Wood colour of central European wood species: CIELAB characterisation and colour intensification

In this project, 24 central European wood species have been characterized spectrophotometrically using the CIELAB-colour-system. Special focus has been put on the analysis of colour intensification of wood surfaces due to surface wetting. The analysis shows how the various wood species react to wetting and how the colour is changed. Especially darker hardwood species are susceptible to the colour intensification effect, resulting in a more intensive colour appearance. Additionally, an idealised model to describe the appearance of the wood colour is proposed: The recognized wood colour is a function of: first the reflected wavelength of the visible light, second the surface roughness and third the inner structure of the specific wood piece and the resulting refraction properties of the interacting substances. This model is supported by colour and gloss measurements of the wood species and selected coating investigations with oil and clear lacquer. Furthermore, a novel characteristic value, namely the light-reflection-depth (LRD), is introduced to describe wood properties according to light penetration. All this helps to understand how the wood colour impression is created for a standard observer. Particularly, the intensification effect can be described and explained by structural changes, which affect a change in colour. Understanding the reasons for the colour intensification supports innovative natural colour engineering of specific wood species.     

AN EXPERIMENTAL FRUIT DEHYDRATION SYSTEM

An experimental dehydration system comprising two dehydration units, and in which control and data acquisition functions were computerized, was developed. Product mass is continuously monitored using a built-in weighbridge which facilitates drying rate studies. Product temperatures are also monitored on a continuous basis. Control of wet bulb temperature is achieved by varying the rate of recirculation of air, in conjunction with humidification. Dehydration under isothermal conditions as well as programmed temperature control is supported. In the latter mode temperature programming is performed according to change in mass to simulate the typical air temperature profiles encountered in commercial dehydration tunnels during parallel- and counter- flow operations.     

Production Control of a Flexible Manufacturing System in a Job Shop Environment

This paper provides an application oriented analysis of local search procedures for Operation Scheduling and Shop Floor Management of a major German manufacturer of cigarette machines. The heuristics applied are the Threshold- and Simulated Annealing-Algorithm considering Job Shop as well as embedded FMS production features. In this context a new neighbourhood search technique is developed, which is based on a small set of local neighbourhoods and is flexible with respect to the performance measurements of production control. By this approach the scheduling, loading and workload allocation problems of a production facility consisting of an embedded FMS and a conventional Job Shop can be solved simultaneously.     

Clinical trials with an anti-CD25 ricin A-chain experimental and immunotoxin (RFT5-SMPT-dgA) in Hodgkin's lymphoma

Immunotoxins (ITs) consisting of a cell-binding component and a potent toxin were developed as a new class of biological anti-tumor agents to improve adjuvant therapy. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has been demonstrated to be an excellent target for ITs because high concentrations of lymphocyte activation markers such as CD25 and CD30 are expressed on Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H-RS). Several ITs against these antigens have shown potent antitumor effects against H-RS cells in vitro and in different HL animal models. On the basis of its superiority in preclinical models, the anti-CD25 IT RFT5-SMPT-dgA was subsequently evaluated in a phase I study in patients with refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. The IT was constructed by linking the monoclonal antibody (Moab) RFT5 via a sterically hindered disulfide linker (SMPT) to deglycosylated ricin A-chain (dgA). All 15 patients enrolled in this trial were heavily pretreated with a mean of five different prior therapies. The IT was administered intravenously over four hours on days 1-3-5-7 for total doses per cycle of 5, 10, 15, or 20 mg/m2. Side effects were reversible and related to the vascular leak syndrome (VLS), i.e. decrease in serum albumin, edema, weight gain, hypotension, tachycardia, myalgia, and weakness. In all three patients receiving 20 mg/m2 NCI toxicity grade III was observed. Thus, 15 mg/m2 is the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of RFT5-SMPT-dgA. 50% of the patients developed human anti-ricin A-chain antibodies (HARA) and/or human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA). Clinical results included two partial remissions (PR), one minor response (MR), three stable disease (SD) and nine progressive disease (PD). In an extension of the phase I trial, five additional patients have been treated at the MTD.     

