Assessment of cracks in power plant components by means of the HIDA knowledge-based system (KBS)

An important integrating task in the framework of the HIDA project was the development and application of the knowledge-based system (KBS). The system enables to assess/predict cracks in high-temperature components of power plants operating under creep and/or fatigue conditions, according to the HIDA procedure developed through the other tasks of the project. The system encompasses a comprehensive material database comprising the proprieties of the materials tested within the HIDA project and which are necessary for the analysis. It also includes a library of different component geometries. The system is built in such a way that the data (e.g. material data, component geometry, etc.) necessary for a high temperature crack assessment can be directly entered by the user or selected from the existing databases within the KBS.The HIDA procedure has been integrated in the KBS in a modular sequence, each module enabling to undertake a step of calculation and/or analysis. This structure allows the user to either run the whole procedure or just perform one single step (e.g. check C^* values). In addition, new or alternative procedures can be used, either for the assessment as a whole, or just for single steps (e.g. C^*, 2-criteria diagram, etc.). The system was developed by MPA Stuttgart, as the HIDA KBS task leader, using ALIAS shell (ALIAS — advanced life assessment system) as a basis, and then tested and applied by industrial partners in the HIDA project.The paper describes the functionality and use of the system through reporting selected application cases (CT probe, pipes, pipe bends), and demonstrates the benefits/advantage of such system within the industry.     

Picosecond semiconductor laser radar with optical amplifier

An optical range finder, which uses the same semiconductor laser as both an optical pulse source and an optical preamplifier of the reflected pulse, is reported. This method has the advantage of reducing the number of optical components that must be aligned, which makes it suitable as a picosecond laser radar in aerospace applications. The device showed a maximum optical gain of 17 dB with a dynamic range of 33 dB, and the obtained resolution was of the order of 1 mm.     

Effect of preheating on the mechanical properties of tough pitch copper made from copper scraps

When hot rolled tough pitch copper is made from copper scraps, lead is intentionally or unintentionally added to the melt. The major role of this lead seems to be the removal of metallic tin by the formation of PbO–SnO₂. A continuously cast and hot rolled copper rod was preheated at temperatures between 673–1173 K for 1 h prior to cold drawing. The maximum diameter of the PbO–SnO₂, of 1–2 μm, was obtained by preheating at 873 K. This preheating temperature also produced the maximum decrease in the recrystallization temperature and the maximum electrical conductivity of the 89.4% cold drawn wire within the investigated experimental range. This can be attributed to a decrease in the dissolved impurity concentration due to the growth of PbO–SnO₂ particles at that temperature. The decrease in recrystallization temperature enhanced the room temperature multiple upset weldability. When preheated at 1173 K, Zn₂SnO₄ particles were formed, but the recrystallization temperature increased and the electrical conductivity decreased due to the dissolution of PbO–SnO₂. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pressurised hot water extraction with on-line particle formation by supercritical fluid technology

In this work, an on-line process for pressurised hot water extraction (PHWE) of antioxidants from plants as well as drying of the extract in one step by particle formation based on the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) has been developed. This process has been called WEPO®, water extraction and particle formation on-line. With this process, dried extracts from onion with the same composition of quercetin derivatives as non-dried extracts have been obtained as a fine powder with spherical particles from 250 nm to 4 μm in diameter. The major compounds present in the extract were quercetin-3,4′-diglucoside, quercetin-4′-glucoside and quercetin. An auxiliary inert gas (hot N₂) was used to enhance the drying process. Parameters such as temperature (120 °C), SC-CO₂ and N₂ pressures (80 and 12.5 bar, respectively) and flow rate of SC-CO₂ (10 ml/min), have been settled by trial-and-error in order to achieve a fine and constant spray formation. Water content, size and morphology, antioxidant capacity and quercetin content of the particles were studied to evaluate the efficiency of the WEPO process. Results were compared with the ones from extracts obtained by continuous flow PHWE followed by freeze-drying. Results showed that both processes gave similar results in terms of antioxidant capacity, concentration of quercetin derivatives and water content, while only WEPO was able to produce defined spherical particles smaller than 4 μm.     

Electrical stimulation of pigs-effect on pH fall, meat quality and Cathepsin B+L activity

This work was performed to evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on pH fall and meat quality of LD and BF in Danish halothane free pigs stunned with CO(2). ES resulted in a significant drop in pH of 0.3 units in both LD and BF and 3 h lairage resulted in 0.1 units lower pH at 20 min post mortem. Lairage time did not affect and did not interact with the effect of ES on any of the measured meat quality parameters. ES did not affect the ultimate pH in LD, BF, SM and SC or internal reflection value in LD. However, ES caused higher internal reflection and drip loss in BF and increased the PSE frequency in LD (2 to 7%) and in BF (2 to 49%). The frequency of PSE areas in the centre of SM was 70% for ES pigs compared to 9% for control pigs. ES and ageing improved the tenderness and reduced the hardness in LD as well as shear force of unaged BF. The effect of ES on tenderness and hardness was approximately half the effect of ageing, but the effect of ES and ageing were additive. ES significantly increased the activities of cathepsin B+L in the myofibrillar fraction, but there were no differences in proteolytic activity in the other fractions. It is concluded that ES improves tenderness in LD and BF, but has a negative effect on the quality of BF and SM. Therefore ES is not an economically attractive alternative for improvement of tenderness in LD compared to ageing in Danish pigs. ?     

