Preparation of macroporous poly(acrylamide) hydrogels by radiation induced polymerization technique

Macroporous poly(acrylamide) [poly(AAm)] hydrogels were prepared by using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with three different molecular weight as the pore-forming agent during the radiation induced polymerization reaction. Scanning electron microscope graphs reveal that the macroporous network structure of the hydrogels can be adjusted by applying different molecular weights of PEG during the polymerization reaction. The swelling ratios of the PEG-modified hydrogels were much higher than those for the same type of hydrogel prepared via traditional method. However, the pulsatile swelling behavior of the PEG-modified hydrogels in water and in acetone was affected slightly by the change in the amount of the PEG.     

A new electrochromic copolymer based on dithienylpyrrole and EDOT

A new compound, namely diethyl 2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3,4-dicarboxylate (1), was copolymerized with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) via electrochemical method. The copolymer exhibits multicolor electrochromic property: It is found that the copolymer, poly(1-co-EDOT), has a specific optical band gap (1.71 eV) to reflect and/or transmit reddish brown color in the neutral state, and it can be switched to reddish orange, orange, yellowish green and blue colors upon oxidation in a low switching time (1.0 s). Importantly, these colors are essential for camouflage and/or full color electrochromic device/display applications. In addition to these, the obtained copolymer has a coloration efficiency of 173 cm²/C at 500 nm.     

Artificial neural networks applications in building energy predictions and a case study for tropical climates

This study presents artificial neural network (ANN) methods in building energy use predictions. Applications of the ANN methods in energy audits and energy savings predictions due to building retrofits are emphasized. A generalized ANN model that can be applied to any building type with minor modifications would be a very useful tool for building engineers. ANN methods offer faster learning time, simplicity in analysis and adaptability to seasonal climate variations and changes in the building's energy use when compared to other statistical and simulation models. The model herein is presented for predicting chiller plant energy use in tropical climates with small seasonal and daily variations. It was successfully created based on both climatic and chiller data. The average absolute training error for the model was 9.7% while the testing error was 10.0%. This indicates that the model can successfully predict the particular chiller energy consumption in a tropical climate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dual‐type electrochromic device with single wall carbon nano tube employment in gel electrolyte

A novel conducting polymer‐based electrochromic device is proposed with single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) employment in gel electrolyte. Electrochemical film deposition on indium tin oxide substrates were governed and monitored via cyclic‐voltametry. Construction details of the proposed device are presented with its optimized parameters and SWCNT doping caused a noteworthy enhancement in efficiency and stability of the device performance. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Equivalent circuit models in current-mode circuits for time delay calculations

In this paper time delay calculations for current-mode circuits are considered and equivalent circuit models for delay estimation are developed. Three different equivalent circuit structures for the Core Circuit used in the multipurpose IC DU-TCC1209 are examined separately; however the relation obtained for the time delay can be applied to any CMOS current-mode circuit. The proposed calculation methods are verified with SPICE using 0.35 μm TSMC MOSIS technology parameters and with bench-test measurements using DU-TCC1209.     

Enzymatic Glycerolysis of Palm and Palm Kernel Oils

Glycerolysis of palm and palm kernel oils were carried out using commercial lipases from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) and Mucor miehei (Novozym 388) as catalyst (500 units lipase/g oil) at 40°C and with an oil:glycerol molar ratio of 1:2 in a solvent-free system. Novozym 435 catalyzed the glycerolysis of palm and palm kernel oils giving reaction products in similar compositions. Partial acylglycerols contents of the glycerolysis products obtained from palm and palm kernel oils were 64% (wt) and 66% (wt), respectively. However, partial acylglycerols contents of the glycerolysis products obtained from palm and palm kernel oils conducted with Novozym 388 as catalyst at the same conditions were 44% (wt) and 56% (wt), respectively. On the other hand, free fatty acid contents of the glycerolysis products of palm and palm kernel oils obtained using Novozym 388 were higher, 25–30% (wt), than those obtained by Novozym 435, 4–5% (wt). The monoacylglycerols fraction with the highest content of oleic acid, 62.7% (wt), was obtained from the palm kernel oil glycerolysis reaction catalyzed by Novozym 435.     

Measurements substantiating localised microwave hyperthermia within a thorax phantom

Computer simulations of remotely induced microwave hyperthermia for selective tumour destruction are validated experimentally. This letter shows the first practical measurements of a focused microwave intensity distribution inside a thorax phantom irradiated from a microwave array of 11 elements.     

Systems dynamics modelling of a manufacturing supply chain system

Supply chains are multifaceted structures focusing on the integration of all the factors involved in the overall process of production and distribution of end products to the customers. Growing interest in supply chain systems has highlighted the need to adopt appropriate approaches that can ensure the efficient management of their complexity, enormity and broadness of scope. With the main aim of supply chain management being to optimise the performance of supply chains, attention is mainly drawn to the development of modelling frameworks that can be utilised to analyse and comprehend the dynamic behaviour of supply chains. While there have been only a few supply chain modelling attempts reported in the literature, this paper proposes a modelling framework that is used to simulate the operation of a supply chain network of moderate complexity. The proposed model comprises four echelons and is build around a central medium-sized manufacturing company operating as a typical Make-to-Order (MTO) system. The developed model was built using a systems dynamics (SD) approach. The operations performed within a supply chain are a function of a great number of key variables which often seem to have strong interrelationships. The ability of understanding the network as a whole, analysing the interactions between the various components of the integrated system and eventually supplying feedback without de-composing it make systems dynamics an ideal methodology for modelling supply chain networks. The objective of the paper is to model the operation of the supply chain network under study and obtain a true reflection of its behaviour. The modelling framework is also used to study the performance of the system under the initial conditions considered and compare it with that obtained by running the system under eight different scenarios concerning commonly addressed real-life operational conditions. The modelling effort has focused on measuring the supply chain system performance in terms of key metrics such as inventory, WIP levels, backlogged orders and customer satisfaction at all four echelons. The study concludes with the analysis of the obtained results and the conclusions drawn from contrasting the system’s performance under each investigated scenario to that of the benchmark model.     

Partial purification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nigella sativa</Emphasis> L. Seed lipase and its application in transesterification reactions

Nigella sativa L. seed lipase isolated from defatted seeds was partially purified and used as catalyst in transesterification reactions. Purification of an ammonium sulfate-precipitated sample (at 35% saturation, Nigella PL) by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography increased the specific activity from 13.9 to 156.7 U/mg protein. Nigella PL and Nigella CPL (the partially purified enzyme sample obtained by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography) catalyzed the transesterification of vinyl acetate with octanol, with racemic sulcatol (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol), and with racemic trans-sobrerol (trans-p-menth-6-ene-2,8-diol) in different organic solvents. Both activity and enantioselectivity of the enzyme samples used for these biotransformations were affected by the nature of the organic solvent.