Crystallization behavior of star-shaped poly(ethylene oxide) with cubic silsesquioxane (CSSQ) core

The crystallization behavior of well-defined star-shaped cubic silsesquioxane-poly(ethylene oxide) (CSSQ-PEO) and linear PEO were studied in terms of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). It was found in DSC analysis that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the crystallization temperature (T_c) of CSSQ-PEO are different from those of linear PEO. The presence of CSSQ in PEO reduced the overall crystallization growth rate. This effect can be ascribed to the reduction of the mobility of the PEO crystallites in the presence of CSSQ and the star structure of the polymer. The Ozawa method is qualitatively satisfactory for describing the nonisothermal crystallizations of linear PEO and CSSQ-PEO. The presence of CSSQ leads to the diffusion- and nucleation-controlled mechanisms in the crystallization process of CSSQ-PEO whilst only the nucleation-controlled mechanism was observed in the case of linear PEO. The apparent activation energy required for crystallization was calculated using the Kissinger method. The isothermal crystallization morphology of PEO and CSSQ-PEO were also examined by cross-polarizing optical microscopy (CPOM). The CPOM images indicated the spherulite growth is slower in CSSQ-PEO as compared to linear PEO. It was also investigated that more number of PEO spherulites in CSSQ-PEO were observed, which sizes are markedly smaller than the spherulites developed in linear PEO. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) studies showed that the crystallization peaks for linear PEO and CSSQ-PEO appeared at different temperature revealing the crystallization process and crystal growth rate are different from each other. However, no significant distortion of the crystal structure of PEO was evaluated in the presence of CSSQ.     

Mass customization of medical devices and implants: state of the art and future directions

The medical field is one in which the need for customization can be clear cut, as providing tailored devices and implants for unique physiologies can provide for a better overall treatment than the use of 'off the shelf' devices and implants. Customization in the production of medical products can be roughly divided into consideration of medical devices, and of implantable parts or systems. The present paper outlines the current state of the art in both of these areas, presents details of projects that are ongoing at the University of Leeds and outlines future research directions.     

Syntax and consistent equation semantics of hybrid Chi

The hybrid χ (Chi) formalism integrates concepts from dynamics and control theory with concepts from computer science, in particular from process algebra and hybrid automata. It integrates ease of modeling with a straightforward, structured operational semantics. Its ‘consistent equation semantics’ enforces state changes to be consistent with delay predicates, that combine the invariant and flow clauses of hybrid automata. Ease of modeling is ensured by means of the following concepts: (1) different classes of variables: discrete and continuous, of subclass jumping or non-jumping, and algebraic; (2) strong time determinism of alternative composition in combination with delayable guards; (3) integration of urgent and non-urgent actions; (4) differential algebraic equations as a process term as in mathematics; (5) steady-state initialization; and 6) several user-friendly syntactic extensions. Furthermore, the χ formalism incorporates several concepts for complex system specification: (1) process terms for scoping that integrate abstraction, local variables, local channels and local recursion definitions; (2) process definition and instantiation that enable process re-use, encapsulation, hierarchical and/or modular composition of processes; and (3) different interaction mechanisms: handshake synchronization and synchronous communication that allow interaction between processes without sharing variables, and shared variables that enable modular composition of continuous-time or hybrid processes. The syntax and semantics are illustrated using several examples.     

Simulation of the VVER-1000 pump start-up experiment of the OECD V1000CT benchmark with CATHARE and TRAC-PF1

In the framework of joint effort between the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of OECD, the United States Department of Energy (US DOE), and the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA), France a coupled three-dimensional (3D) thermal-hydraulics/neutron kinetics benchmark for VVER-1000 was defined. The benchmark consists of calculation of a pump start-up experiment labelled V1000CT-1 (Phase 1), as well as a vessel mixing experiment and main steam line break (MSLB) transient labelled V1000CT-2 (Phase 2), respectively. The reference nuclear plant is Kozloduy-6 in Bulgaria. The overall objective is to assess computer codes used in the analysis of VVER-1000 reactivity transients. A specific objective is to assess the vessel mixing models used in system codes. Plant data are available for code validation consisting of one experiment of pump start-up (V1000CT-1) and one experiment of steam generator isolation (V1000CT-2). The validated codes can be used to calculate asymmetric MSLB transients involving similar mixing patterns. This paper summarizes a comparison of CATHARE and TRAC-PF1 system code results for V1000CT-1, Exercise 1, which is a full plant point kinetics simulation of a reactor coolant system (RCS) pump start-up experiment. The reference plant data include integral and sector average parameters. The comparison is made from the point of view of vessel mixing and full system simulation. CATHARE used a six-sector multiple 1D vessel thermal-hydraulic model with cross flows and TRAC used a six-sector, 18-channel coarse-mesh 3D vessel model. Good agreement in terms of integral parameters and inter-loop mixing is observed.     

