Velocity measurements inside the concentration boundary layer during copper-magneto-electrolysis using a novel laser Doppler profile sensor

The evolution of the velocity boundary layer during the initial phase of copper electrolysis under the influence of a magnetic field is studied by using particle image velocimetry and a novel laser Doppler velocity profile sensor. With this new sensor, time-resolved velocity measurements within 400 μm of a vertically aligned cathode in an aqueous 0.05 M CuSO₄-solution are presented. In this way, the complex interaction of Lorentz force and opposing buoyancy-driven convection was studied by measuring the resulting velocity profile inside the concentration boundary layer with a spatial resolution of 15 μm. It is shown that the Lorentz force-driven convection only dominates the velocity boundary layer during the early phase of electrolysis and induces a linear velocity profile near the cathode. The linear relationship between the velocity gradient and Lorentz force is determined. With the onset of the opposing buoyancy-driven convection at the cathode, a duplex structure of the boundary layer appears. Its characteristic quantities, given by the horizontal distances, δ_max and δv=0, where the velocity reaches the maximum and where it is equal to zero, remain nearly unchanged, while the maximum velocity, vmax, in spite of the counteracting Lorentz force, increases faster as compared to pure natural convection, depending on the current density.     

Development of Biarylalkyl Carboxylic Acid Amides with Improved Anti-schistosomal Activity

The parasitic disease schistosomiasis is the cause of more than 200 000 human deaths per year. Although the disease is treatable, there is one major shortcoming: praziquantel has been the only drug used to combat these parasites since 1977. The risk of the emergence of resistant schistosomes is known to be increasing, as a reduced sensitivity of these parasites toward praziquantel has been observed. We developed a new class of substances, which are derived from inhibitors of human aldose reductase, and which showed promising activity against Schistosoma mansoni couples in vitro. Further optimisation of the compounds led to an increase in anti-schistosomal activity with observed phenotypes such as reduced egg production, vitality, and motility as well as tegumental damage and gut dilatation. Here, we performed structure–activity relationship studies on the carboxylic acid moiety of biarylalkyl carboxylic acids. Out of 82 carboxylic acid amides, we identified 10 compounds that are active against S. mansoni at 25 μm . The best five compounds showed an anti-schistosomal activity up to 10 μm and induced severe phenotypes. Cytotoxicity tests in human cell lines showed that two derivatives had no cytotoxicity at 50 or 100 μm . These compounds are promising candidates for further optimisation toward the new anti-schistosomal agents.     

Science and technology in the region: The output of regional science and technology, its strengths and its leading institutions

Summary We operationalize scientific output in a region by means of the number of articles (as in the SciSearch database) per year and technology output by means of the number of patent applications (as in the database of the European Patent Office) per priority year. All informetric analyses were done using the DIALOG online-system. The main research questions are the following: Which scientific and technological fields or topics are most influent within a region and which institutions or companies are mainly publishing articles or holding patents? Do the distributions of regional science and technology fields and of publishing institutions follow the well-known informetric function? Are there - as it is expected - only few fields and few institutions which dominate the region? Is there a connection between the economic power of a region and the regional publication and patent output? Examples studied in detail are seven German regions: Aachen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Köln (Cologne), Leipzig - Halle - Dessau, München (Munich), and Stuttgart. Three different indicators were used, science and technology attraction of a region (number of scientific articles and patents), science and technology intensity (articles and patents per 1,000 inhabitants), and science and technology density (articles and patents per 1 billion EURO gross value added). Top region concerning both attraction and intensity is Munich, concerning density it is Aachen.     

Investigation into TRIP steels won steel research Best Paper Award 1999

Research results are commonly circulated on the occasion of congresses or by publication in technical journals. steel research, the scientific journal edited by the Verein Deutscher Eisenhüttenleute, VDEh ‐ The German Iron and Steel Institute, and the Max‐Planck‐Institut für Eisenforschung, MPI, presents the latest results of fundamental research in the fields of process metallurgy, metal working and materials science as far as the material steel is concerned. Formerly well‐known as ?Archiv für das Eisenhüttenwesen“, steel research looks back on 70 years of experience in worldwide exchange of technological basics. In 1995, the editors decided to offer a Best Paper Award with 1.000 US‐$ purse and a pretty diploma. This year, it was for the fifth time that authors have been awarded with the steel research Best Paper Award. The Editorial Board has chosen a contribution to TRIP steels from the papers published in the 1999 annual volume.     

