Evaluation of coatings,mortars and mix design for protection of concrete against sulphur oxidising bacteria

Deterioration of concrete in cooling tower basins by microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a concern in geothermal power plants. The effect of supplementary cementitious materials, epoxy coatings, latex-modified mortars and calcium aluminate cement mortar for protecting concrete from MIC was investigated. Laboratory exposure tests to a particular type of sulphur and iron oxidising bacteria, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, were performed to rank candidate materials and these were followed by field exposure tests of the best materials in a cooling tower basin. It was determined that partial replacement of cement with 40% blast furnace slag or 5% to 10% silica fume improved resistance to MIC. A replacement level of 60% slag resulted in similar performance to concrete made with ordinary Portland or sulphate resistant cement. Epoxy- and styrene butadiene latex-modified mortars offered protection to concrete but still underwent a degree of attack. Epoxy coatings were found to be effective in protecting concrete. Calcium aluminate cement mortar showed excellent durability in laboratory and field tests.     

Adaptierung der sensorischen Texturprofilanalyse 1. Mitteilung: Skalierung mechanischer Textureigenschaften

Zusammenfassung Die in den USA entwickelte sensorische Texturprofilanalyse stellt die aussagestärkste Methode zur quantitativen und qualitativen Bewertung der Texturunterschiede von Lebensmitteln dar. Vor der Anwendung in Regionen mit anderen Konsumgewohnheiten bedarf sie jedoch einer entsprechenden Adaptierung. Mitteilung 1 berichtet über modifizierte standardisierte Intensitätsskalen zur quantitativen Einstufung der mechanischen Textureigenschaften Festigkeit, Brüchigkeit, Kaubarkeit, weichelastisches Verhalten, Viskosität und Adhäsivität. Die Anpassung an das österreichische Lebensmittelspektrum erfolgte mittels rheologischer Vorprüfungen potentieller Standardpunkte und anschließender Fixierung der Normskalen durch ein geschultes Prüferpanel unter guter Korrelation zwischen instrumentellen und sensorischen Prüfungen.

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Adaption of sensory texture profile analysis 1. Scaling of mechanical properties

Summary Texture profile analysis, originally developed in the United States, represents the most complete system of both quantitative and qualitative sensory texture measurements of foodstuffs. Due to regionally varying habits of consumption, an adequate adaptation is necessary prior to application. This paper deals with the evaluation of the mechanical properties firmness, brittleness, chewiness, gumminess, viscosity and adhesiveness. Modifications of standard rating scales for typical Austrian food materials are reported. Rheological examination of commodities was followed by final establishment of standard scales with a trained panel. Good correlation between instrumental and sensory results was obtained.

     

Frequency-Offset PLL for Synchronous Optical Sampling of OTDM Signals

We demonstrate a novel synchronization scheme for optical sampling which is based on a nonstandard phase-locked loop (PLL). Phase comparison is performed at a 10-GHz optical time-division-multiplexing (OTDM) base rate, thus avoiding ultrafast detectors and electronics. The employed frequency-offset PLL allows synchronous sampling of OTDM signals (or any other signals with bit rates given by integer multiples of the base rate), which would be impossible using a standard PLL. This provides a higher degree of flexibility for problem-specific sweeping than asynchronous sampling     

Do ESD fails in systems correlate with IC ESD robustness?

Integrated circuits (ICs) are qualified for their electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness according to the well-known IC ESD standards Human Body Model, Machine Model, and Charged Device Model in order to guarantee safe handling in ESD protected areas. For electronic systems like mobile phones which are in direct use by consumers, certain robustness against system level ESD is demanded, too. As the ESD test methods of device and system level stress are completely different (waveforms, stress application, operating condition of the DUT, etc.), correlations between models of both worlds are difficult to establish. Therefore, the system vendors more and more demand a specified ESD robustness for devices (ICs) according to an ESD system level standard. Testing ICs to a system level ESD standard requires careful considerations; first ideas are summarized in the new Standard Practice “Human Metal Model” of the ESDA/ANSI. However, the approach of deriving system ESD robustness from IC robustness is currently too much simplified and bears severe potential risks. Nevertheless, there are methodologies and approaches to use IC ESD characterization for defining ESD protection concepts for systems. Appropriate high-current characterization of ICs can be the cornerstone for a successfully optimized system ESD protection.     

Evidence for Glass–glass Interfaces in a Columnar Cu–Zr Nanoglass

Comprehensive analyses of the atomic structure using advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy-based methods combined with atom probe tomography confirm the presence of distinct glass–glass interfaces in a columnar Cu-Zr nanoglass synthesized by magnetron sputtering. These analyses provide first-time in-depth characterization of sputtered film nanoglasses and indicate that glass–glass interfaces indeed present an amorphous phase with reduced mass density as compared to the neighboring amorphous regions. Moreover, dedicated analyses of the diffusion kinetics by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF SIMS) prove significantly enhanced diffusivity, suggesting fast transport along the low density glass–glass interfaces. The present results further indicate that sputter deposition is a feasible technique for reliable production of nanoglasses and that some of the concepts proposed for this new class of glassy materials are applicable.     

On considering hierarchical modulation in the porting process of legacy waveforms to software defined radio

The novel software defined radio (SDR) technology allows taking the next step in the evolution of military tactical communications. SDRs allow military radio operators to change waveforms on-the-fly according to the mission needs. On the one hand, new wideband networking waveforms will offer new services like high data throughputs and mobile ad-hoc networking capabilities. On the other hand, legacy waveforms will ensure interoperability to legacy equipment in missions where both types of radios are deployed at the same time. In this article, we analyze if an added value can be provided to the operators at SDRs hosting an ‘enhanced’ legacy waveform. This enhancement shall be introduced such that interoperability to the legacy equipment is still guaranteed. The modern concept of hierarchical modulation allows fulfilling this side constraint. While the legacy waveform acts as base-layer, some enhancement-layers offer extra bit budget to transmit additional information. This spare bit budget can be exploited to increase the data rate (i.e. throughput), the error robustness (and with this communication range), or both.