Magnetic properties of porous iron compacts

Magnetic hysteresis measurements, magnetoacoustic emission, and the Barkhausen effect have been used to investigate the magnetic properties of six porous iron compacts with porosities in the range 0.3–6.2% and pore sizes in the range 1.6–13.2 µm. Coercivity and maximum permeability varied with pore size, showing respectively a maximum and a minimum for pore areas in the range 50–100 (µm)², corresponding to pore diameters 8–11 µm. Significant correlations were found between several of the magnetic parameters including a fundamental relationship between coercivity, initial permeability, and maximum differential permeability. There were also indications of a correlation between magnetic properties and the initial molding pressure, although these were not conclusive. However, none of the magnetic properties was found to vary in a progressive manner with percentage porosity, although it is conceivable that if all other variables, such as pore size and grain size, remained constant, that changes in magnetic properties with porosity could be detected from magnetic measurements.     

基于Arduino的建筑互动系统研究初探

互动技术的进步与革新,给传统方式的建筑设计带来了许多的思考与探索。本文在建筑学与这种技术融合的背景下,基于Arduino系统,结合参数化的形式研究方法与数字建造技术,展现一种技术融合的研究思路,为建筑互动系统实现提供了一种方法。     

Siderophore-manganese(III) interactions. I. Air-oxidation of manganese(ll) promoted by desferrioxamine B

Recent studies suggest that aqueous Mn(ll) complexes, particularly those with non-carboxylated ligands such as microbial siderophores, may be stable in soil and aquatic environments. In this paper, we determine the stability constants for Mn(ll) and Mn(lll) complexes with the common trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine B (DFOB). Base and redox titrations were conducted to determine DFOB conditional protonation constants and conditional stability constants for 1:1 DFOB complexes with Mn(ll) and Mn(lll). The conditional protonation constants agree well with literature values. We determined stability constants for three Mn(ll)-DFOB species and one Mn(lll)-DFOB species at 25 degrees C in 0.1 M NaCl. The Mn(lll) HDFOB+ complex can be formed readily by air-oxidation of Mn(ll)-DFOB. This reaction exhibits pseudo first-order kinetics with a rate coefficient that can be characterized as the product of oxygen concentration with a linear combination of the concentrations of the three Mn(ll)-DFOB complexes. The second-order rate coefficients appearing in this linear combination are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that associated with oxidation of the hydrolytic species Mn(OH)(0)2. The Mn(lll)HDFOB+ complex is stable for pH in the range of 7.0-11.3; but, at pH < 7.0 it decomposes by internal electron transfer, yielding oxidized DFOB products and Mn(ll). For p[H+] > 11.3, the complex degrades by disproportionation, yielding Mn(ll) and solid MnO2. This range of pH stability supports the hypothesis that aqueous Mn(lll) may play a vital role in the biogeochemical cycling of not only manganese, but also other elements, such as carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and redox-active metals.     

Are toxicological responses in laboratory (inbred) zebrafish representative of those in outbred (wild) populations? - A case study with an endocrine disrupting chemical

Laboratory animals tend to be more inbred and less genetically diverse than wild populations, and thus may differ in their susceptibility to chemical stressors. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the responses of related inbred (theoretical inbreeding F(IT) = n + 0.25) and outbred (F(IT) = n) zebrafish (Danio rerio) WIK/Wild family lines to an endocrine disrupting chemical, clotrimazole. Exposure of inbred and outbred zebrafish to 2.9 μg clotrimazole/L had no effect on survival, growth, or gonadal development. Exposure of both lines to 43.7 μg clotrimazole/L led to male-biased sex ratios compared with controls (87% versus 55% and 92% vs 64%, for inbred and outbred males, respectively), advanced germ cell development, and reduced plasma 11-ketotestosterone concentrations in males. However, outbred males (but not inbred males) developed testis that were more than twice the weight of controls, which corresponded with a proliferation of Leydig cells and maintenance of the expression (rather than down-regulation occurring in inbreds) of gonadal aromatase (cyp19a1a) and insulin-like growth factor (igf1). Our results illustrate that the effects of an endocrine disrupting chemical (clotrimazole) on some end points (here testis development) can differ between inbred and outbred zebrafish. This highlights the need for reporting pedigree/genetic information and consistency in the responses of laboratory animals (e.g., by using model compounds as positive controls).     

