Batch control system project for a pharmaceutical plant

This paper describes a case study of a control system design for a batch pharmaceutical process. The ISA standard S88.01 batch control models and terminology were used as the main guidelines for the implementation. As the S88 is not a guide for how to apply the definitions/structures, etc., one of the main goals of our work was to create a methodology for decomposition of functional requirements in terms of S88 models and structures. This methodology was tested on a real problem, described in the case study. Also presented are some remarks on project methodology and Food and Drug Administration validation.     

Fast bilateral filter for HDR imaging

Bilateral filtering is a method often used in image processing applications. It is specifically useful for HDR algorithms. A novel approach to a fast and close approximation of bilateral filtering is presented. The method is designed especially with a focus on HDR image conversion into a normal color space processing. This paper presents the methods itself, describes the sources of acceleration and discusses the results of the method.     

Perturbation based stochastic finite element method for homogenization of two-phase elastic composites

The main idea of the paper is to apply the second order perturbation and stochastic second central moment technique to solve the homogenization problem. In order to determine the effective elasticity tensor, the prevailing computational methodology discussed in the literature so far was the Monte-Carlo simulation providing appropriate expected values and higher order probabilistic moments of the effective tensor components. The technique applied in this paper aims at significantly reducing the computational cost of the simulation without sacrificing the solution accuracy. The numerical example substantiates this claim in the case of a periodic fiber-reinforced plane strain composite with random fiber and matrix Young’s moduli.     

Semantic properties of the root-pattern array

This paper describes a program (and a grammar) for carrying out the semantic phase of root-pattern word formation in Hebrew. This is achieved by first automatically extracting semantic features of roots from a Hebrew thesaurus. Once the roots are reduced to feature-value sets, a grammar is used to combine a specific root with a specific grammatical pattern. The result of the grammar operation yields the final set of semantic features and values for the word. Thus, the root-pattern words are not the minimal units of grammatical investigation. They are products of the grammar. In addition to the ability to automatically generate word meanings, the semantic information derived in this way can serve also for syntactic ambiguity resolution and automatic compilation of machine-oriented dictionaries, thesauri etc. The method described here can also be used for treating affixation and thus be useful for a wide scope of languages, including English, Hebrew and Finnish.     

Rational thermodynamics of a nonreacting binary linear fluid

The methods of nonlinear thermomechanics of continuous media are used for an analysis of transfer phenomena in binary fluid mixtures. From the derived relations, as a special case, are then deduced fundamental relations for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes to describe transfer phenomena in binary mixtures.     

Mittlere freie weglänge der aus der quelle austretenden moleküle

Relations for the intermediate path of molecules leaving a vapour source after sublimation have been derived. The calculations have taken into account the residual gas pressure, the vapour pressure of the evaporated material and the material desorbed from the receiving surface. The source itself is considered to be a surface source, and the vapour has a sticking coefficient K < 1 on the substrate.     

Kritische substrattemperaturen: I. Messverfahren zur festlegung der kritischen substrattemperaturen und bestimmung der kritischen geraden bei CdSe,Cd und Se

This paper discusses possible methods of measuring substrate temperature and assessing the dependence of the critical substrate temperature on the density of the incident molecule beam. The so-called “critical straight line” was determined from temperature gradients on the substrate. The results are compared with those obtained from earlier measurements carried out using the extrapolation method¹ and from measurements reported by Salimova et al. and by Ginthers.By comparing the critical straight lines, developed by the various authors using different measuring methods, for CdSe, Cd and Se over the density range of the incident beam from 10¹² to 10¹⁷ molecules cm^?2 s^?1, the effect of the glass used and of its composition on the position of the critical straight line is examined. The effect of mechanical and chemical cleaning on the values of the critical temperatures for substrate glasses including microscope slides has also been assessed.     

Application of Effective Media Theory for Determination of Thermal Properties of Hollow Bricks as a Function of Moisture Content

The effective thermal conductivity and effective specific heat capacity of hollow brick blocks are investigated as a function of moisture content. While the effective specific heat capacity as a heat storage parameter is calculated using the linear theory of mixtures, the effective thermal conductivity as a heat transport parameter is analyzed using the effective media theory. At first, the effective thermal conductivity of the dry hollow brick block is calculated using a combination of properties of the brick body and air cavities, and verified using experimental data. Then, the effective thermal conductivity of the brick body is analyzed as a function of moisture content both theoretically and experimentally, and appropriate homogenization formulas are identified. Finally, the effective thermal conductivity of the whole hollow bricks is expressed as a function of moisture content from the dry state to water saturation.     

In situ assessment of structural timber using semi-destructive techniques

This paper summarizes the test recommendations for selected semi-destructive testing techniques as developed by members of the RILEM Technical Committee AST 215 “In-situ assessment of structural timber”. The recommendations cover resistance drilling, core drilling, glue line test, tension micro-specimens, screw withdrawal, and several hardness tests. The paper includes a matrix of common non-destructive testing to assess structural timber. The discussion of each technique is intended to provide users with sufficient information to understand the theoretical basis, typical equipment set up, and basic capabilities and limitations.     

Relation between chemical composition,morphology, and microstructure of poly(ether ether ketone)/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite coatings obtained by electrophoretic deposition

The effect of the chemical composition on the morphology and microstructure of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite coatings is analyzed. RGO induced three main morphological features in the nanocomposites: (i) a large-scale co-continuous morphology related to nanosheets whose basal planes were mainly aligned with the coating surface, (ii) a dendritic morphology of PEEK domains, and (iii) irregular domains related to the deposition of PEEK particles wrapped by the nanosheets. The development of these morphological features was influenced by the RGO content, allowing the modification of the surface roughness. RGO also induced changes in the melting and non-isothermal crystallization of the polymeric matrix and promoted transcrystallinity in PEEK that, in turn, was a key factor in the development of the final microstructure. In addition, polymer chain mobility was observed to be hindered at high nanofiller concentrations, increasing the glass transition temperature, and diminishing the recrystallization of the polymeric matrix.