Burn threshold prediction for High Efficiency Deep Grinding

Burn threshold diagrams are useful for the prediction of thermally induced grinding damage and were originally developed to describe the conventional shallow cut grinding regime. With the development of new high stock removal grinding processes such as High Efficiency Deep Grinding (HEDG), the prevention of thermal damage to the workpiece is of particular concern. The principle of HEDG is based around the change in thermal characteristics of the grinding process at high Peclet numbers, whereby less heat is partitioned to the workpiece. Conventional burn threshold diagrams are valid for Peclet numbers below 50, well below the values expected in HEDG. This study presents a modified approach to the construction of burn threshold diagrams which takes account of the change in thermal partitioning with Peclet number. The approach has been validated through grinding trials over a range of specific material removal rates.     

Fouling control of a membrane coupled photocatalytic process treating greywater

Fouling in membrane coupled photocatalytic reactors was investigated in the case of greywater treatment by establishing the link between product type, dose, irradiation time and fouling rates in a cross flow membrane cell fitted with a 0.4 μm pore sized polyethylene membrane. Rapid fouling occurred only with shower gels and conditioners and was linked to changes in the organo-TiO₂ aggregate size postulated to be caused by polymers within the products. Fouling was reduced to a negligible level when sufficient irradiation was applied demonstrating that the membrane component of the process is not the issue and that scale up and implementation of the process relates to effective design of the UV reactor.     

Microwave measurements for seniors: applications of computer-basedinstruction

The integration of computer-based instruction with advanced, automated instrumentation, making use of the automated system's capability for individualized, self-paced tutoring in its own operation, is discussed. Details are presented on two such computer-based tutorials: one to provide an introduction to a microwave vector network analyzer, and the other to train students in the operation of a spectrum analyzer. The technique has broad potential for use in systems of PC instruments, and as an instructional tool for industry as well as academia     

High-Performance Switched Reluctance Brushless Drives

Switched reluctance (SR) drives offer the advantages of simple and robust motor construction, high speeds, high overall efficiencies over a wide operating range of torque and speed, simple power converter circuits with a reduced number of switches, and excellent controllability. The basis of these claims is explained. The history of the SR system, in particular the extensive research at Nottingham and Leeds Universities, and the basic operating principles and design considerations for motors and power converters are reviewed. Alternative configurations are discussed. The difficulties of establishing a simple mathematical model for the motor and of calculating torque and inverter VA requirements are examined. A comparison of the VA requirements for SR and pulsewidth modulation (PWM) is given for a 7.85-kW system. Measured drive performance is discussed in terms of efficiency over an operating envelope, specific output, controllability, and power converter ratings. Earlier traction drives, incorporating a constant power range and including regeneration, are reported together with the constant torque industrial drives and more recent traction extensions. The long-term potential of the drive is discussed for a wide range of applications. A comprehensive list of references is provided.     

Oligonucleotide mixture analysis via electrospray and ion/ion reactions in a quadrupole ion trap

Electrospray ionization combined with ion/ion reactions in a quadrupole ion trap can be used for the direct analysis of oligonucleotide mixtures. Elements to the success of this approach include factors related to ionization, ion/ion reactions, and mass analysis. This paper deals with issues regarding the ion polarity combination, viz., positive oligonucleotides/negative charge-transfer agent versus negative oligonucleotides/positive charge-transfer agent. Anions derived from perfluorocarbons appear to be directly applicable to mixtures of positive ions derived from electrospray of oligonucleotides, in direct analogy with positive protein ions. Conditions for forming positive oligonucleotide ions devoid of adducts were more difficult to establish than for forming relatively clean negative oligonucleotide ions. A new approach for manipulating negative ion charge states in the ion trap is described and is based on use of the electric field of the positive charge-transfer agent for storage of high-mass negative ions formed during the ion/ion reaction period. Oxygen cations are shown to be acceptable for charge-state manipulation of mixed-base oligomers but induce fragmentation in polyadenylate homopolymers. Protonated isobutylene (C4H9+), on the other hand, is shown to induce significantly less fragmentation of polyadenylate homopolymers.     

Monospecific antibodies as probes for the stoichiometry of recombinant GABA(A) receptors

GABA(A) receptors composed of alpha1beta3 gamma2 and alpha1beta3 subunits were expressed in insect Sf9 cells and solubilized in 1% Triton X100. In sucrose density gradients, [3H]-Ro15-1788 binding activity, in the case of alpha1beta3 gamma2, and [3H]-muscimol binding activity, in the case of alpha1beta3 containing receptors sedimented as a single sharp peak suggesting the formation of receptors containing a defined number of subunits. When alpha1beta3gamma2 -containing receptors were incubated with an alpha-subunit specific antibody (bd24), a single class of antibody receptor complex was formed irrespective of the receptor-antibody ratio. This is consistent with two alpha subunits cross-linked within the receptor by the antibody. Similar results were obtained using a beta-subunit specific antibody (bd17). Several classes of antibody-receptor complex were formed when receptors were pre-incubated with a gamma specific antibody (anti gamma(2) 1-15 Cys). This profile is consistent with the presence of a single gamma subunit in each complex. Experiments with alpha1beta3 subunit containing receptors and antibody bd24 produced a profile similar to that seen with alpha1beta3 gamma2 receptors, consistent with two alpha subunits per receptor complex. In this case, the anti-beta subunit antibody, bd17, produced a unique and complex profile consistent with three beta subunits per receptor. This method permits the rapid determination of subunit stoichiometries of homogeneous receptor populations     

