Shear punch testing of welded pipeline steel

Differing thermal histories in and around a weld can lead to differences in grain size, phase composition and morphology of precipitates; mechanical properties will vary accordingly. Hardness testing gives limited information and the machining and testing of tensile and/or impact specimens that would reveal these variations (which may occur over very small distances) is not practical. Therefore, in this investigation, shear punch testing is applied to measure the variation in mechanical properties of a welded pipeline steel (4130), both at room temperature and over a range of potential service temperatures (down to −60 °C).     

Bioluminescence as a real-time monitor of injury and recovery in Salmonella typhimurium

Bioluminescence provides a novel tool with which to probe in real time the recovery of microorganisms such as Salmonella typhimurium from sub-lethal injury, a condition of immense importance in the enumeration of microorganisms in food and environmental samples such as from estuarine waters. We describe the application of in vivo bioluminescence to monitor the recovery of S. typhimurium from freeze injury and, in addition, we explore the effect of multiple stress conditions on microbial recovery where we compare bioluminescence with viable count measurement.     

Making a renewable energy future a reality: Case studies in successful renewable energy development

The environmental sustainability of the current global energy system is under serious question. A major transition away from fossil fuels to one based on energy efficiency and renewable energy is required.The development of a wide range of renewable energy technologies is continuing at an impressive rate. Cost reductions have been real and impressive. With few exceptions however, the relative contribution of renewable energy to the total energy mix remains quite small in most countries. There are still a wide range of barriers preventing renewables from making a much more significant contribution.The paper utilises a range of case studies from around the world which demonstrate some of the lessons of successful renewable energy implementation, and suggest a set of coordinated policies which would lead to a growing role for renewable energy in the commercial energy market.     

Java and activeX: Background and risks to the business

Java and Active X, commonly known as mobile code, are becoming more prevalent as the Internet and more specifically the World Wide Web develops. Concerns are being voiced about the security of these utilities and what impact they may have on the security of systems making use of Internet-based services. This article describes the background to and usage of these utilities, the likely threats and what precautions can be taken to minimize any risk.     

Conditions mistaken for child abuse: Part II

Lymphatic transport of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol was measured in thoracic duct-cannulated rats. Animals were administered 3 ml of a test emulsion containing 200 mg sodium taurocholate, 50 mg fatty acid free-albumin, 200 mg fat and 100 mg of a mixture of tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol (Exp. 1) or 10 mg of purified alpha-, gamma- or delta-tocotrienol or alpha-tocopherol (Exp. 2) through a gastric tube. Quantitative lymphatic recovery of oleic acid given as triolein was obtained in these experimental conditions. The 24-hours recovery of tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol were 10-20% of the administered dose in Exp. 1. The recovery of alpha-tocotrienol was about 2-times higher than that of alpha-tocopherol, while that of gamma- and delta-tocotrienols was intermediate between these two alpha-forms. In Exp. 2, where these compounds were administered individually, the 24 hours recovery ranged from 22 to 37% of the administered dose. Again, the recovery of alpha-tocotrienol was significantly higher than that of the other tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol, while that of gamma- and delta-tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol was comparable. Thus, the results show the preferential absorption of alpha-tocotrienol compared to gamma- and delta-tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol.