Sustainable construction: life cycle energy analysis of construction on sloping sites for residential buildings

In 2010, the Australian residential construction sector contributed about 28% of the value of all construction and was responsible for 8% of the total energy consumption. Residential construction will continue to increase to cope with the demand due to population growth. Owing to land scarcity, construction on sloping sites has become a common construction method for residential development in Australia. This method has economic benefits but poses environmental issues as it damages topsoil, disturbs natural drainage and groundwater pathways and imposes additional stress on soil under fill. The life cycle energy consumption of the construction process is examined in relation to residential projects on sloping sites on a range of slopes and soil types in New South Wales, Australia. Forty-one detached dwellings were selected and a service life of 60 years assumed for the study. The research findings reveal that the slope for each type of soil has a positive correlation with life cycle energy consumption. As part of the onsite construction process, the results also show that the energy consumption of construction on sloping sites plays a significant factor in the life cycle energy analysis of a building.     

Comparison of Different Mass Spectrometry Workflows for the Proteomic Analysis of Tear Fluid

The tear film is a multi-layer fluid that covers the corneal and conjunctival epithelia of the eye and provides lubrication, nutrients, and protection from the outside environment. Tear fluid contains a high concentration of proteins and has thus been recognized as a potential source of biomarkers for ocular disorders due to its proximity to disease sites on the ocular surface and the non-invasive nature of its collection. This is particularly true in the case of dry eye disease, which directly impacts the tear film and its components. Proteomic analysis of tear fluid is challenging mainly due to the wide dynamic range of proteins and the small sample volumes. However, recent advancements in mass spectrometry have revolutionized the field of proteomics enabling unprecedented depth, speed, and accuracy, even with small sample volumes. In this study using the Orbitrap Fusion Tribrid mass spectrometer, we compared four different mass spectrometry workflows for the proteomic analysis of tear fluid collected via Schirmer strips. We were able to establish a method of in-strip protein digestion that identified >3000 proteins in human tear samples from 11 healthy subjects. Our method offers a significant improvement in the number of proteins identified compared to previously reported methods without pooling samples.     

TSAT is a better predictor than ferritin of hemoglobin response to Epoetin alfa in US dialysis patients

Clinical guidelines recommend concurrent treatment of anemia in end‐stage renal disease with erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron. However, there are mixed data about optimal iron supplementation. To help address this gap, the relationship between iron markers and hemoglobin (Hb) response to ESA (Epoetin alfa) dose was examined. Electronic medical records of 1902 US chronic hemodialysis patients were analyzed over a 12‐month period between June 2009 and June 2010. The analysis included patients who had at least one Hb value during each 4‐week interval for four consecutive intervals (k ? 2, k ? 1, k, and k + 1; k is the index interval), received at least one ESA dose during intervals k ? 1 or k, had at least one transferrin saturation (TSAT) value at interval k, and at least one ferritin value during intervals k ? 2, k ? 1, or k. Effect modification by TSAT and ferritin on Hb response was evaluated using the generalized estimating equations approach. Patients had a mean (standard deviation) age of 62 (15) years; 41% were Caucasian, 34% African American, 65% had hypertension, and 39% diabetes. Transferrin saturation, but not ferritin, had a statistically significant (P < 0.05) modifying effect on Hb response. Maximum Hb response was achieved when TSAT was 34%, with minimal incremental effect beyond these levels. Of the two standard clinical iron markers, TSAT should be used as the primary marker of the modifying effect of iron on Hb response to ESA. Long‐term safety of iron use to improve Hb response to ESA warrants further study.     

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as an Alternative to Determine Dielectric Constant of Potatoes at Various Moisture Contents

The dielectric (DE) properties, specifically the DE constant (ε′) and loss factor (ε′′), were measured for vacuum‐dried and freeze‐dried potato samples at a microwave frequency of 2.45 GHz over a range of different moisture contents (MCs) using a DE probe and also a 2‐probe electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Third‐order polynomial models (ε′ = f₁(MC); and ε′′ = f₂(MC)) at room temperature were developed for regression analysis. Additionally, at various temperatures (T), biphasic 3rd‐order polynomial models (ε′ = f₁(MC, T); and ε′′ = f₂(MC, T)) were obtained to determine ε′ and ε′′ as a function of MC and T using measured data. The vacuum‐dried potato sample showed a good fitness of ε′ and ε′′ (R² = 0.95 and 0.96, respectively) to the regression model with the range of MCs from 18% to 80% (w/w), while the freeze‐dried potato sample showed a good fitness of ε′ and ε′′ to the 1st‐phase regression model with MC < 50% w/w (R² = 0.95 and 0.96, respectively) and the 2nd‐phase regression model with MC > 50% w/w (R² = 0.94 to 0.96). EIS measurements were also used to obtain correlation impedances for ε′ and ε′′ determined by the DE probe method. The resulted regression analysis meets the demands for simple, rapid, and accurate assessment for transient values of ε′ and ε′′ of food products during dehydration/drying processes. The EIS method was verified to be a successful alternative to direct measurements of ε′ and ε′′.     