Ion trap collisional activation of the (M + 2H)2+ - (M + 17H)17+ ions of human hemoglobin beta-chain

The parent ions of human hemoglobin beta-chain ranging in charge from 2+ to 17+ have been subjected to ion trap collisional activation. The highest charge-state ions (17+ to 13+) yielded series of products arising from dissociation of adjacent residues. The intermediate charge-state ions (12+ to 5+) tended to fragment preferentially at the N-terminal sides of proline residues and the C-terminal sides of acidic residues. Many, but not all, of the possible cleavages at proline, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid residues were represented in the spectra. The lowest charge-state ions were difficult to dissociate with high efficiency and yielded spectra with poorly defined product ion signals. This observation is attributed to sequential fragmentations arising from losses of small molecules such as water and/or ammonia. The poor fragmentation efficiency observed for the low charge states is due at least in part to the low trapping wells used to store the ions. Higher ion stabilities due to lower Coulombic repulsion and charges being sequestered at highly basic sites may also play an important role. Ion/ion proton-transfer reactions involving protein parent ions allows for the formation of a wide range of parent ion charge states. In addition, the ion/ion proton-transfer reactions involving protein dissociation products simplify interpretation of the product ion spectra.     

Arthrodesis of the shoulder for synovial osteochondromatosis

OBJECTIVES: To identify the reasons for non-compliance with fecal occultblood test in the screening programme for colorectal cancer. DESIGN AND SETTING: The people who had never participated in the screening programme for colorectal cancer served as the subjects of this study. A structured questionnaire which included the reasons for rejection was sent to each of non-compliers. They were requested to choose two major reasons which were described in a best way that why they did not participate in the programme. The frequency of the stated reasons were analysed from the viewpoint of both sex and age effects. MAIN RESULTS:A total of 439 people was identified as non-compliers, and 356 (81.1%) people completed the questionnaire. No significant difference was noted in response to the questionnaire between male and female as well as aged 40-59 and those 60-79. The most commonest reason was felt well (47.8%) in male, fear or shyness of further examination (40.2%) in female, and also felt well (48.5%) in aged 40-59, fear or shyness of further examination (40.1%) in aged 60-79. Significant differences were observed in the frequencies of felt well (p<0.01), fear or shyness of further examination (p<0. 01), busy for work (p<0.01) and fear of cancer (p<0.01) between male and female, and also felt well (p<0.01), fear or shyness of further examination (p<0.01), busy for work (p<0.01) and coexistent disease (p<0.01) between aged 40-59 and those 60-79. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that public education about the concept of asymptomatic illness, the benefits of early detection, the safety and painless colonoscopy, and the effective treatment should be emphasised to increase compliance with screening for fecal occult blood.     

Involvement of CD14 and complement receptors CR3 and CR4 in nuclear factor-kappaB activation and TNF production induced by lipopolysaccharide and group B streptococcal cell walls

This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of CD14 and complement receptors type 3 (CR3) and 4 (CR4) in mediating TNF release and NF-kappaB activation induced by LPS and cell wall preparations from group B streptococci type III (GBS). LPS and GBS caused TNF secretion from human monocytes in a CD14-dependent manner, and soluble CD14, LPS binding protein, or their combination potentiated both LPS- and GBS-induced activities. Blocking of either CD14 or CD18, the common beta-subunit of CR3 and CR4, decreased GBS-induced TNF release, while LPS-mediated TNF production was inhibited by anti-CD14 mAb only. Chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants (CHO) that express human CD14 (CHO/CD14) responded to both LPS and GBS with NF-kappaB translocation, which was inhibited by anti-CD14 mAb and enhanced by LPS binding protein. While LPS showed fast kinetics of NF-kappaB activation in CHO/CD14 cells, a slower NF-kappaB response was induced by GBS. LPS also activated NF-kappaB in CHO cells transfected with either human CR3 or CR4 cDNA, although responses were delayed and weaker than those of CHO/CD14 cells. In contrast to LPS, GBS failed to induce NF-kappaB in CHO/CR3 or CHO/CR4 cells. Both C3H/OuJ (Lps[n]) and C3H/HeJ (Lps[d]) mouse peritoneal macrophages responded to GBS with TNF production and NF-kappaB translocation, whereas LPS was active only in C3H/OuJ macrophages. Thus, LPS and GBS differentially involve CD14 and CR3 or CR4 for signaling NF-kappaB activation in CHO cells and TNF release in human monocytes, and engage a different set of receptors and/or intracellular signaling pathways in mouse macrophages.