RNA metabolism of the normal and the copper treated human endometrium

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism of the normal and copper-treated ( Cu-T200 IUD) human endometrium was investigated. The relative concentration of total, messenger, ribosomal and transfer RNA was measured in normal and Cu-treated endometrium using the technique of affinity chromatography in polysepharose. The transition from the proli ferative to the secretory endometrium in normal women was accompanied by significant increases (p less than .05) in total RNA, messenger RNA and in ribosomal RNA. The relative proportions of bound and free messenger RNA were also modified by endometrial maturation changing from 70% bound messenger RNA in the proliferative to 83% in the secretory phase. Cu-T200 Cu release appeared to particularly affect RNA metabolism in the secretory phase. During the proliferative phase only the concentration of transfer RNA and the proportion of bound to free messenger RNA were modified by the Cu-T200. The Cu-T200 induced significant decreases (p less than .01 and p less than .05) in all RNA parameters, with the exception of the RNA/deoxyribonucleic acid ratio.     

Urologic complications following abdominoperineal resection of the rectum

Perusal of the records of 111 consecutive patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for malignant diseases of the rectum or anal canal for postoperative urologic complications revealed that the urethra had been injured in two patients, the bladder in none, and the ureter in five. In only two of these last five patients was the late result of treatment of the ureteric injury satisfactory. The late result of treatment of the two urethra injuries was good. All the patients had been treated with an indwelling catheter for at least ten days after the operation. About one third of the patients still had disturbances of micturition two weeks after the operation, but only one required a permanent indwelling catheter.     

Adrenoceptor and cholinoceptor mediated effects in the isolated urethra of cat and guinea-pig

1. Preparations of isolated bladder-urethral junction from cats and guinea-pigs were suspended in Krebs solution (37 degrees C) which was bubbled with carbogen. The urethral lumen was perfused at a very low rate (1-3 ml/h) with Krebs solution. Resistance to flow and changes in longitudinal tension (initial setting 0-5 g) were recorded. In additional experiments, tension changes in urethral circular muscle preparations were registered. 2. The urethral preparations had a basal resistance to flow within the range 5-20 cm H2O. They had a spontaneous contractile activity that was unaffected by atropine 0-1 mug/ml, phenoxybenzamine 0-1 mug/ml, and tetrodotoxin 0-1-0-5 mug/ml, suggesting it was of myogenic origin. 3. The basal characteristics and the drug-induced changes in the perfused urethras were independent of whether the longitudinal tension was recorded isometrically or isotonically, or whether the perfusion was made retrograde or antegrade. Passive changes in longitudinal tension between 0-5 and 2-0 g did not affect the resistance to flow through the urethra. 4. Adrenaline and noradrenaline, 0-01-1 mug/ml, increased longitudinal tension and resistance to flow in the perfused preparations. The effects, which were sustained and concentration-related, were blocked or reversed into inhibition in the presence of phenoxybenzamine, 0-1 mug/ml. This finding suggests that the stimulatory effects were mediated via alpha-receptors. 5. Isoprenaline, 0-001-0-005 mug/ml, relaxed and inhibited the activity in the cat urethral smooth muscle and decreased the resistance to flow both under basal conditions and when the urethra was contracted by noradrenaline or acetylcholine. The inhibitory effects were blocked by propranolol, 0-1 mug/ml, suggesting that they were mediated via beta-receptors. In guinea-pig preparations, no effect of isoprenaline was observed. 6. Acetylcholine, 0-02-0-5 mug/ml, increased the longitudinal tension and the resistance to flow through the urethras. The latter effect was less pronounced than that produced by noradrenaline, especially in the guinea-pig preparations. Noradrenaline was also more effective than ecetylcholine in contracting the circular muscle of the urethra. The effect of acetylcholine was blocked by atropine, 0-1 mug/ml, suggesting that the contractions were mediated through muscarinic cholinoceptors.     

Diamines and polyamines in DMBA-induced breast carcinoma containing mast cells resistant to compound 48/80

Obstetric factors were studied in an unselected series of mothers of LBW-children and compared with those in a corresponding control series. Both groups consisted of 161 women with single pregnancies and 16 with twin pregnancies. Of the 188 LBW-children, 14% were twins. Of the single infants, 42% were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), i.e. within the 10th to 90th percentile according to Swedish curves for intrauterine growth, and 58% small for gestational age (SGA). The commonest causes of low birthweight (LBW) in the AGA-group were bleeding (34%) and premature rupture of the membranes (28%). In the SGA-group toxaemia was found in 15%, but in 50% of the SGA-group no cause of LBW was demonstrable. In this latter group the average placental weight was low. The mortality was noted and 89% of the living children were examined neurologically at 5 years of age. The prognosis of the child depended on the duration of pregnancy. Bleeding during pregnancy was a prognostically unfavourable sign, but even serious bleeding complications did not exclude a normal development of the child. The prognosis was best for those infants in whom no cause of LBW was demonstrable.     

Antibiotic therapy for infectious enteritis in childhood

A brief review of the actual knowledge on the infantile enteritis caused by infectious agents is given. The antibiotic therapy of bacterial enteritis is still acute, but the range of indications is limited. This kind of therapy aims at the curative effect, but not at the sanitation of the stools, for which no reliable method exists. Any kind of infantile enteritis needs dietetic treatment.