scenarios such as...