Positively Thermo‐Sensitive Monodisperse Core–Shell Microspheres

In this paper, we report on a novel family of monodisperse thermo‐sensitive core–shell hydrogel microspheres that is featured with high monodispersity and positively thermo‐responsive volume phase transition characteristics with tunable swelling kinetics, i.e., the particle swelling is induced by an increase rather than a decrease in temperature. The microspheres were fabricated in a three‐step process. In the first step, monodisperse poly(acrylamide‐co‐styrene) seeds were prepared by emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization. In the second step, poly(acrylamide) or poly[acrylamide‐co‐(butyl methacrylate)] shells were fabricated on the microsphere seeds by free radical polymerization. In the third step, the core–shell microspheres with poly‐ (acrylamide)/poly(acrylic acid) based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) shells were finished by a method of sequential IPN synthesis. The proposed monodisperse core–shell microspheres provide a new mode of the phase transition behavior for thermo‐sensitive “smart” or “intelligent” monodisperse micro‐actuators that is highly attractive for targeting drug delivery systems, chemical separations, sensors, and so on.     

High‐Performance,Monolithic Polyaniline Electrochemical Actuators

New polyaniline (PANI) asymmetric membranes were fabricated using a phase‐inversion technique with hexane as the coagulation bath. These membranes exhibit a dense structure with macrovoids distributed asymmetrically throughout the cross‐section. A stress–strain study demonstrated that the Young's modulus (1.421 GPa) and strain at break (7.6 %) of the new PANI asymmetric membranes prepared from hexane are approximately 12 and 4 times higher, respectively, than the values reported previously for the PANI integrally skinned asymmetric membranes (ISAMs) (123 MPa Young's modulus and 1.8 % strain at break). Furthermore, monolithic electrochemical actuators based on a single PANI asymmetric membrane were constructed, and a bending movement of up to 20 Hz was experimentally recorded in a hydrochloric acid aqueous solution. A lifetime of over 329 500 cycles was determined for these actuators at a ± 2° angular displacement (5 Hz). The lifetime is limited by a bending fatigue that creates a transversal crack on the PANI membrane at the air–water interface. Control over the actuator movement is also manifested by the linear dependences of the bending angle on the charge and of the angular velocity on the current. These relationships are independent of both the kind of applied electric signal and the frequency used.     

Possibilities and extension of XRD material response analysis in failure research for the advanced evaluation of the damage level of Hertzian loaded components

Due to clearly distinguishable damage symptoms, it is differentiated between the surface and sub‐surface failure mode of rolling bearings. Material states red out by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) residual stress measurements point to a variety of loading conditions especially at raceway surfaces that are associated with several competing failure mechanisms. The corresponding lifetime reduction can range from the lower fatigue strength region to material ratcheting in extreme cases. Relevant position of the microstructural changes and nature of the failure mechanisms are characterized. The time alteration of the XRD material parameters measured at or near the surface and at the depth of the maximum equivalent stress correlates, in a different manner, with the statistical parameter of the 10 % bearing life. Both failure modes are illustrated by concrete examples. Contaminated lubricant and boundary lubrication, which represent practically important surface‐induced failures, are discussed in more detail. Gray staining, i.e. shallow pitting, often occurs without distinct indication of global material aging by means of XRD characteristics. Here, scanning electron microscopy observations and electron microprobe analyses point to corrosion fatigue as acting surface failure mechanism. The interaction between material and lubricant under complex loading regimes particularly of mixed friction and corrosion opens further failure research areas in the field of tribology.     

Use of Explosives on The Moon

The utilization of explosives for excavation on the lunar surface is under serious consideration as a part of the design for construction of temporary and permanent bases. An excavation research program has shown that small‐scale explosives blasting in a lunar‐soil simulant will greatly reduce the digging forces required for scoop and dragline excavators. Some crater‐blasting parameters were determined for the lunar soil simulant at one Earth gravity and at 10 Earth gravities using a centrifuge. The size of the craters produced at 10 Earth gs matched those formed at one earth g by scaling according to the weight of the explosive. These data can be applied to explosive‐excavation problems such as habitat construction, burial of nuclear power sources, and the rapid construction of shelters remote from the main base to shield against solar‐flare activity.     

