Noncontact interferometric optical probe for calibration of coordinate measuring machines

Our work deals with point length standards, which can be practically realized by two precise spheres or parts of spheres connected by a bar or array of spherical surfaces. The distance between the centers of spheres precisely determines the length. Two methods (mechanical and optical) are shown for determination of the centers of spheres of the length standard. The proposed optical method is based on the interference of light. General formulas are derived that make it possible to calculate accurately the center position of the spherical surface, which is used for the length standards. An analysis of the proposed method is described based on the third-order aberration theory. The proposed technique can be used for calibration and checking of computer numerical controlled machines.     

Novel bisphosphonates via castor oil

Hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) have long been a staple component of feedstock oils with uses ranging from motor oils to food to pharmaceuticals. Castor oil, which contains the HFA ricinoleic acid as its principal component, is the most widely used source of HFA in the world. In addition, bisphosphonates are a functional moiety that has been shown to display a variety of industrial applications, ranging from use in water softeners to osteoporosis drugs, primarily due to their affinity for the calcium ion. We have long been interested in the modification of ricinoleic acid from castor oil to phosphorus derivatives, including α-hydroxy phosphonates and phosphonic acids, and have now accomplished the synthesis of a family of ricinoleic-derived bisphosphonates: one that retains the cis alkene found in ricinoleic acid and one where the alkene has undergone hydrogenation. These compounds have been produced in high yields and high purity and the synthesis of these compounds is reported.     

IP home gateway as universal multi-purpose enabler for smart home services

There are many candidates for a communication infrastructure between the smart home gateway and service providers, distribution centers or end-users accessing smart home applications remotely. Optimally the access technology should be already deployed in order to minimize initial investments and in parallel must provide sufficient reliability and security even for critical applications. Therefore, we focused at already deployed platforms which have a strong potential to become the key communication technologies for smart home domain. Furthermore, we investigated the applicability of residential gateway access technology for emerging home automation services. Finally, we developed and demonstrate a middleware solution enabling the “state of technology” IP-based home gateway to serve as a universal multi-purpose enabler for connected home automation systems like alarm systems, smart metering and grid, photo-voltaic energy production systems, etc.     

胶原水解产物-羧甲基纤维素聚电解质络合物的溶胀及可塑性

胶原水解产物-羧甲基纤维素聚电解质络合物的溶胀性和可塑性是对其应用来说十分．其中，这种材料的溶胀性除受到溶液pH值、离子强度、反离子种类的影响外，还受到材料本身交联网络密度的影响；成膜的可塑性则主要受其成分的影响。本论文主要讨论反应条件和络合稳定化方式对胶原水解产物一羧甲基纤维素聚电解质络合物的溶胀性及其成膜的可塑性的影响。     

Diversity of lactic acid bacteria associated with traditional fermented dairy products in Mongolia

Spontaneous milk fermentation has a long history in Mongolia, and beneficial microorganisms have been handed down from one generation to the next for use in fermented dairy products. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) communities in fermented yak, mare, goat, and cow milk products by analyzing 189 samples collected from 13 different regions in Mongolia. The LAB counts in these samples varied from 3.41 to 9.03 log cfu/mL. Fermented yak and mare milks had almost identical mean numbers of LAB, which were significantly higher than those in fermented goat milk but slightly lower than those in fermented cow milk. In total, 668 isolates were obtained from these samples using de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe agar and M17 agar. Each isolate was considered to be presumptive LAB based on gram-positive and catalase-negative properties, and was identified at the species level by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, multiplex PCR assay, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. All isolates from Mongolian dairy products were accurately identified as Enterococcus faecalis (1 strain), Enterococcus durans (3 strains), Lactobacillus brevis (3 strains), Lactobacillus buchneri (2 strains), Lactobacillus casei (16 strains), Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus (142 strains), Lactobacillus diolivorans (17 strains), Lactobacillus fermentum (42 strains), Lactobacillus helveticus (183 strains), Lactobacillus kefiri (6 strains), Lactobacillus plantarum ssp. plantarum (7 strains), Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (7 strains), Leuconostoc lactis (22 strains), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (21 strains), Streptococcus thermophilus (195 strains), and Weissella cibaria (1 strain). The predominant LAB were Strep. thermophilus and Lb. helveticus, which were isolated from all sampling sites. The results demonstrate that traditional fermented dairy products from different regions of Mongolia have complex compositions of LAB species. Such diversity of LAB provides useful information for further studies of probiotic strain selection and starter culture design, with regard to the industrial production of traditional fermented milk.     

