Elaboration of low viscosity and high impact polypropylene blends through reactive extrusion

In this work, a reactive high flow polypropylene, PP800 (η₀ = 40 Pa s, 190°C), is extruded with a commercial compound of polypropylene and ethylene‐propylene random copolymer (η₀ = 3000 Pa s, 190°C). On one hand, the fluidity of resulting blends is highly increased but, on the other hand, matrix degradation leads to a strong decrease of the impact behavior and tensile strain. Then, the addition of 10 wt% of propylene‐based copolymer (PBC) leads to a very interesting impact enhancement while keeping high fluidity. A study of morphological, thermal, and dynamical thermal mechanical properties reveal the anchoring of semi crystalline propylene segments of PBC droplets at the interface with the PP matrix. On the contrary, the addition of ethylene‐based copolymer (EBC) is not able to restore satisfactory impact properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:418–426, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Smart Cities: Towards a New Citizenship Regime? A Discourse Analysis of the British Smart City Standard

Growing practice interest in smart cities has led to calls for a less technology-oriented and more citizen-centric approach. In response, this article investigates the citizenship mode promulgated by the smart city standard of the British Standards Institution. The analysis uses the concept of citizenship regime and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods to discern key discursive frames defining the smart city and the particular citizenship dimensions brought into play. The results confirm an explicit citizenship rationale guiding the smart city (standard), although this displays some substantive shortcomings and contradictions. The article concludes with recommendations for both further theory and practice development.     

A rapid method to measure the solid-water distribution coefficient (Kd) for pharmaceuticals and musk fragrances in sewage sludge

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are omnipresent in wastewater world-wide. In order to predict their sorption quantities onto sludge in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the solid-water distribution coefficients (Kd values) of selected pharmaceuticals (antiphlogistics, estrogens, lipid regulators, anti-epileptic and cytostatic agents) and polycyclic musk fragrances (HHCB, AHTN) were determined in primary and secondary sludges taken from a German municipal WWTP. For the Kd determination, batches of primary and secondary sludge slurries were spiked with the respective target compounds and slowly stirred under defined conditions (e.g. an argon atmosphere). Finally, the water and solid sludge phases were analysed. The Kd values of pharmaceuticals ranged from <1 to 500 L kg(-1), while those for the polycyclic musk fragrances AHTN and HHCB proved to be up to 5300 and 4900 L kg(-1), respectively. The primary and secondary sludge showed significant differences for some pharmaceuticals such as Diclofenac and Cyclophosphamide due to the different pH and composition of the two sludges. The removal rate from the water phase caused by sorption in a WWTP can be reasonably predicted on the basis of the Kd values.     

Reproducibility of automated periodontal probing around teeth and osseointegrated oral implants

The Trk family, a group of high-affinity neurotrophin receptors, is divided into three subtypes, TrkA, TrkB and TrkC. These were originally found in neural elements, and are involved in neural development, maintenance and survival. Recent studies have shown that non-neural cells in vitro also express mRNA encoding some neurotrophin receptors. In our preliminary study, TrkB-like immunoreactivity (LI) was found in the various non-neural cells in the rat periodontal ligament. The present study was undertaken to clarify which cell types express Trk-LI, in particular two types of TrkB-LI, in the periodontal ligament of mature rats, using an immunocytochemical technique with polyclonal antibodies. Intense full-length TrkB-LI was clearly recognized in non-neural cells such as fibroblasts, osteoclasts, odontoclasts and cementoblasts as well as in neural elements. Relatively large cells with many cytoplasmic processes were also frequently immunopositive for full-length TrkB. Immunocytochemistry for TrkB[TK-], a truncated type, also demonstrated a similar immunostaining pattern to that of full-length TrkB in non-neural periodontal cells, and intense positive reactions in endothelial cells. Some non-neural cells were positive for TrkA and TrkC. These findings suggest that neurotrophic factors, the ligands of the Trk family, have certain effects on the proliferation and/or differentiation of non-neural cells, as well as on their neurotrophic functions.     