Production and properties of micro‐porous glas bubble zinc and aluminium composites

Micro‐porous syntactic foams were produced by means of integration of glass bubbles into aluminium and zinc matrices. Preforms of glass bubbles were pressure infiltrated with the alloys AlSi9Cu9 ans ZnAl4Cu using squeeze casting. The preforms were sintered thermically without the use of bonding agents. Using the combination of different sintering steps syntactic foams with locally different densities could be produced. The mechanical properties of the foams were tested indicating a high compression strength of the foams and a very good compression energy absorption. Furthermore, corrosion behaviour and behaviour at higher temperatures were investigated.     

From information to probability: An axiomatic approach—Inference is information processing

We define the very rich language of composed conditionals on a three‐valued logic and use this language as the communication tool between man and machine. Communication takes place for three reasons: knowledge acquisition, query, and response. Learning, thinking, and answering questions are of a pure information theoretical nature. The pivot of this knowledge processing concept is the amount of information (bit) we receive if a conditional becomes true. We follow an axiomatic approach to information theory rather than the classical probabilistic approach of Shannon; information comes first, and then comes probability. In the light of this philosophy, query and response experience new interpretations. Both, acquisition and response are realized by maximizing entropy and minimizing relative entropy, respectively. The iterative solution of these mathematical optimization problems gives new insights into the adaptation of prior knowledge to new information. Our expert system shell SPIRIT supports this kind of knowledge processing, which will be established by suitable examples. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Prediction of fire classification for wood based products. A multivariate statistical approach based on the cone calorimeter

Wood has long traditions as a building material, and is often used in construction elements, and as interior and exterior surfaces in the Nordic countries. In most applications, there are reaction to fire requirements to products used as surfaces, e.g. in escape routes and larger public spaces. Most wood products will therefore have to be treated with fire retardant (FR) agents to fulfil the strict requirements to properties connected to heat release and flame spread. Unfortunately, FR agents usually also increase the smoke production, as they cause a more incomplete combustion of the wood. The wood product manufacturers seek to find the optimal amount of FR additives where both heat release and smoke production in the classifying test are within the requirements given in the building regulations. This paper describes models for prediction of the European reaction to fire classes of wood products. The models are based on multivariate statistical analysis, and use test results from the cone calorimeter test as input. The presented models are, with very good precision, able to predict which Euroclass and additional smoke class a wood based product would obtain if it were to be tested in the single burning item test. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Call admission control schemes under generalized processor sharing scheduling

Provision of Quality‐of‐Service (QoS) guarantees is an important and challenging issue in the design of integrated‐services packet networks. Call admission control is an integral part of the challenge and is closely related to other aspects of networks such as service models, scheduling disciplines, traffic characterization and QoS specification. In this paper we provide a theoretical framework within which call admission control schemes with multiple statistical QoS guarantees can be constructed for the Generalized Processor Sharing (GPS) scheduling discipline. Using this framework, we present several admission control schemes for both session‐based and class‐based service models. The theoretical framework is based on recent results in the statistical analysis of the GPS scheduling discipline and the theory of effective bandwidths. Both optimal schemes and suboptimal schemes requiring less computational effort are studied under these service models. The QoS metric considered is loss probability. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Variation in Malting Quality and Heat Resistance in the Malting Barley Variety “Alexis”

In earlier studies concerning vigour, where subsamples are heat‐treated before germination there was found heat‐sensitive as well as heat‐resistant barley samples. The vigour model developed by Ellis and Roberts and further developed at Carlsberg, could only describe the heat‐sensitive barleys. Seventeen samples of the “Alexis” variety grown widely in Europe were collected from the EBC trials in 1994 in order to see if heat resistance in barley was influenced by different growing conditions. We found both heat‐sensitive samples following the vigour model as well as pronounced heat‐resistant samples, but these were not divided according to growing conditions. The germination curves dependent on heat treatment and germination time were evaluated by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Heat‐resistant barley samples could be differentiated from heat‐sensitive samples already after ½ h of heat treatment at 68°C (12% moisture) and after 3 days of germination. The barley samples were analysed with regard to malting quality. The PCA evaluation of the data divided the samples according to growing location, mainly due to differences in protein and β‐glucan. However, the malting analyses could not describe the differences in heat resistance and sensitivity of the barleys. The biochemical background of the heat resistance found is discussed on the basis of literature. Our findings should give an experimental basis for exploiting a biochemical principle for heat resistance, which is formed during grain filling and consumed during storage and germination.