Functional Properties of Plasticized Bio-Based Poly(Lactic Acid)_Poly(Hydroxybutyrate) (PLA_PHB) Films for Active Food Packaging

Fully bio-based and biodegradable active films based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blended with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and incorporating lactic acid oligomers (OLA) as plasticizers and carvacrol as active agent were extruded and fully characterized in their functional properties for antimicrobial active packaging. PLA_PHB films showed good barrier to water vapor, while the resistance to oxygen diffusion decreased with the addition of OLA and carvacrol. Their overall migration in aqueous food simulant was determined and no significant changes were observed by the addition of carvacrol and OLA to the PLA_PHB formulations. However, the effect of both additives in fatty food simulant can be considered a positive feature for the potential protection of foodstuff with high fat content. Moreover, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the proposed formulations increased by the presence of carvacrol, with enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus if compared to Escherichia coli at short and long incubation times. These results underlined the specific antimicrobial properties of these bio-films suggesting their applicability in active food packaging.     

A DIRECT APPROACH TO THE DESIGN OF CYCLONES FOR AEROSOL-MONITORING APPLICATIONS

During the past four decades, many investigators have attempted to discover models to describe the performance of cyclone aerosol selectors. These efforts were in general not successful and resulted in “semi-empirical” relationships of narrow application. The introduction of regulatory size-selection curves for air-monitoring applications means that it is no longer adequate to predict only the median cut point (D₅₀) of a size selector. This further complicates the search for a useful cyclone model. Building on previous work, a completely empirical investigation was devised which has resulted in the development of the “Family” approach to cyclone design, and a method for predicting both the D₅₀ cut point and the shape (or slope) of the selection curve. Three cyclone families have been developed and tested, which cover the current range of requirements for size selective particulate sampling. Although this empirical approach does not advance the physical understanding of cyclone separators, it does provide a practical means to design cyclones for specific applications.     

High accuracy peak location and amplitude spectral estimation via tuning APES method

In this paper, we introduce a new approach to the method of non-parametric adaptive spectral analysis by using the Amplitude and Phase Estimation (APES) method, and taking into account the small sample errors of the sample covariance matrix. This approach is referred to as Adaptive Tuning Amplitude and Phase Estimation method (ATAPES). The main advantage of the ATAPES algorithm is its elimination of biased estimation exists with APES method, which is a biased peak location and corresponding problem of the biased amplitude estimation. The ATAPES method provides more accurate peak location and amplitude estimation with higher resolution than APES method.     

Surfactant assisted selective confinement of carbon nanotubes functionalized with octadecylamine in a poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) block copolymer matrix

We report how dodecanethiol (DT) surfactant can be used as a good dispersant to solubilize octadecylamine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (ODA-SWCNTs) in order to confine them in the polystyrene phase of the polystyrene-b-polyisoprene-b-polystyrene (SIS) block copolymer matrix. It has been also demonstrated how the block copolymer matrix is not able to self-assemble in ordered morphology when the ODA-SWCNTs are not modified with the surfactant. DT assisted confinement of carbon nanotubes into the PS phase causes not only the nanostructuration of the host polymer matrix but also switches the self-assembled nanostructure from ordered cylinders in the case of neat SIS to a self-assembled lamellar nanostructure.     

Artificial Situation Awareness for Increased Autonomy of Unmanned Aerial Systems in the Terminal Area

Situation awareness is the human function of perceiving, comprehending and projecting the state of the environment which is of critical importance to the safe operation of aircraft. A highly autonomous Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) must replicate this behaviour in order to maintain an acceptable level of safety verses a manned vehicle. Nowhere in the flight is situation awareness more critical than during operation in the terminal area. Of primary concern during this stage of flight is the awareness of other traffic heading for the same airfield. This paper presents of a novel method of spatial projection of traffic vehicles encountered by an autonomous UAS in the terminal stage of flight. This projection method relies on a cooperative means of traffic perception, such as Automated Dependant Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) and assumes there is a predefined route which vehicles follow through the terminal region. Whilst this is the case at the majority of airfield, traffic vehicles will not follow this path perfectly. This uncertainty in path following accuracy is captured by utilising a curvilinear reference frame and dealing with discrete transitions (such as the initiation of a turn) separately. It is shown that whilst this technique increases the computational complexity of the problem it can offer significant performance benefit.     

Acidic Attack of Perfluorinated Alkyl Ether Lubricant Molecules by Metal Oxide Surfaces

The reactions of linear perfluoropolyalkylether (PFAE) lubricants with α-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃-based solid superacids were studied. The reaction with α-Fe₂O₃ proceeded in two stages. The first stage was an initial slow catalytic decomposition of the fluid. This reaction released reactive gaseous products which attacked the metal oxide and converted it to FeF₃. The second stage was a more rapid decomposition of the fluid, effected by the surface FeF³. A study of the initial breakdown step was performed using α-Fe²O³, α-Fe²O³ preconverted to FeF³, and sulfate-promoted α-Fe²O³ superacids. The results indicate that the breakdown reaction involves acidic attack at fluorine atoms on acetal carbons in the linear PFAE. Possible approaches to combat the problems are outlined.