历史雕像的运输

具有3200年历史的拉美西斯二世(King Ramses II)巨型雕像被从埃及开罗市中心运到35km以外毗邻大金字塔的大埃及博物馆。这一大型运输作业由阿拉伯建筑公司和NOSCO公司共同完成,是一项技术难度非常大的运输作业。Gino Koster报道。     

The analysis of incompressible hyperelastic bodies by the finite element method

A method is developed for the finite element analysis of problems involving incompressible hyperelastic bodies; the constitutive relation is based on a class of strain-energy functions due to Ogden [4], which involve sums of real powers of principal stretches. Incremental equilibrium equations are derived from a rate form of the principle of virtual work and an additional set of equations which express the condition of incompressibility in an average manner, is appended to the equilibrium equations. Examples of solutions are given and compared either with closed-form solutions or with numerical solutions found using conventional approaches.     

Computational aerodynamics using mini computers

The importance of minicomputers as a research tool in gasdynamics is explained, and a few examples are given to show their efficiency.     

Catalyst Design by NH4OH Treatment of USY Zeolite

Hierarchical zeolites are a class of superior catalysts which couples the intrinsic zeolitic properties to enhanced accessibility and intracrystalline mass transport to and from the active sites. The design of hierarchical USY (Ultra‐Stable Y) catalysts is achieved using a sustainable postsynthetic room temperature treatment with mildly alkaline NH₄OH (0.02 m ) solutions. Starting from a commercial dealuminated USY zeolite (Si/Al = 47), a hierarchical material is obtained by selective and tuneable creation of interconnected and accessible small mesopores (2–6 nm). In addition, the treatment immediately yields the NH₄⁺ form without the need for additional ion exchange. After NH₄OH modification, the crystal morphology is retained, whereas the microporosity and relative crystallinity are decreased. The gradual formation of dense amorphous phases throughout the crystal without significant framework atom leaching rationalizes the very high material yields (>90%). The superior catalytic performance of the developed hierarchical zeolites is demonstrated in the acid‐catalyzed isomerization of α‐pinene and the metal‐catalyzed conjugation of safflower oil. Significant improvements in activity and selectivity are attained, as well as a lowered susceptibility to deactivation. The catalytic performance is intimately related to the introduced mesopores, hence enhanced mass transport capacity, and the retained intrinsic zeolitic properties.     

Proposed Framework for Evaluating Quality of Experience in a Mobile,Testbed-oriented Living Lab Setting

The framework presented in this paper enables the evaluation of Quality of Experience (QoE) in a mobile, testbed-oriented Living Lab setting. As a result, it fits within the shift towards more user-centric approaches in innovation research and aims to bridge the gap between technical parameters and human experience factors. In view of this, Quality of Experience is seen as a multi-dimensional concept, which should be considered from an interdisciplinary perspective. Although several approaches for evaluating perceived QoE have been proposed in the past, they tend to focus on a limited number of objective dimensions and fail to grasp the subjective counterparts of users’ experiences. We therefore propose a distributed architecture for monitoring network Quality of Service (QoS), context information and subjective user experience based on the functional requirements related to real-time experience measurements in real-life settings. This approach allows us to evaluate all relevant QoE-dimensions in a mobile context.     

Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa (SIS) as a Suitable Scaffold for the Creation of a Tissue-Engineered Urinary Conduit: Decellularization,Biomechanical and Biocompatibility Characterization Using New Approaches

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common malignancies in the world and a relevant cause of cancer mortality. BC is one of the most frequent causes for bladder removal through radical cystectomy, the gold-standard treatment for localized muscle-invasive and some cases of high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In order to restore urinary functionality, an autologous intestinal segment has to be used to create a urinary diversion. However, several complications are associated with bowel-tract removal, affecting patients’ quality of life. The present study project aims to develop a bio-engineered material to simplify this surgical procedure, avoiding related surgical complications and improving patients’ quality of life. The main novelty of such a therapeutic approach is the decellularization of a porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) conduit to replace the autologous intestinal segment currently used as urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, while avoiding an immune rejection. Here, we performed a preliminary evaluation of this acellular product by developing a novel decellularization process based on an environmentally friendly, mild detergent, i.e., Tergitol, to replace the recently declared toxic Triton X-100. Treatment efficacy was evaluated through histology, DNA, hydroxyproline and elastin quantification, mechanical and insufflation tests, two-photon microscopy, FTIR analysis, and cytocompatibility tests. The optimized decellularization protocol is effective in removing cells, including DNA content, from the porcine SIS, while preserving the integrity of the extracellular matrix despite an increase in stiffness. An effective sterilization protocol was found, and cytocompatibility of treated SIS was demonstrated from day 1 to day 7, during which human fibroblasts were able to increase in number and strongly organize along tissue fibres. Taken together, this in vitro study suggests that SIS is a suitable candidate for use in urinary diversions in place of autologous intestinal segments, considering the optimal results of decellularization and cell proliferation. Further efforts should be undertaken in order to improve SIS conduit patency and impermeability to realize a future viable substitute.     

Synthesis of toughened elastomer from vernonia galamensis seed oil

This paper examines the synthesis of a toughened elastomer fromVernonia galamensis seed oil by reacting vernonia oil with vernonia oil-derived suberic acid (octanedioic acid), and cross-linking the pre-polymer in the immediate presence of cross-linked polystyrene preparedin situ. The paper also demonstrates that the progress of reaction can be followed by monitoring the generation of hydroxyl groups using infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of some crystalline material on the cooler parts of the reaction vessels revealed the presence of component fatty acids of vernonia oil. Transmission electron microscopy characterization of the synthesized toughened elastomer suggests that vernonia oil-suberic acid polyester and polystyrene polymer are interpenetrating.     

Bond strengths of toluenes, anilines, and phenols: to hammett or not

The Hammett equation correlates the effects of Y on many different chemical properties of YC(6)H(4)ZX families of compounds. One of the most surprising is that the Z-X bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), a homolytic property, can be correlated for some 4-YC(6)H(4)ZX families with electrophilic substituent constants, sigma(p)(+)(Y), which were largely derived from the rates of the heterolytic S(N)1 solvolyses of para-substituted cumyl chlorides. Although there is no Hammett correlation of the C-X BDEs in 4-YC(6)H(4)CH(2)X (X = H, halide, OPh) families, there are good correlations of N-X BDEs with sigma(p)(+)(Y) in 4-YC(6)H(4)NHX (X = H, CH(3), OH, F) and excellent correlations of O-X BDEs with sigma(p)(+)(Y) in 4-YC(6)H(4)OX (X = H, CH(3), CH(2)Ph) families. The reasons for this varied behavior are discussed.     

Multifunctional TiO2 coatings for Cultural Heritage

Environmental pollution arising from industrial implants and urban factors is constantly increasing, causing aesthetical and durability concerns to urban structures exposed to the atmosphere.