Automated Alignment of Robotic Pan-Tilt Camera Units Using Vision

In this paper we show how to carry out an automatic alignment of a pan-tilt camera platform with its natural coordinate frame, using only images obtained from the cameras during controlled motion of the unit. An active camera in aligned orientation represents the zero position for each axis, and allows axis odometry to be referred to a fixed reference frame; such referral is otherwise only possible using mechanical means, such as end-stops, which cannot take account of the unknown relationship between the camera coordinate frame and its mounting. The algorithms presented involve the calculation of two-view transformations (homographies or epipolar geometry) between pairs of images related by controlled rotation about individual head axes. From these relationships, which can be calculated linearly or optimised iteratively, an invariant line to the motion can be extracted which represents an aligned viewing direction. We present methods for general and degenerate motion (translating or non-translating), and general and degenerate scenes (non-planar and planar, but otherwise unknown), which do not require knowledge of the camera calibration, and are resistant to lens distortion non-linearity.Detailed experimentation in simulation, and in real scenes, demonstrate the speed, accuracy, and robustness of the methods, with the advantages of applicability to a wide range circumstances and no need to involve calibration objects or complex motions. Accuracy of within half a degree can be achieved with a single motion, and we also show how to improve on this by incorporating images from further motions, using a natural extension of the basic algorithm.     

Range adjustment for ground-based radar, derived with the spaceborne TRMM precipitation radar

We show how the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (TPR) can be used to monitor and adjust ground-based radar (GR) data, as a function of the distance from the radar site. Problems caused by the variability of precipitation and differences in sampling volume of the two instruments are reduced to a level that is achievable with, and acceptable for, the present analysis. Throughout the region under surveillance, TPR has poorer spatial resolution than GR. The sampling volume of the GR changes quite remarkably according to the range from the GR site: it increases with the square of the range. TPR, on the other hand, has similar sampling volumes in all the locations. The analysis is based on the average linear radar reflectivity, in circular rings around the GR site, /sub 2/spl pi//, as a function of the range from the GR site. The GR/TPR ratio varies, for the Cyprus radar, on average from 2 dB, at 10 km, to -8 dB at 100 km. The average departure at the average range is considered to be mainly caused by the calibration of the GR. The range dependence of the GR/TPR ratio is significant and similar, in all the investigated cases. This is interpreted to be caused by the increasing sampling volume of the GR with range, combined with nonhomogeneous beam filling, e.g., at longer ranges of GR, the lower part of the volume could be in rain, whereas the upper part of the same pulse could be filled with snow, or even be without an echo. After correcting the GR data by using the derived averaged relationship, a significantly better agreement between the GR and TPR is found in all the overpasses analyzed. The agreement between the results of the two instruments is better for both the percentage of echo areas and the rain amount within each area. It is also better for the agreement of the GR with the gauges. In the absence of TPR data, it will be useful to investigate to what extent long-term, climatological data can be used to substitute TPR data.     

The effect of nisin on the keeping quality of reduced heat-treated milks

Milk was subjected to a combination process involving reduced heat treatment (RHT) of 117 degrees C for 2 s and nisin (75 and 150 IU ml(-1)). The microbial activity and other quality aspects were compared with a RHT control (without nisin) and with a ultrahigh temperature (UHT) milk processed at 142 degrees C for 2 s. Nisin was found to inhibit microbial growth for products stored without refrigeration, and RHT-nisin samples stored at 30 degrees C showed very low spoilage rates during 150 days, although not low enough to satisfy requirements for commercial sterility. RHT-nisin samples could be distinguished from and were preferred to the UHT control. Significant browning occurred during storage at 30 degrees C and above but was less in the RHT-nisin milk samples compared with the UHT milk. In RHT-nisin milk samples stored at 20 and 10 degrees C, no microbial activity could be detected in most samples after storage for 1 year. The effectiveness of this combination of RHT, nisin, and low storage temperatures against gram-positive spore-forming bacteria suggests potential for use of nisin in extended shelf life products.     

Levonantradol, a new antiemetic with a high rate of side-effects for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy

Levonantradol, a new antiemetic compound pharmacologically related to the cannabinoids, was given to 17 patients who had experienced severe and protracted nausea and vomiting during previous courses of cancer chemotherapy, and to six patients receiving a first course of strongly emetic cytostatic treatment. Eight patients were partially protected from acute gastrointestinal disturbances. Of the 23 patients, 21 exhibited some toxicity, with six patients exhibiting major affective side-effects and 13 patients complaining of pain at the injection site. Levonantradol is an active antiemetic compound. Due to the rate of side-effects observed in our study however, we would not recommend use of this agent as an antiemetic drug.