涂层辊筒技术——非织造布整理用涂层辊简装置的多功能工艺理念

单面低加料率的涂层辊筒装置应用在非织造布工业中有着悠久的历史,绝大多数用于非织造尿布顶层的低加料率,单面亲水或永久亲水.Andritz Ktisters(安德里兹寇司德)为进行高速生产的非织造布工业客户(速度高至1000m/min)提供量身定做的neXkiss涂层辊筒产品系列.最新开发的neXkiss plus拥有特殊的灵活性和最大的生产多功能性.     

The Role of the Individual – A Key to Learning in Preparedness Organizations

A well functioning societal response to crises is benefited by individuals having adequate skills and knowledge. From a municipal perspective this requires the creation of a learning organization. The objective of this study is to determine whether individual municipal employees, who have the responsibility for preparedness planning, reason and act in ways that promote learning about crises and preparedness issues throughout the municipal organization. Analysis of interviews with preparedness planners in six Swedish municipalities on their strategies for preparedness planning, reveal that preparedness planning too often becomes a demarcated activity, restricted to not more than a handful of individuals. This study indicates that one reason for why the preparedness work becomes demarcated is that individuals central to the preparedness planning are not taking on roles for acting in ways that are required in order for a learning organization to be established.     

Augmented release of Teretrius nigrescens Lewis (Coleoptera: Histeridae) for the control of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in stored cassava chips

A trial was set up in northern Benin to evaluate the potential of Teretrius nigrescens to reduce the infestation and damage to cassava chips caused by storage insects. Cassava chips were stored for 5 months in mud silos and 50 adults of T. nigrescens were added when the stores were first filled. Stores where no predator was released were monitored as controls. The main storage insects observed were Prostephanus truncatus and Dinoderus spp. Initial chip weight varied between 102 and 246 g with no difference between treatments. Chip weight and number of holes on chips initially differed between treatments after 2 months of storage. After 3 months of storage, losses reached 40-50% without T. nigrescens and 30-40% when cassava chips were stored with T. nigrescens. A farmer can increase his profit by 1437 Fcfa/100 kg (1$=560 Fcfa, 1£=968 Fcfa; 1€=656 Fcfa, as on 2 December 2005) through the use of T. nigrescens because losses are reduced by 11%. Data analysis showed that there were significant differences (P<0.0001) between the two treatments for the number of holes, number of insects, weight of each chip as well as damage. There were twice as many P. truncatus and holes on chips in stores where T. nigrescens was not released. The addition of the predator to farmers’ stores is an economic option for controlling losses due to insects in cassava chips.     

Effect of tumbling and RN genotype on sensory perception of cured-smoked pork loin

Effects of tumbling and RN genotype on sensory perception of cured-smoked loins were studied on loins from 32 crossbred female pigs containing Hampshire blood. Right-side loins were intermittently tumbled during 4 h, whereas left-side loins were left non-tumbled. Tumbled loins were more tender and uniform in cured colour as well as less acidulous in taste compared with non-tumbled loins. Further, the formation of undesirable pores was lower in tumbled loins. Final juiciness tended to be higher and meat taste intensity lower in tumbled loins, whereas initial juiciness did not differ. There were no significant interactions between tumbling and RN genotype for sensory attributes. RN⁻ carriers (RN⁻/rn⁺) were more acidulous in taste, had more pronounced meat taste and were saltier than non-carriers (rn⁺ /rn⁺). Moreover, they tended to have higher initial juiciness and more undesirable pores, and be less homogeneous in cured pink colour. No differences in consumer preference between the four treatments were detected in the ranking test, but most persons ranked non-tumbled loins highest regarding overall liking. Instrumental tenderness measurements agreed well with sensory tenderness scores.