An infrastructure for scalable, reliable semantic portals

This article extends and implements the basic conceptual framework SEAL (semantic portal) with the aim of using semantic technologies in real-world scenarios through a reliable, scalable infrastructure. We also show how multiple semantic portals can interact with one another to exchange knowledge, thus fostering reuse. The building blocks of our extension include knowledge integration, processing, representation, organization, and access. The authors harness the access facilities of semantic Web technologies to provide an infrastructure suitable for industrial applications.     

Influences on Innovation Benefits during Implementation: Client’s Perspective

This study investigates critical factors that significantly affect the benefits of an innovation to the clients and the project as a whole during implementation from the perspective of construction clients. A survey was conducted in Hong Kong, and data from 35 projects that had adopted innovations were collected via mailed questionnaires from project clients. The questionnaire requested respondents to provide specific data about their projects, the type of innovations adopted, and the enablers and barriers to innovation. We found that innovative solutions were particularly beneficial if they were mainly intended to solve technical difficulties in projects and if they were implemented by forming separate implementation teams and by establishing coordination and monitoring mechanisms at the project level. Moreover, we found that the construction clients’ technical capabilities, provision of special training opportunities, and management interests before and after the innovation was implemented were also factors in attaining innovation benefits.     

Application of different types of high-voltage supplies on industrial electrostatic precipitators

Investigations of the requirements for high-voltage (HV) power supplies for zones within an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) were conducted with regard to the properties of different technologies for HV generation. The zones of an ESP show different electrical behavior and efficiency. This is a result of: 1) the different dust loads of the zones; 2) the particle size and properties; and 3) the possibility of charging the particles in the entire zone using suitable technology. An overview of common and new topologies of HV supplies and their typical properties is given. It is shown how these properties can be used to match the requirements of the different zones of an ESP regarding the actual operating conditions. Large particles and high dust loads can be addressed effectively using high-frequency dc power supplies. Fine particles, however, can be separated even more efficiently by pulsed power supplies. Additionally, the power consumption of different HV sources has been investigated in relation to the separation efficiency. Experimental results were obtained on an industrial ESP containing 3 zones in a sinter plant and on a large scale precipitator in a fossil power plant, containing 30 zones. It was shown that a high frequency IGBT inverter combined with a microsecond-pulsed power supply significantly improved the overall performance of the precipitator.     

Spectator detection for the measurement of proton–neutron interactions at ANKE

A telescope of three silicon detectors has been installed close to the internal target position of the ANKE spectrometer, which is situated inside the ultra-high vacuum of the COSY-Jülich light-ion storage ring. The detection and identification of slow protons and deuterons emerging from a deuterium cluster-jet target thus becomes feasible. A good measurement of the energy and angle of such a spectator proton (p_sp) allows one to identify a reaction as having taken place on the neutron in the target and then to determine the kinematical variables of the ion–neutron system on an event-by-event basis over a range of c.m. energies.

The system has been successfully tested under laboratory conditions. By measuring the spectator proton in the pd→p_spdπ⁰ reaction in coincidence with a fast deuteron in the ANKE Forward Detector, values of the pn→dπ⁰ total cross-section have been deduced. Further applications of the telescope include the determination of the luminosity and beam polarisation which are required for several experiments.     

A new recombinant procoagulant protein derived from the cDNA encoding human factor VIII

We have constructed new B domain deletion derivatives of humanfactor Vm (FVm) by manipulating the cDNA using recombinant DNAtechniques. One of these new derivatives, FVIII II, in whichamino acids 771(pro)–1666(asp) have been deleted, no longercontains the protease cleavage site at amino acid position 1648(arg)–1649(glu) known to be involved in the initial step ofFVin processing. We have expressed this molecule in both babyhamster kidney (BHK) 21 cells using the vaccinia virus (VV)expression system and have established Chinese hamster ovary(CHO) derived permanent cell lines expressing either recombinant(r)FVIII or FVIII II AD. The characteristics of FVIII II ADhave been compared to those of rFVIII and/or plasma derived(pd) FVIII. FVIII II All has the following properties: (i) itexhibits FVDI procoagulant activity; (ii) it is expressed at5-fold higher levels than is the complete molecule in comparablesystems; (iii) it migrates for the most part as a single majorband on SDS-PAGE, hi contrast to the complete molecule; (iv)it is activated to a greater extent by thrombin than is eitherrFVm or pdFVIII; and (v) it retains the ability to bind vonWillebrand factor (vWf).     

On submillimeter laser lines from optically pumped12CH3OH

Several “new” submillimeter laser lines have been observed in a CH₃OH submillimeter laser, optically pumped by CO₂—laser radiation in a low power pulsed mode. Assignments have been suggested for a number of the lines. A few lines have wavelengths close to atmospheric water vapor absorption peaks, and can be observed only when the air path from the submillimeter resonator exit mirror to the detector is kept short or flushed with dry nitrogen.     

Electro-optical and viscometric behaviour of sodium polystyrene sulphonate in formamide

Unusual electro-optical signals have been recorded on sodium polystyrene sulphonate in formamide. It was shown that such signals largely arise from the positive birefringence of the solvent being superimposed on the negative birefringence of the polyion. On the basis of conductimetric experiments, the residual content of ammonium formate caused by hydrolysis of formamide was estimated. Commercial formamide of analytical grade was shown to contain rather large amounts (0.02 M) of ammonium formate, sufficient to very strongly decrease the polyelectrolyte effect. The persistence length in these conditions is equal to 80Å, quite similar to that determined in 2 × 10^?2 M NcCl aqueous solution. At a lower ammonium formate content (7 × 10^?4 M), the degree of extension of the polyion at infinite dilution, calculated from the relaxation time of the birefringence, is identical to that measured in 6 × 10^?4 M NaCl. The influence of the nature of the solvent and the ionic strength on the electric polarizability and the optical anisotropy factor was also analysed and compared with the results obtained in water. The latter parameter was discussed in terms of the so-called form anisotropy of the solvent and the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the polyion.