CT-angiography as a non-invasive method for the evaluation of the patency of TIPSS (transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of determining patency of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) by non-invasive CT angiography (CTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: (1) Non-enhanced scanning of the shunt. (2) Bolus tracking by injecting 20 ml of non-ionic contrast material through a cubital vein access to determine the time to maximal shunt enhancement. (3) Contrast-enhanced spiral CT study applying a delay according to the time to peak of the shunt, 3 mm collimation, 5 mm table feed and 3 mm reconstruction interval. (4) 3D and multiplanar reconstructions. (5) Evaluation of the questions: intrahepatic shunt patent or not; evidence of intimal hyperplasia; evidence of stenosis and potential location. (6) Transjugular portography via the stent. (7) Comparison of angiographic findings and CT morphology. RESULTS: Eight patients had inconspicuous CTA. Four of them had a normal shunt at angiography, four had slight intimal hyperplasia. No intervention was necessary in these patients. CTA of three patients showed intimal hyperplasia (lumen reduction between 10% and 50%). The diagnosis was angiographically confirmed in all cases. Due to a high portosystemic gradient intervention was required in all. In five patients CTA and angiography showed a stenosis (reduction of shunt lumen > 50%). All required a revision including stent placement or PTA of the shunt tract. Four shunts were occluded; all occlusions were shown both in CTA and angiography. CONCLUSIONS: None of the shunts with normal findings at CTA required revision. All shunts conspicuous on CTA resulted in revision. In this study, CTA turned out to be an accurate, non-invasive method to evaluate the patency of TIPSS.     

创造性的PRIMUS(R)技术,用于直接还原铁矿石和回收冶金固体废物

描述来自卢森堡保尔沃特公司的PRIMUS(R)工艺,该技术可以有效地直接还原铁矿石和回收富含锌的冶金废渣.通过PRIMUS(R)工厂,联合炼钢厂和轧钢厂,可以形成一个完整的生产线,得到DRI/铁水和从泥浆、烟尘和黑皮中得到锌及其他有价金属.保尔沃特公司基于多膛炉开发了这种技术,从固态废渣中提取锌或高效率地直接还原铁矿石.能量消耗小而且用煤粉作还原剂,PRIMUS(R)工艺操作费用低.描述PRIMUS(R)工艺和用途,报告保尔沃特的研发步骤和最终在卢森堡的PRIMUS(R)工厂.     

Static and dynamic properties of InGaAsP-InP distributed feedbacklasers-a detailed comparison between experiment and theory

We have investigated the static and dynamic characteristics of phase shifted InGaAsP-InP DFB lasers mainly focusing on a comprehensive comparison between experimental results and numerical simulations. Experimental data of InGaAsP-InP mushroom type DFB lasers have been recorded, such as optical spectra, variations of the mode wavelengths with continuous and pulsed injection current, side mode suppression ratio, relative intensity noise, small signal amplitude modulation, and the transient response to 10 and 15 Gb/s large signal modulation. The theoretical model calculations in this paper are based on the transfer matrix method in combination with a rate equation analysis and take into account longitudinal mode spatial hole burning which is modified by the inhomogeneous current injection resulting from the axially varying Fermi voltage in both the static and the dynamic case. A good agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical simulations has been obtained extracting a set of parameters which consistently describes the measurements of our devices     

Thickness Dependent Properties in Oxide Heterostructures Driven by Structurally Induced Metal–Oxygen Hybridization Variations

Thickness‐driven electronic phase transitions are broadly observed in different types of functional perovskite heterostructures. However, uncertainty remains whether these effects are solely due to spatial confinement, broken symmetry, or rather to a change of structure with varying film thickness. Here, this study presents direct evidence for the relaxation of oxygen‐2p and Mn‐3d orbital (p–d) hybridization coupled to the layer‐dependent octahedral tilts within a La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ film driven by interfacial octahedral coupling. An enhanced Curie temperature is achieved by reducing the octahedral tilting via interface structure engineering. Atomically resolved lattice, electronic, and magnetic structures together with X‐ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrate the central role of thickness‐dependent p–d hybridization in the widely observed dimensionality effects present in correlated oxide heterostructures.     

DEHYDRATION OF PEACHES WITHOUT SULPHUR DIOXIDE

ABSTRACT

The experimental drying behaviour of clingstone peach halves dehydrated without sulphites was investigated. Fruit treatments such as peeling and peeling followed by blanching led to greatly increased drying rates in comparison to unpeeled halves during isothermal dehydration. Superficial product temperature during dehydration was also affected by fruit treatment. Drying rates during isothermal dehydration were found to increase as linear air velocity increased from 2 to 4 m.s^?1. Fruit size had a pronounced effect on drying rates, with halves obtained from the smallest fruit (54 mm.), showing the highest rates. Experimental drying studies were     

Influence of low and moderate temperature kiln drying schedules on specific mechanical properties of Norway spruce wood

The knowledge of the influence of different temperature ranges on mechanical properties of kiln dried timber is very important in structural applications. The current paper deals with an investigation of the influence of low and moderate temperature drying schedules on the selected mechanical properties of Norway spruce wood (Picea abies?L.). The drying experiments were performed at four different temperatures (45, 55, 65, and 80°C) and clear wood specimens were prepared for the mechanical tests, three-point bending test, impact bending test, and tensile test perpendicular to the grain, respectively. The results of this systematic investigation were statistically analysed and as a conclusion, it can be stated that the mechanical properties investigated were not influenced by the drying temperatures applied.