A Study of the flow phenomenon of water in a channel with flat plate obstruction geometry at the entry

The flow ina parallel walled test channel, when obstructed with a geometry at the entrance, can be forward, reverse and stagnant depending on the position of the obstruction. This interesting flow phenomenon has potential benefit in the control of energy and various flows in the process industry. In this experiment, the flat plate obstruction geometry was used as an obstruction at the entry of the test channel. The parameters that influence the flow inside and around the test channel were the gap (g) between the test channel and the obstruction geometry, the length (L) of the test channel and the Reynolds number (Re). The effect of the gap to channel width ratio (g/w) on the magnitude of the velocity ratio (V₁/V₀ : velocity inside/ velocity outside the test channel) was investigated for a range of Reynolds numbers. The maximum reverse flow observed was nearly 20% to 60% of the outside velocity for Reynolds number ranging from 1000 to 9000 at g/w ratio of 1.5. The maximum forward velocity inside the test channel was found 80% of the outside velocity at higher g/w ratio of 8. The effect of the test channel length on the velocity ratio was investigated for different g/w ratios and a fixed Reynolds number of 4000. The influence of the Reynolds number on the velocity ratio is also discussed and presented for different gap to width ratio (g/w). The flow visualisation photo-graphs showing fluid motion inside and around the test channel are also presented and discussed.     

Radiation crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid hydrogels: swelling,crosslinking and dye adsorption study

Iranian Polymer Journal - Hydrogels were produced from mixtures of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and acrylic acid (AAc) using γ-radiation at doses of 3, 7, and...     

Optimal utilisation level for lean product development in a multitasking context

Flow of information is of utmost importance during product development (PD) endeavours with timely feedback supporting the resolution of higher risk elements. PD task size, multitasking and resource utilisation levels of the PD system influence information flow and the value ultimately realised from the investment in PD. In this paper, a model incorporating a methodology developed using queuing theory, and in particular, results obtained for Jackson networks are extended to help engineering management to improve PD task flow and consequently become more ‘lean’. Considered factors include: optimal PD task size and multitasking (focus) level as well as the utilisation level of PD resources. Empirical data were collected from a case study company and compared to optimal values. The benefits of the proposed model and approaches are discussed.     

Production of D-lyxose from D-glucose by microbial and enzymatic reactions

D-arabitol was first prepared from D-glucose using Candida famata R28. The reaction gave 5.0% D-arabitol from 10.0% D-glucose. D-arabitol was then almost completely converted to D-xylulose using Acetobacter aceti IFO 3281. Finally, D-lyxose was prepared from D-xylulose enzymatically using L-ribose isomerase from toluene-treated cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain DL-28. The isomerization reaction progressed steadily and the concentration of D-xylulose increased from 1.0 to 10.0%. About 70% of D-xylulose was converted to D-lyxose in all cases. Separation of residual D-xylulose from the reaction mixture is very difficult to achieve by column chromatography, but D-xylulose could be selectively degraded easily using Saccharomyces cerevisiae IFO 0841. The product was crystallized and was confirmed to be D-lyxose by HPLC, 13C-NMR spectra, IR spectra analysis, and optical rotation measurement.     

Transfer between pose and illumination training in face recognition.

The relationship between pose and illumination learning in face recognition was examined in a yes–no recognition paradigm. The authors assessed whether pose training can transfer to a new illumination or vice versa. Results show that an extensive level of pose training through a face–name association task was able to generalize to a new illumination (Experiments 1 and 3), but an equal level of illumination training failed to generalize to a new pose (Experiment 2). The transfer of pose training was likely to depend on a relatively extensive level of training because the same faces with reduced level of exposure (Experiment 4) were unable to reproduce the transfer effect. The findings suggest that generalization of pose training may be extended to different types of image variation, whereas generalization of illumination training may be confined within the trained type of variation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

气动雾化进样-MPT-AES法测定石油焦中的硅

用微波等离子体炬 (MPT)为激发光源 ,氩气为等离子体工作气体 ,用气动雾化进样 ,研究了微波等离子体炬原子发射光谱法 (MPT -AES)测定石油焦中硅的方法。详细考察了载气流量、工作气流量、氧屏蔽气流量、微波功率等实验参数对测定硅的影响 ,同时考察了共存元素对硅测定的影响。结果表明 :硅的检出限为 0 .0 40 μg/mL ,线性范围为 0 .2～ 6 μg/mL ,回收率在 95 .7%～ 10 3.8%之间 ,相对标准偏差 (n =6 ) <2 .9%。操作方法简便 ,自动化程度高 ,运转费用低 ,准确快速 ,是一种测定石油焦中硅的行之有效的分析方法     

Preparation of L-talose and D-gulose from L-tagatose and D-sorbose, respectively, using immobilized L-rhamnose isomerase

L-rhamnose isomerase of Pseudomonas sp. LL172 immobilized on BCW 2603 Chitopearl beads was used to produce L-talose and D-gulose. At equilibrium, the production yields of L-talose and D-gulose were determined to be 12 and 10% from L-tagatose and D-sorbose, respectively. The crystallized products were confirmed by HPLC, IR and NMR spectra, and optical rotation measurement analyses.     

Transferable, plasmid-mediated vanB-type glycopeptide resistance in Enterococcus faecium

An approximately 60-kb transferable, vanB-carrying plasmid has been identified in a clinical Enterococcus faecium strain. A similar plasmid has been observed in an unrelated E. faecium strain, suggesting that plasmid transfer of vanB operons occurs in nature and plays a role in the dissemination of VanB-type resistance among strains of E. faecium.     

Congenital abnormalities in Brazilian children associated with misoprostol misuse in first trimester of pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Misoprostol is commonly used to induce abortion in Brazil, and in other countries in South and Central America where abortions are illegal. However, misoprostol is not very effective in inducing abortions, and exposure to the drug in utero can cause abnormalities in the fetus. We aimed to define the common phenotypical effects of exposure to the drug. METHODS: We studied 42 infants from S?o Paulo, Brazil, who were exposed to misoprostol during the first 3 months of gestation, and then born with congenital abnormalities. We interviewed each of the infants' mothers to find out about misoprostol exposure and dosage. Each infant was physically examined by a geneticist or a neuropaediatrician. FINDINGS: 17 of the infants had equinovarus with cranial-nerve defects. Ten children had equinovarus as part of more extensive arthrogryposis. The most distinctive phenotypes were arthrogryposis confined to the legs (five cases) and terminal transverse-limb defects (nine cases) with or without Mobius sequence. The most common dose of misoprostol taken was 800 microg (range 200-16000 microg). INTERPRETATION: Deformities attributed to vascular disruption were found in these children. We suggest that the uterine contractions induced by misoprostol cause vascular disruption in the fetus, including brain-stem ischaemia. Information on the effects of taking misoprostol during pregnancy should be made more widely available, to dissuade women from misusing the drug.