Escherichia coli Biofilm Characteristics on Polymeric Heat Exchanger Surfaces

Time‐dependent effects on the apparent roughness and surface free energy of different polymeric surfaces and stainless steel were studied during the biofouling process for Escherichia coli K12. The surface roughness increases during primary adhesion of E. coli on the surfaces and is later reduced as the surface between scattered bacteria is completely covered, forming a uniform biofilm. During the fouling process, the polar fraction of the surface free energy significantly increased, whereas the dispersive fraction decreased for all substrates. The attachment of E. coli and subsequent bacterial production of extracellular polymeric substances increased the polarity of the initially nonpolar polymeric surfaces to increase wettability.     

Shape Decomposition using Modal Analysis

We introduce a novel algorithm that decomposes a deformable shape into meaningful parts requiring only a single input pose. Using modal analysis, we are able to identify parts of the shape that tend to move rigidly. We define a deformation energy on the shape, enabling modal analysis to find the typical deformations of the shape. We then find a decomposition of the shape such that the typical deformations can be well approximated with deformation fields that are rigid in each part of the decomposition. We optimize for the best decomposition, which captures how the shape deforms. A hierarchical refinement scheme makes it possible to compute more detailed decompositions for some parts of the shape.
Although our algorithm does not require user intervention, it is possible to control the process by directly changing the deformation energy, or interactively refining the decomposition as necessary. Due to the construction of the energy function and the properties of modal analysis, the computed decompositions are robust to changes in pose as well as meshing, noise, and even imperfections such as small holes in the surface.     

Characterization of extensional rheological filament stretching with a dual‐mode Giesekus model

A new, simple, formulation that describes capillary thinning as predicted by a two‐mode Giesekus model is derived, and its application in analyzing data from extensional rheometry (capillary thinning) experiments is discussed. An algorithm is presented that can be used to fit the expressions obtained from the Giesekus model to extensional rheometry data. Examples of data fitting are given for an idealized data set, for measurements obtained for aqueous solutions of 6 wt % 900,000 molecular weight polyethylene oxide, and for biological fluids obtained from pitchers of Nepenthes Rafflesiana. Good fits to the data were obtained, with coefficients of determination in excess of 0.98. For each data set, it was possible to calculate values of extensional viscosity and relaxation time for each of the two modes, allowing quantitative comparison of different fluids or of the same fluid as it ages. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2188–2199, 2016     

Influence of FeO/SiO2 and CaO/SiO2 Ratios in Iron‐Saturated ZnO‐Rich Fayalite Slags on the Corrosion of MgO

The corrosion behavior of MgO in iron‐saturated ZnO‐rich fayalite (ZFS) slags having various FeO/SiO₂ ratio and CaO/SiO₂ ratio was investigated using MgO crucible tests for 12 h at 1200°C. The FeO/SiO₂ and CaO/SiO₂ ratios in the ZFS slags were varied from 1.0 to 2.2, and from 0.04 to 0.32, respectively. In all of the tests, it was observed that MgO dissolves into ZFS slags and that (Zn,Fe,Mg)₂SiO₄ olivine and (Zn,Fe,Mg)O solid solution are formed at the crucible/slag interface. The MgO dissolution decreased with the FeO/SiO₂ ratio up to a value of 1.7 and then slightly increased, whereas it continuously increased with the CaO/SiO₂ ratio. There is no obvious relationship between the amount of olivine and the FeO/SiO₂ ratio or CaO/SiO₂ ratio. In comparison, the formation of (Zn,Fe,Mg)O solid solution is enhanced by increasing the FeO/SiO₂ ratio or CaO/SiO₂ ratio in ZFS slags. The results suggest that MgO corrosion is the lowest for FeO/SiO₂ and CaO/SiO₂ ratios around 1.7 and 0, respectively.     

A systematic comparison of PCA‐based Statistical Process Monitoring methods for high‐dimensional,time‐dependent Processes

High‐dimensional and time‐dependent data pose significant challenges to Statistical Process Monitoring. Most of the high‐dimensional methodologies to cope with these challenges rely on some form of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model, usually classified as nonadaptive and adaptive. Nonadaptive methods include the static PCA approach and Dynamic Principal Component Analysis (DPCA) for data with autocorrelation. Methods, such as DPCA with Decorrelated Residuals, extend DPCA to further reduce the effects of autocorrelation and cross‐correlation on the monitoring statistics. Recursive Principal Component Analysis and Moving Window Principal Component Analysis, developed for nonstationary data, are adaptive. These fundamental methods will be systematically compared on high‐dimensional, time‐dependent processes (including the Tennessee Eastman benchmark process) to provide practitioners with guidelines for appropriate monitoring strategies and a sense of how they can be expected to perform. The selection of parameter values for the different methods is also discussed. Finally, the relevant challenges of modeling time‐dependent data are discussed, and areas of possible further research are highlighted. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1478–1493, 2016     

Multi-level Modeling of Silica–Template Interactions During Initial Stages of Zeolite Synthesis

Zeolite synthesis is driven by structure-directing agents, such as tetrapropyl ammonium ions (TPA⁺) for Silicalite-1 and ZSM-5. However, the guiding role of these organic templates in the complex assembly to highly ordered frameworks remains unclear, limiting the prospects for advanced material synthesis. In this work, both static ab initio and dynamic classical modeling techniques are employed to provide insight into the interactions between TPA⁺ and Silicalite-1 precursors. We find that as soon as the typical straight 10-ring channel of Silicalite-1 or ZSM-5 is formed from smaller oligomers, the TPA⁺ template is partially squeezed out of the resulting cavity. Partial retention of the template in the cavity is, however, indispensable to prevent collapse of the channel and subsequent hydrolysis.

Optimization of Mineralogy and Microstructure of Solidified Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag Through SiO2 Addition or Atmosphere Control During Hot-Stage Slag Treatment

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Valorization of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag is of significant importance for mitigation of the steel production’s environmental impact. The...