Qualitätssicherung bei Gemüse am Beispiel von Erzeugergroßmärkten

Zusammenfassung. Durch ein von Erzeugern und Vermarktern getragenes regionales Qualit?tssicherungsprogramm bei Gemüse konnten H?chstmengenüberschreitungen innerhalb von 5 Jahren um vier Fünftel gesenkt und entsprechend die Verkehrsf?higkeit der vermarkteten Partien erh?ht werden. Durch eine optimal organisierte Probenahme bereits vor der Ernte und Analytik innerhalb von zwei Tagen waren nicht vermarktungsf?hige Partien rechtzeitig zu erkennen. Die Nutzung der Analysenergebnisse als Beratungsinstrument durch Markt, Erzeuger und Beratung haben zu diesem Erfolg geführt.     

Organ distribution of bovine serum albumin administered intragastrically in the rat

Radioimmunoassay was employed to examine distribution of antigenic structures of bovine serum albumin (BSA), absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, in the blood serum and organs of intact rats. It was shown that 3 h after administering 3H-BSA an appreciable amount of its antigenic structures could be identified in the blood serum, liver, spleen, and carcass of the animals. The total amount of antigenic determinants of BSA which got into the internal environment of the body from the intestine amounted to about 0.2% of the dose administered. The highest specific content of antigenic structures of BSA supplied via the intestinal barrier was detected in the spleen.     

Comparative studies on Ar and He closed-cycle MHD power plants combined with fossil fuel

Comparative studies on Ar and He closed-cycle MHD power plants combined with fossil fuel are performed. The sizes of a regenerative heat exchanger and a boiler are expected to be smaller for He than for Ar. The pressure loss of a working gas in a regenerative heat exchanger is reduced for He. The purification subsystem for He is expected to be more compact and economical than that for Ar; but a larger compressor is required for He than for Ar.     

A DSP-Based Remote Control Laboratory

This paper presents a framework for rapid remote experiment implementation in the field of automatic control. The proposed solution is based on in-house developed embedded control hardware and two commercially available software packages. MATLAB/Simulink is used for rapid experiment control algorithm development, while LabVIEW is used for the user front-end and remote control. A combination of presented hardware and software solutions enables the rapid and easy creation of different interactive remote control experiments. Using this solution, a digital-signal-processor-based remote control laboratory for teaching purposes has been realized. This remote laboratory enables the remote users to easily interact with a set of physical control experiments through the Internet. In the friendly user interface, the remote user can change predefined system parameters and observe system response in textual, graphical, or video format. In addition, this remote laboratory includes a booking system, which enables remote users to book experiments in advance.     

Solution synthesis of crystallized AMO4 (A=Ba, Sr, Ca; M=W, Mo) film at room temperature

A well-crystallized AMO₄ (A=Ba, Ca, Sr; M=W, Mo) films have been prepared at room temperature through a simple solution reaction in respective alkaline solution at higher pH ranging from 12–14. Adopting the corrosion principle for oxidation of metal substrate, these double oxide films were carried out in presence of chemical driving force without any special apparatus or devices. Hydrogen peroxide was used to enhance the dissolution rate of metal substrates. The driving force for the film formation and growth were high concentration of A²⁺, MO₄²⁻ ions with high pH conditions. Average grain sizes of 8–10 μm with bipyramidal shaped particle were grown to the thickness of about 10–14 μm after 3–6 hours treatment. The crystallization of AMO₄ was characterized by three-dimensional nucleation. This work demonstrates the possibility of fabrication of functional ceramic films directly from the aqueous solution in a single step by solution reactions.