Temperature reduction due to the application of phase change materials

Overheating is a major problem in many modern buildings due to the utilization of lightweight constructions with low heat storing capacity. A possible answer to this problem is the emplacement of phase change materials (PCM), thereby increasing the thermal mass of a building. These materials change their state of aggregation within a defined temperature range. Useful PCM for buildings show a phase transition from solid to liquid and vice versa. The thermal mass of the materials is increased by the latent heat. A modified gypsum plaster and a salt mixture were chosen as two materials for the study of their impact on room temperature reduction. For realistic investigations, test rooms were erected where measurements were carried out under different conditions such as temporary air change, alternate internal heat gains or clouding. The experimental data was finally reproduced by dint of a mathematical model.     

Optimal allocation of bioassays in the case of parametrized covariance functions: an application to Lung’s retention of radioactive particles

In this paper, we investigate the effect of employing a parametrized covariance function in a regression experiment on corresponding optimum designs. We demonstrate these effects in the framework of a real example for measuring the lung’s retention of radioactive particles. Also, two different covariance functions are considered, and it is shown that this choice can play a crucial role.      

Phase Separation in Chalcogenide Glasses: The System AgAsSSe

We report on visualization of a phase separation in Ag_x(As_0.33S_0.67)_100−x and Ag_x(As_0.33S_0.335Se_0.335)_100−x chalcogenide glasses by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Sufficient topographical contrast (~20 nm) was achieved by selective polishing of a phase-separated sample (Ag-poor, Ag-rich regions) and phase separation occurred within 0.5–20 at.% Ag and 2–18 at.% Ag in Ag_x(As_0.33S_0.67)_100−x and Ag_x(As_0.33S_0.335Se_0.335)_100−x systems, respectively. Homogenous regions were observed below and above the phase separation lower and upper limits. Direct comparison of scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy sensitivity of phase separation detection is shown. In addition, concentration of silver in particular phases of AgAsS system was evaluated by NanoSIMS (secondary ion mass spectroscopy) and very similar concentration of silver was detected in the phases at boundaries of immiscibility region.     

Magnetically Controllable Silver Nanocomposite with Multifunctional Phosphotriazine Matrix and High Antimicrobial Activity

A recently developed multi‐functional phosphotriazine‐based polymer is used as a matrix for embedding γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as well as a suitable chemical template for surface modification with silver nanoparticles. For the primary magnetic modification, maghemite nanoparticles are surface modified with oleic acid in order to render them organophilic and to prevent the aggregation of the nanoparticles. This aggregation could occur as the polymer synthesis, based on reaction of phosphonitrilic chlorine and 1,4‐phenylenediamine, takes place in toluene. The surface active amine units of the polymer structure enable the reduction of silver cations to silver nanoparticles, which are well attached and finely dispersed on its surface. The developed nanocomposite represents one of the few magnetically controllable antibacterial agents based on silver nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements reveal the completely suppressed interactions among maghemite nanoparticles because of their perfect surface coating with an organic surfactant and fine dispersion inside the polymer matrix. This magnetic nanocomposite exhibits a high antibacterial and antifungal activity as proven by tests with nine bacterial strains and four candida (yeast genus) species. For the majority of the tested species, the minimum‐inhibition concentrations are below 100 mg L^?1, which is comparable to their equivalent minimum‐inhibition concentrations in colloidal silver systems.     

电力电子技术中虚拟原型和综合多目标优化技术研究(上)

新的拓扑结构,新的调制方法和未来的宽能带隙的半导体器件技术将会满足电力电子系统更高效率,更高功率密度和更低成本的要求。但是,在设计过程中通过使用多范畴/多目标优化,亦即对设计变量都用最优值,也能显著地提高目前技术系统的性能。为了实现这些优化,首先需要对主电路建立一个综合的数学模型,包括热模型,DM和CM EMI滤波器模型。基于这些模型,可以得到诸如效率,功率密度等的多目标优化。优化可以充分地使用所有的设计自由度,也允许确定根据诸如功率半导体器件的品质因数或磁芯材料的性质等基本技术决定的系统性能的敏感度。而且,能够容易地比较不同拓扑结构和识别固有性能的限制。本文首先描述设计一个电力电子变换器的主要功能要素的分析途径和一个线性设计过程。接着连接诸如电、磁、热和热-机设计范畴的元件模型,讨论基于这些连接模型的各个设计变量的优化。最后,研究不同范畴的耦合和实施这些耦合的等效电路的利用实例。     

Recent developments in cold plasma-based enzyme activity (browning,cell wall degradation,and antioxidant) in fruits and vegetables

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations reports, approximately half of the total harvested fruits and vegetables vanish before they reach the end consumer due to their perishable nature. Enzymatic browning is one of the most common problems faced by fruit and vegetable processing. The perishability of fruits and vegetables is contributed by the various browning enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) and ripening or cell wall degrading enzyme (pectin methyl-esterase). In contrast, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) assist in reversing the damage caused by reactive oxygen species or free radicals. The cold plasma technique has emerged as a novel, economic, and environmentally friendly approach that reduces the expression of ripening and browning enzymes while increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes; microorganisms are significantly inhibited, therefore improving the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. This review narrates the mechanism and principle involved in the use of cold plasma technique as a nonthermal agent and its application in impeding the activity of browning and ripening enzymes and increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes for improving the shelf life and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables and preventing spoilage and pathogenic germs from growing. An overview of hurdles and sustainability advantages of cold plasma technology is presented.     

Optimisation of puffing naked barley

The expansion of volume (the puffing index) of naked barley was investigated at various operating conditions of the puffing process. The purpose was to optimise the manufacture of expanded grains of the naked barley cultivars that have exceptional nutritional value for humans. The influence of the following parameters on the puffing index was investigated: the mass and the moisture content of the charge of the puffing barrel, pressure and temperature during the puffing process, the cultivar of barley, pre-processing of the grain (grinding and polishing), adding water into the barrel and the sensory quality of the product.

A regression equation was established for the calculation of the puffing index as a function of the operating parameters. The puffing index is influenced especially by the operating temperature and pressure. There was no influence found of mass of the charge, the cultivar of barley, the degree of grinding of barley, washing of the grains and adding water on the puffing index. The puffing index is not the sole indicator of the quality of the expanded product. It is necessary to take into account the sensory evaluation. A quality expanded naked barley was obtained at the operating temperature of 550 °C and pressure from 0.9 to 1.0 MPa with the moisture content of the charge around 16.5%.     

Influence of temperature of thermal treatment on surface densification of spruce

Spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) wood lamellae, thermally treated at 170, 190, 210 and 230 °C were surface densified by compression at a temperature of 150 °C to three degrees of compression. Immediate springback, set recovery, mechanical properties in 3-point flexure, Brinell hardness and density profiles measurements were used to determine the effect of thermal treatment on the properties of surface densified wood. The highest immediate springback occurred in wood specimens thermally treated at the highest temperature (230 °C) and decreased with decreasing thermal treatment temperature. The untreated samples had the highest set recovery, which decreased with the temperature of thermal treatment. The surface densification increased hardness and bending strength. The highest increase was in the case of untreated wood and decreased with the temperature of thermal treatment. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of surface densified wood decreased with increasing thermal treatment temperature. The trend was similar for specimens which were thermally treated but not surface densified. Surface densification increased the density of the specimens in the first few millimetres below the surface. The highest density was achieved in untreated specimens and the lowest in specimens thermally treated at the highest temperature.