Feasibility study of absolute activity measurement with metallic magnetic microcalorimeters

We report on a feasibility study on precise determination of mass-specific activity of low-energy emitting radioisotopes. Conventional methods of activity measurement suffer from source self-absorption and a strong decrease in detection efficiency for low-energy electrons and photons. We propose a new method based on metallic magnetic microcalorimeters with the source embedded in the detector target in a 4π geometry. First results with a ⁵⁵Fe source show that electrons and photons are detected with a detection efficiency close to unity and with little loss of energy for electrons. The aim of this study is to provide standards of activity with very low uncertainties in the framework of radiation metrology.     

Effects of Surface Concentration on Drying Behavior of Carbohydrate Solutions

As the surface properties of the drying materials are very important not only for the drying rate but also for the quality change during drying, the effects of surface concentration on the drying behavior of liquid foods (sugar solutions) were investigated by isothermal drying experiments and by numerical calculation experiments. The isothermal drying experiments with gelled sugar solution systems (sucrose and maltodextrin) were carried out at various relative humidity (RH) values (RH = 0 to 84%). Separate experiments were carried out for determination of the desorption isotherms.

The isothermal drying curves of sugar solutions at RH = 0 to 51% were very similar. Numerical simulations also showed that the drying curves of these sugars at the surface concentration = 0 and 0.1 are almost the same, although the concentration distributions are different.

When a small amount of gelatin was added to sugar solutions, the drying rate decreased remarkably as the gelatin might form a thin film (skin) near the surface, and consequently the retention of ethanol increased.     

Bi12TiO20 synthesized directly from bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate and its activity

Pure phase of sillenite structure, Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, was directly synthesized using stoichiometric bismuth (III) nitrate pentahydrate and titanium glycolate by co-precipitation. The influence of pH on the structure of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ was studied in the pH range of 3–10. The sillenite structure was characterized using XRD and FTIR. The photo-degradation reaction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) was used to study photocatalytic activity of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ as a function of the preparation pH. The rate of decomposition was followed by UV-vis and TOC. The beginning concentration of 4-NP, 44 ppm, decreased to less than 1 ppm within 30 min for all prepared catalysts. It was found that the decomposition rate constant of Bi₁₂TiO₂₀ is six times higher than those of either TiO₂ or Bi₂O₃ under the same conditions.     

Use of recycled copper slag for blended cements

Copper slag is a by‐product generated during smelting to extract copper metal from the ore. The copper slag obtained may exhibit pozzolanic activity and may therefore be used in the manufacture of addition‐containing cements. In this paper the effect of the incorporation of the copper slag in cement is measured. Blends of copper slag with Portland cement generally possess properties equivalent to Portland cement containing fly ash, but very different to the silica fume incorporation. Copper slag and fly ash reduce the heat of hydration more effectively than silica fume in mortars. The replacement of 30% cement by copper slag reduces the flexural and compressive strength in a similar way to fly ash; however, after 28 days, the reduction is less than the percentage of substitution. Hydrated calcium aluminate phases were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The pozzolanic activity of copper slag is similar to that of fly ash and higher than silica fume. In the presence of low water/cement ratios, certain pozzolanic materials produce a very compact cement paste that limits the space available for hydration products, a determining factor in the formation of hydrated calcium aluminates. SEM was found to be a useful analytical technique when aluminates are formed and can be clearly detected by XRD. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Changing our view on design evaluation meetings methodology: a study of software technical review meetings

By contrast to design meetings, design evaluation meetings (DEMs) have generally been considered as situations in which, according to DEM methodologies, design activities are quite marginal. In a study of DEMs in software development, i.e. in technical review meetings following a particular review methodology, we showed: (i) the occurrence of design activities as part of an argumentation process; (ii) the relative importance of cognitive synchronisation as a prerequisite for evaluation; (iii) the important role played in evaluation by argumentation that makes explicit the underlying design rationale (DR). On the basis of our results, we discuss the potential for using DR methodologies in this kind of meetings.     

Real-time control of video surveillance systems with program supervision techniques

In this article, we describe a knowledge-based controlled platform using program supervision techniques. This platform eases the creation and the configuration of video surveillance systems. Several issues need to be addressed to provide a correct system configuration: (1) to choose, among a library of programs, those which are best satisfying a given user request, (2) to assign a correct value for each program parameter, (3) to evaluate performances and to guarantee a performance rate which is satisfactory regarding end-user requirements. This platform is composed of three main components: the library of programs, the knowledge base and the control component. The knowledge is either given by experts or learnt by the system. The control is generic in the sense that it is independent of any application. To validate this platform, we have built and evaluated six video surveillance systems which are featured with three properties: adaptability, reliability and real-time processing.     

珠江口盆地开平凹陷油气聚集条件分析

珠江口盆地自新生代以来,曾先后受到不同方向张应力的作用,造成了不同时期构造体系的交叉叠合.中中新世以来构造运动强烈,并具有东强西弱的特点,对油气的运移与聚集产生了重要影响.开平凹陷的剧烈断裂和断陷活动始于始新世,并在同期沉积了巨厚的文昌组.晚渐新世以后,由于断裂活动非常微弱,在成熟的烃源岩与其上地层之间缺乏有效的油源断层,因而自生自储、近距离运移可能是开平凹陷油气聚集的基本特征.在凹陷内部,因重力滑动和欠压实泥岩共同作用所形成的KPll-1构造带可能是该区最具有油气远景的地区.     

大功率CO_2激光器非平衡态合成WO_3／Fe_2O_3新型陶瓷催化剂──Ⅱ．WO_3／Fe_2O_3烯烃歧化反应催化剂的催化活性

用大功率ＣＯ２激光器熔制ＷＯ３／Ｆｅ２Ｏ３新型烯烃歧化反应催化剂。考查了催化剂组成、激光功率及熔炼时间与丙烯歧化反应催化活性之间的关系。     

内蒙古煤系高岭土作为FCC催化剂基质的研究

研究两种内蒙古煤系高岭土（1^＃、2^＃）的化学组成、晶体结构并与苏州高岭土进行了比较。对三种高岭土进行酸改性，利用BET、吡啶-TPD和微反测试分别研究改性前后高岭土的性能特点。并将内蒙古高岭土1^＃与苏州高岭土采用半合成方法合成了FCC催化剂，测定了其裂化活性。研究结果表明，内蒙古1^＃具有较良好的晶体结构和化学组成，经酸改性后比表面积大大增加，具有合适的孔径分布，裂化活性较好，可以取代苏州高岭土作为FCC催化剂的基质。