Moisture Diffusion Coefficients for Modeling the First and Second Drying Sections of Green Bricks

A model has been developed that describes the dependence of the moisture diffusion coefficient on the water fraction. Until the end of shrinkage has been achieved, the moisture diffusion coefficient is proportional to the second power of the water fraction. Due to shrinkage, the relevant capillary spaces available for water transport become smaller. Consequently, the moisture diffusion coefficient decreases continually. After the end of shrinkage, the flow resistance to the water moving toward the surface increases sharply due to penetrating air. This leads to a steep drop of the moisture diffusion coefficient by several powers of ten. Measurements were carried out with specimens of defined geometry to determine the moisture diffusion coefficient. On the basis of a specified limiting value, the model is capable of calculating the moisture diffusion for all initially specified raw materials moistures. The moisture can also be determined if the degree of drying shrinkage is known. Using the determined moisture diffusion coefficient, the first and the second drying section can be located. Drying tests were carried out in a laboratory dryer and the experimental results obtained were compared to the simulation results. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Variation in the human lipidome associated with coffee consumption as revealed by quantitative targeted metabolomics

The effect of coffee consumption on human health is still discussed controversially. Here, we report results from a metabolomics study of coffee consumption, where we measured 363 metabolites in blood serum of 284 male participants of the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg study population, aged between 55 and 79 years. A statistical analysis of the association of metabolite concentrations and the number of cups of coffee consumed per day showed that coffee intake is positively associated with two classes of sphingomyelins, one containing a hydroxy‐group (SM(OH)) and the other having an additional carboxy‐group (SM(OH,COOH)). In contrast, long‐ and medium‐chain acylcarnitines were found to decrease with increasing coffee consumption. It is noteworthy that the concentration of total cholesterol also rises with an increased coffee intake in this study group. The association observed here between these hydroxylated and carboxylated sphingolipid species and coffee intake may be induced by changes in the cholesterol levels. Alternatively, these molecules may act as scavengers of oxidative species, which decrease with higher coffee intake. In summary, we demonstrate strong positive associations between coffee consumption and two classes of sphingomyelins and a negative association between coffee consumption and long‐ and medium‐chain acylcarnitines.     

Erhebung zum betrieblichen Datenschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

COMPLEX FORMATION AND LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION OF SILVER WITH CYCLIC AND OPEN-CHAIN OXATHIA ALKANES

The complex forming and extraction properties of various open-chain and two cyclic oxathia alkanes towards silver have been studied. The investigations confirm the direct proportionality between extraction constants and related complex stability constants.The extraction of silver by open-chain oxethie alkenee is greeter than by structurally analogoue thicacrown compounds. This fact and the determined stability constants show an absence of a macrocyclic effect during complex formation. The differences of extraction power between the various open-chain compounds can be interpreted on the basic o f the coordinative saturation and stereochemiatry of the silver ion, on the size o f the poesible chelate rings, and on the complexing capability o f the ether oxygen atoms.     

On negative dispersion without absorption in bichromatically driven two-level systems

Abstract

The possibility of obtaining strong negative dispersion without absorption in the central resonance structure of the spectrum of a bichromatically driven two-level system is investigated. A nonlinear analysis is performed using the technique of continued fractions with respect to the dressedstate basis of a strong pumping laser. We discuss the transition between the two regimes of the monochromatic driving case with a weak probing laser and of nearly equally strong lasers in terms of the contributions from coherences and populations of these dressed states. In contrast with the strong dependence of the Rabi side bands on probe field intensity, we find a remarkable stability of the negative dispersion in the central resonance structure.     

VC Management for Heterogeneous QoS Multicast Transmissions

A crucial component of the interaction between ATM's and the Internet's Quality of Service (QoS) architectures is the efficient mapping of RSVP (Resource reSerVation Protocol) as the Internet's signalling protocol onto the according ATM mechanisms. In particular, this article focuses on one of the most contrary characteristics of RSVP and ATM signalling. This is the support for heterogeneous reservations by RSVP over the ATM subnetwork, taking into account that ATM only allows for a homogeneous QoS within a single Virtual Circuit (VC). We present previous approaches to the solution of this problem and argue for more sophisticated and efficient approaches to manage ATM VCs taking into consideration ATM tariffs and resource consumption.     

Multiphoton imaging with a novel compact diode‐pumped Ti:sapphire oscillator

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy commonly relies on bulky and expensive femtosecond lasers. We integrated a novel minimal‐footprint Ti:sapphire oscillator, pumped by a frequency‐doubled distributed Bragg reflector tapered diode laser, into a clinical multiphoton tomograph and evaluated its imaging capability using different biological samples, i.e. cell monolayers, corneal tissue, and human skin. With the novel laser, the realization of very compact Ti:sapphire‐based systems for high‐quality multiphoton imaging at a significantly size and weight compared to current systems will become possible. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1154–1158, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.