Detecting local polydispersity with multidetector SEC from reconstructed DRI chromatograms

Local polydispersity refers to variety in the types of molecules present at the same retention volume in an analysis by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Such variety is undesired because it can be a major source of inaccuracy in SEC interpretation. A rapid, practical, method for detecting the presence of local polydispersity is presented. In this method, data from a differential viscometer (DV) and light scattering (LS) detector are used together with a universal calibration curve to generate a differential refractive index (DRI) chromatogram for the sample, while assuming that it does not exhibit local polydispersity. This “reconstructed” DRI chromatogram is compared to the actual DRI chromatogram. It is shown that any significant difference between the two indicates the presence of local polydispersity. Plots of residuals (the difference between the heights of the two DRI chromatograms vs. retention volume) allow the significance of the local polydispersity to be assessed and the retention volume range encompassing the local polydispersity to be defined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 831–835, 1998     

Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici

The effect of feeding newly weaned pigs acidified liquid diets was investigated. The control diet was acidified to about pH 4 with lactic acid (LA). A second diet of the same formulation was acidified to about pH 4 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici (PA). Forty‐eight weaner pigs (weight 7 kg±1 kg, age 24±4 days) were allocated to the two dietary treatments according to a randomised block design and fed ad libitum for 28 days. Food intake, daily gain and water intake were recorded, and a microbial assessment of the liquid diet was conducted. Reducing pH<4.0 in either of the liquid diets was effective in eliminating coliform bacteria. There were no significant differences in any of the performance parameters measured. The average daily liveweight gain overall was 474 and 496±17.8 g d⁻¹ for PA and LA, respectively, with a feed conversion ratio overall of 1.15 and 1.11±0.025 for PA and LA, respectively. Fermentation of liquid diets for newly weaned piglets could provide a more cost effective means of acidifying diets than the use of organic acids. Reducing the pH of the liquid diet to 4.00 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici was a cost effective method of eliminating enteropathogens and spoilage organisms from the diet. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Xylanases in Wheat Separation

Hemicellulases used in the wheat separation process have resulted in better separation, purer fractions, increased plant capacity, reduced processing time etc. In order to further improve enzyme-treatment in the wheat separation process, monocomponent xylanases were evaluated. A laboratory viscosity model has been set up to evaluate the xylanases. The model showed good correlation (for a commercial hemicellulase preparation used for wheat separation) between viscosity of the wheat flour slurry and the sludge/supernatant ratio after centrifugation of the slurry. A xylanase (Novozyme 867) with excellent performance in the wheat separation process has been found. The xylanase has high activity towards soluble arabinoxylan and gives a rapid viscosity reduction of wheat flour slurries. The enzyme also has a moderate activity towards insoluble arabinoxylan, but due to the low molecular weight of the solubilized material this was not was found to contribute negatively to the enzymes' performance. The pH and temperature conditions in the wheat separation process were well within the active range of the enzyme. A pilot plant experiment showed improved yield of gluten and A-starch, with no apparent negative effect on the gluten quality.     

On the Monitoring of Simple Linear Berkson Profiles

We consider the quality of a process, which can be characterized by a simple linear Berkson profile. One existing approach for monitoring the simple linear profile and two new proposed schemes are studied for charting the simple linear Berkson profile. Simulation studies demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of one of the proposed monitoring schemes. In addition, a systematic diagnostic approach is provided to spot the change point location of the process and to identify the parameter of change in the profile. Finally, an example from semiconductor manufacturing is used to illustrate the implementation of the proposed monitoring scheme and diagnostic approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioactive glass–ceramic coated titanium implants prepared by electrophoretic deposition

Surface modification of Ti alloys towards an improved osteoinductive behaviour is one of the major challenges in orthopaedic implant technology nowadays. One way to achieve this is by applying a bioactive coating which can increase the rate of osseointegration and chemical bonding of surrounding bone to the implant. In the present work, the production of a bioactive glass–ceramic coating on flat Ti alloys by electrophoretic deposition is demonstrated. The coatings are applied by cathodic deposition from non-aqueous suspensions followed by sintering in vacuum, avoiding uncontrolled oxidation of the Ti substrates. The use of non-aqueous suspensions both allowed to reduce the deposition time and yielded homogeneous coatings with a uniform thickness of 8 μm. Evaluation of the coating adhesion confirmed the good mechanical performance of the coatings with a tensile bond strength of 41.0 ± 11.1 MPa. Additionally, a feasibility study demonstrated the potential of electrophoretic deposition as a coating technique for commercial complex implants.     

Tailoring materials properties of UFG aluminium alloys by accumulative roll bonded sandwich-like sheets

Accumulative roll bonding (ARB) as a method of severe plastic deformation is a well-established process to produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) sheet materials with extraordinary mechanical properties. In this work ARB is applied to combine different sheet materials in order to tailor the materials properties by producing sandwich-like structures. The high strength aluminium alloy AA5754, after 4 ARB cycles (N4), is used as a core material. To achieve high corrosion resistance and good visual properties, it is cladded with commercially pure aluminium AA1050A (N4) at room temperature and alternatively with AA6014 (N4) at 230 °C. All materials are UFG and satisfactory bonding between the different layers of aluminium alloys is achieved. Nanoindentation measurements reveal that there is a sharp transition in hardness at the interface. The yield and tensile strength of the core material are fully retained in the case of the AA6014/AA5754 sandwich. The strength of the AA1050A/AA5754 sandwich is slightly lower compared to the core material but still twice as high as the clad material. The serrated yielding effect which is strongly visible in tensile tests on the pure AA5754 alloy completely disappears in the sandwich sheets, which means the surface quality is strongly enhanced.     

Challenges when implementing BIM for industry change

Public clients have been identified as drivers of architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry change through their implementation of building information modelling (BIM). Yet, little is known of this implementation process and the associated challenges. This study aims to increase the understanding of what intra- and inter-organizational challenges that arise when a large Swedish public infrastructure client implements BIM to change the work practices of the actors in the Swedish AEC industry. The IT business value model allows for understanding the public client’s implementation of BIM as an IT-supported change process and for understanding the associated intra- and inter-organizational challenges. The findings show nine categories of intra- and inter-organizational challenges related to, for example, demanding BIM in procurement and creating incentives for BIM implementation. The findings show that intra-organizational challenges related to a top-down implementation of BIM, while inter-organizational challenges related to a bottom-up implementation. The impact of these challenges on the public client’s ability to drive AEC industry change by implementing BIM is discussed. The findings contribute with the client perspective to studies on BIM implementation and with an increased understanding of the challenges associated with implementing IT-supported change processes.     

Hydro energy potential of cooling water at the thermal power plant

The hydro energy of the gravity water flow from the coal-fired thermal power plant units to the river in an open cooling system of turbine condensers is determined. On the basis of statistical data for a long time period, the water net head duration curve due to the river annual level change, as well as the reduction of the hydro energy potential due to the thermal power plant overhauls periods, are evaluated in the case study of the Thermal Power Plant “Nikola Tesla B” in Serbia. A small hydro power plant is designed for the utilization of this hydro energy, and the economic benefits of the project are calculated. The internal rate of returns and pay back periods are calculated in dependence of the electricity price and total investment costs. The increase of profitability is assessed, bearing in mind that the plant might be realized as the Clean Development Mechanism project according to the Kyoto protocol. The obtained results show that the project is economically attractive, and it can be carried out with standard matured solutions of hydro turbines available at the market. Even for the relatively low electricity price from small hydro power plants in Serbia of 0.08 €/kW h the internal rate of return and the pay back period are 17.5% and 5.5 years.