Study of TATP: Spontaneous Transformation of TATP to DADP

TATP, prepared in the presence of catalysts methanesulfonic, perchloric, or sulfuric acid, has been found to undergo transformation to DADP. However, no transformation occurs if TATP is purified or prepared involving catalysts such as hydrochloric acid, tin(IV) chloride, and nitric acid. The transformation has been monitored by the methods of DTA and HPLC.     

Wind response of the Interama Tower of the Sun

The proposed Interama Tower of the Sun is an 830 ft high tower supported by 168 guy cables with a skyhouse located between the 650 and 740 ft levels. The tower was to be located approximately 5 miles north of Miami, Florida. The site is flat open land, only a few feet above sea level, located a short distance inland from the seacoast—sufficiently close that no reduction in hurricane wind magnitude due to landfall can be allowed. A study was undertaken to determine overall loads and local pressures by means of wind-tunnel tests, and to determine the dynamic response of the tower to wind loads by means of computer simulation. Wind-tunnel modeling was used to obtain overall wind loading on the tower, to investigate possible vortex shedding phenomena, and to obtain local pressures on the skyhouse and legs. The computer simulation used to determine dynamic response modeled primary structural components of the tower as well as the guy cables, the latter introducing geometric nonlinearity into the model. Appropriate beam-column and cable elements were utilized to represent the structure, with wind loading being considered on all elements. Primary results are presented in the form of response plots. These indicate relatively minor tower responses for normal wind conditions, but increasing rapidly in the higher wind range of 75–130 mph.     

Long-term leaching from MSWI air-pollution-control residues: leaching characterization and modeling

Long-term leaching of Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Na, S, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mo, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, P, Cl, and dissolved organic carbon from two different municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) air-pollution-control residues was monitored during 24 months of column percolation experiments; liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratios of 200-250L/kg corresponding to more than 10,000 years in a conventional landfill were reached. Less than 2% of the initially present As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, and Sb had leached during the course of the experiments. Concentrations of Cd, Fe, Mg, Hg, Mn, Ni, Co, Sn, Ti, and P were generally bellow 1microg/L; overall less than 1% of their mass leached. Column leaching data were further used in a two-step geochemical modeling in PHREEQC in order to (i) identify solubility controlling minerals and (ii) evaluate their interactions in a water-percolated column system over L/S of 250L/kg. Adequate predictions of pH, alkalinity, and the leaching of Ca, S, Al, Si, Ba, and Zn were obtained in a simultaneous calculation. Also, it was suggested that removal of Ca and S together with depletion of several minerals apparently caused dissolution of ettringite-like phases. In turn, significant increase in leaching of oxyanions (especially Sb and Cr) was observed at late stage of leaching experiments.     

Magnetically Driven Self-Degrading Zinc-Containing Cystine Microrobots for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed tumor disease in men, and its treatment is still a big challenge in standard oncology therapy. Magnetically actuated microrobots represent the most promising technology in modern nanomedicine, offering the advantage of wireless guidance, effective cell penetration, and non-invasive actuation. Here, new biodegradable magnetically actuated zinc/cystine-based microrobots for in situ treatment of prostate cancer cells are reported. The microrobots are fabricated via metal-ion-mediated self-assembly of the amino acid cystine encapsulating superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) during the synthesis, which allows their precise manipulation by a rotating magnetic field. Inside the cells, the typical enzymatic reducing environment favors the disassembly of the aminoacidic chemical structure due to the cleavage of cystine disulfide bonds and disruption of non-covalent interactions with the metal ions, as demonstrated by in vitro experiments with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). In this way, the cystine microrobots served for site-specific delivery of Zn²⁺ ions responsible for tumor cell killing via a “Trojan horse effect”. This work presents a new concept of cell internalization exploiting robotic systems’ self-degradation, proposing a step forward in non-invasive cancer therapy.