Volume defects in nonlocal micropolar elasticity

Using the concept of prescribed arrays of point forces and point couples, the long range displacement, the stress and the interaction energy fields associated with an isolated volume defect in nonlocal micropolar continuum elasticity are calculated. It is shown that all the physically possible volume defects can be described by a distribution of body forces and body couples. Interestingly these forces and couples are not singular extending therefore the validity of the classical continuum treatment of defects. Line defects such as dislocations and disclinations can be analyzed in a similar way.     

Analytical model of a bubble switch

A model is presented for a bubble switch based on the Y-bar propagation element. Good correlation of the predictions of the model with experimental results is found for 8 μ bubbles. The heuristically derived scaling law, which predicts that the switching current must remain constant as the bubble diameter decreases, is confirmed by direct calculation with the model. The model shows that it will be increasingly difficult to design switches as the bubble diameter is reduced below 1 μ.     

Ultrastructural changes in pre- and post-rigor beef muscle caused by conventional and microwave cookery

Examination of cooked pre-rigor muscle by TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) revealed that all cookery methods resulted in the development of supercontraction bands alternating with areas showing tissue fragmentation and tearing. Microwave cookery produced smaller and less dense supercontraction nodes in pre-rigor muscle with less tearing and fragmentation but more fibre separation. Although cold-shortened pre-rigor muscle cooked by all methods also exhibited supercontraction bands with some tearing and fragmentation in adjacent sarcomeres, the samples cooked by microwaves showed a more uniform repeating pattern of small stretched areas alternating with dense contracted areas. Cooking of muscle in full rigor resulted in myofibrillar protein coagulation and shrinkage but supercontraction nodes were absent. Cold-shortened bicarbonate treated muscle was relatively intact after cooking, exhibiting fusion of the myofibrils and an absence of intermyofibrillar spaces. Results are discussed in relation to possible effects upon tenderness.     

Nutrition and metabolic studies of methyl esters of dimeric fatty acids in the rat

Methyl esters of dimeric fatty acids were prepared by fractionating a mixture of conjugated linoleic and oleic acids that was heated for 24 hr at 300 C in the absence of air. Rats fed diets containing less than 1% dimers showed no significant difference (P less than 0.05) in the growth rate, feed efficiency, liver:body weight ratio, and lipid:liver weight ratio from those fed normal diets. A lymph cannulation study using 14C labeled dimers showed that ca. 0.4% of the dimers fed were absorbed within 12 hr and were transported as free acids in the lymph. Within a 28 hr period, 2% of the labeled dimers fed by gastric intubation were oxidized to 14CO2, and 1% radioactivity was recovered from the urine. The metabolism of methyl oleate appeared normal for rats prefed diets containing dimers.     

Updating the research on the chemopreventive and therapeutic role of the peptide lunasin

Chronic diseases have become the medical challenge of the 21st century because of their high incidence and mortality rates. Modulation of diet and lifestyle habits is considered as the best strategy for the prevention of these disorders. Health promoting benefits beyond their nutritional effects have been described for multiple dietary compounds. Among these compounds, the peptide lunasin is considered as one of the most promising. Naturally present in soybean, lunasin has been extensively studied in the last two decades because of its potential against chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and immunological disorders. The purpose of this article is to summarise the evidence on the presence of lunasin in soybean and derived foods, and its bioavailability once it is orally ingested. The protective and therapeutic effects of this peptide against cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation, and high cholesterol levels as well as the molecular mechanisms of action involved in these effects are also described in this review. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermal conductivity of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene under high pressure

The thermal conductivities of molten polypropylene and its glass fiber composites were measured by the compensating hot wire method. The testing apparatus empolyed was designed and tested in our laboratory. The measurements were carried out with temperatures ranging from 170 to 230°C and pressures from 1 to 2000 kg/cm². The results show that the thermal conductivity increases with increasing pressure and glass fiber content, but is almost independent of temperature. The thermal conductivity data were fitted satisfactorily with a proposed empirical equation for polypropylene and Lewies-Nielsen equation for the composites, respectively.     

THE EFFECT OF LIGNIN CONTENT OF WOOD FIBERS ON PULP SCREENING/SEPARATION

An experimental investigation of the effect of lignin content of wood fibers on pulp screening is conducted. A non-uniform lignin distribution may exist in wood pulp due to variations in wood chip characteristics, and/or cooking conditions in a digester. Pulp screening was conducted in a modified Williams Freeness tester at different fiber lignin contents and pulp consistencies. The study indicated a large drop in pulp accepts fraction, thus a substantial fiber loss, with an increase in lignin content. The fiber loss was more significant at higher consistencies of pulp. This study suggests that the fiber lignin content should be considered an important process variable affecting the efficiency of pulp screening processes.     

Synthesis of poly(phenylene acetylene) from poly(phenylene vinylene)

Summary The objective of this work was to prepare films of poly(phenylene acetylene) from films of a precursor polymer, namely poly(a, a-dibromoxylylene). This polymer was obtained by selective bromination of the vinylene groups of poly(phenylene vinylene) films in bromine/CHCl₃. Pyrolytic dehydrobromination of the brominated films under argon atmosphere gave dark yellow films which showed about 65 wt% of desired phenylene acetylene units.     

Effect of Resource Allocation Policies on Urban Transport Diversity

Abstract:   Maximizing transport diversity is critical to the equitable achievement of stakeholder needs. Resource allocation policies help planners decide when and how to invest transportation infrastructure and services. However, policies for improving transport diversity are difficult to design, implement, and quantify because of the uncertainty, feedback interaction, and complexity of system relationships. This study proposes a hybrid model integrating system dynamics, cognitive maps, and a sensitivity model to tackle the problems. The model application is illustrated through an empirical study to enhance the managerial implications in the Taipei metropolitan area.     

Pressure drop on water accumulation distribution for a micro PEM fuel cell with different flow field plates

Time-dependent measurements of pressure drop in different flow fields on the cathode of a PEM fuel cell with different operating conditions of mass flow rates and cell temperatures on water accumulation were conducted. The results show that, among four flow fields studied herein, the interdigitated flow channel has the biggest pressure drop as well as the largest water accumulation at an early phase (?30 min) compared to those of the other three channels. In addition, the more water produced, the bigger the pressure drop that occurs. Similarly, the effects of mass flow rates at a fixed cell temperature were also examined and discussed.