惠生工程总承包的80万t/a乙烯装置荣获国家优质工程奖

<正>最近,由惠生工程(中国)有限公司(简称"惠生工程")PC总承包的中国石油天然气股份有限公司抚顺石化分公司(简称"抚顺石化")扩建80万t/a乙烯工程荣获"2016—2017年度国家优质工程奖",中国施工企业管理协会在人民大会堂向抚顺石化颁发了该奖项,并表彰惠生工程高级施工管理专家王明春为"2016—2017年度国家优质工程奖突出贡献者"。惠生工程凭借多年在乙烯领     

陶氏公司携手车企,打造安全舒适的“飞驰人生” “声、形、味”立体出击,全方位提升消费者驾乘体验

<正>最近,陶氏公司在2019上海国际车展期间介绍了一系列应对汽车行业新挑战的创新产品和解决方案,帮助汽车厂商化挑战为机遇。以创新为你,续写经典为主题,陶氏公司从用户体验出发,与车企紧密合作,为消费者提供声、形、味俱佳的驾乘体验。陶氏聚氨酯业务部大中华区销售总监陈飞介绍说:当今汽车行业面临众多挑战,安全性、轻量化、舒适性和环保性要求不断推     

霍尼韦尔发布工业控制系统工程设计新方案

<正>霍尼韦尔最近推出Experion过程知识系统(PKS)高度集成虚拟化环境(HIVE)——一种全新的工业控制系统工程和维护方案。这是霍尼韦尔旗舰产品Experion PKS的一次升级。Experion PKS HIVE采用了霍尼韦尔LEAP项目执行原则,通过软件和网络来解除控制应用程序与物理设备,以及控制器与物理IO(输入/输出)之间的联系,从而     

Amphiphilic Interpenetrating Networks for the Delivery of Hydrophobic, Low Molecular Weight Therapeutic Agents

To investigate the delivery of hydrophobic therapeutic agents, a novel class of interpenetrating networks (IPNs) were synthesized and composed of two networks: methacrylic acid grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) tethers, P(MAA-g-EG), and poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBA). The hydrophilic P(MAA-g-EG) networks are pH-responsive hydrogels capable of triggered release of an encapsulated therapeutic agent, such as a low molecular weight drug or a protein, when it passes from the stomach (low pH) to upper small intestine (neutral pH). PBA is a hydrophobic homopolymer that can affect the IPN swelling behavior, the therapeutic agent loading efficiencies in IPNs, and solute release profiles from IPNs. In dynamic swelling conditions, IPNs had greater swelling ratios than P(MAA-g-EG), but in equilibrium swelling conditions the IPN swelling ratio decreased with increasing PBA content. Loading efficiencies of the model therapeutic agent fluorescein ranged from 21 - 44%. Release studies from neat P(MAA-g-EG) and the ensuing IPNs indicated that the transition from low pH (2.0) to neutral pH (7.0) triggered fluorescein release. Maximum fluorescein release depended on the structure and hydrophilicity of the carriers used in these studies.     

Dimethyl silane-modified silica in polydimethylsiloxane as gas permeation mixed matrix membrane

The gas transport behaviors of O₂, N₂, CO₂ and CH₄ were investigated in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) prepared from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) filled with surface functionalized silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles. SiO₂ surface modification was performed through silanization using chlorodimethyl silane. FTIR confirmed the presence of dimethyl silane on SiO₂ (Si-DMS) whereas elemental analysis showed 94.2% successful modification. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed the improved thermal stabilities of PDMS MMMs. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed the uniform distribution of Si-DMS within the membrane. The effect of Si-DMS in gas permeabilities (P) was in contrast to the Maxwell model prediction. Enhanced P values of all gases in PDMS MMMs (as compared to pure PDMS) were associated to the improvement in diffusion coefficients (D_m) despite the reduction in gas solubility coefficients. The increase in D_m values was attributed to the higher free volumes in PDMS MMMs. However, slight declines (<8% of pure PDMS) in selectivities were observed. Overall, PDMS MMMs have improved performances due to enhanced gas permeabilities.