Modeling peirce-smith converter operating costs

A cost model for the operation of copper converters is developed in this study, allowing an evaluation of the economic impact of changes to operating procedures and/or injection technologies. The model uses material and enthalpybalances for the slag and copper blows in a Peirce-Smith converter. The length of the converting cycle is calculated from the capacity of the blowers and the required blast along with the times required for other operations such as charging and skimming and idle time. Downtime, labor, and materials for converter lining repair as well as other costs such as oxygen enrichment are also considered in the cost calculations. The model is formulated in a spreadsheet using common programming language and is easily extended to examine the costs of alternative operating strategies or injection technologies such as high-pressure, shrouded injection. Example calculations showing the cost benefits of changing operating procedures and technology are presented.     

Oxidative Stability of Lipids by Means of EPR Spectroscopy and Chemiluminescence

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidation of selected vegetable oils (CLSO, CCSO, CBO) at accelerated oxidation rates. Several seldom used analytical methods were applied including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), spin trapping with α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN) and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), Fe²⁺-induced chemiluminescence, Rancimat tests, and the determination of conjugated diens at λ = 233 nm. The antioxidative properties of POBN and DMPO were also investigated. The time required for each method was determined. EPR spectrometry of trapped radicals generated during oxidation turned out to be the fastest method to determine oxidative stability. Chemiluminometric determination of oxidation kinetics showed that POBN has a very strong anti-oxidative potential: it significantly (by 160–277%) lengthened the time to the chemiluminescence peak, as well as the induction time in the Rancimat test (by 110–140%). Photo-oxidation studies showed that superoxide anion radicals are the main factor responsible for the oxidation of lipids in the investigated oils.     

Metformin inhibits ganglionic neurotransmission in renal nerves

Intravenous administration of the antihyperglycemic agent metformin decreases arterial pressure and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). To test the hypothesis that metformin inhibits SNA by interrupting ganglionic neurotransmission, we compared the actions of intravenous administration of metformin and the ganglionic blocker trimethaphan on postganglionic renal and preganglionic adrenal sympathetic nerves in pentobarbital-anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Intravenous metformin elicited dose-dependent decreases in postganglionic renal SNA (1 mg/kg: 0 +/- 0%; 10 mg/kg: -20 +/- 4%; 100 mg/kg: -92 +/- 3%; n = 7). Conversely, only the maximal dose of metformin affected preganglionic adrenal SNA (100 mg/kg: delta adrenal SNA = -14 +/- 6%; n = 8). Ganglionic blockade with intravenous trimethaphan (5 mg/kg) produced a differential sympathoinhibitory response similar to the response observed after high-dose metformin (delta renal SNA = -100 +/- 3%; delta adrenal SNA = -17 +/- 7%; P < .001). Preganglionic renal neurons were electrically stimulated in the spinal cord, before and during the peak of the sympathoinhibitory response to intravenous metformin, and the magnitude of the stimulus-evoked increases in postganglionic renal SNA were compared. Metformin dose-dependently attenuated the magnitude of the increase in postganglionic renal SNA elicited by stimulation of the spinal cord (30 mg/kg: -23 +/- 8%; 90 mg/kg: -65 +/- 11%; 270 mg/kg: -91 +/- 8%; n = 6 per dose). We conclude that high-dose intravenous metformin interrupts ganglionic neurotransmission in renal nerves.     

Design and Development of a Package Using LCP for RF/Microwave MEMS Switches

We present the development of an ultrahigh moisture-resistant enclosure for RF microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches using liquid-crystal polymer (LCP). A cavity formed in LCP has been laminated, at low temperature, onto a silicon MEMS switch to create a package. The LCP-cap package has an insertion loss of less than 0.2 dB at X-band. E595 outgas tests demonstrate that the LCP material is suitable for constructing reliable packages without interfering with the operation of the MEMS switch. The package also passes Method 1014, MIL-STD-883 gross leak, and fine leak hermeticity tests     

An introduction to the studies of reliability of systems using the Weibull proportional hazards model

The paper presents the way of solving problems concerning reliability with respect to concomitant variables. The Cox models are discussed and Weibull's proportional hazards model is defined. The paper shows how to estimate the model parameters and statistically verify the results.     

The influence of fault occurrence on multiaccess system throughput

A probabilistic performance model of a multiaccess computer system with three-levelled hierarchical structure is presented. A measure of the level capabilities is introduced and the effects of fault occurrence on system throughput are analysed. It is proved that the model is sufficient for determination of system throughput in stationary conditions.