Determination of the total concentration and speciation of Al(III) in tea infusions

The aluminium species in different tea infusions were investigated, by determining their stability constants and concentration. This was done for some particular samples using a simple experimental method based on the sorption of aluminium on the strongly sorbing resin Chelex 100, by a batch procedure. From the thermodynamic information obtained it is possible to calculate the concentration of the different species, and in particular that of the free metal ion, which is very important for evaluating the adsorption of aluminium on biological membranes. It was found that aluminium in the tea infusions here considered is present at high total concentration, approximately 0.1 mM, but mainly linked to strong complexes, for instance with side reaction coefficient higher than 10(5.11) at pH 3.95 in one case (tea 1). This could be the reason for the low toxicity of aluminium in tea. These strong complexes were not dissociated even in the presence of Chelex 100. In this case only a limiting value of the reaction coefficient could be evaluated. The presence of the very strong complexes was found in all the tea sample here considered. In two of the considered samples (one black and one green tea) a part of Al(III) was linked to less strong complexes, for example with a reaction coefficient 10(4.14) (tea 2, pH 4.20). The presence in the considered tea infusions of other substances able to complex aluminium was also detected, by the well known ligand titration procedure, at concentration ranging from 0.65 to 3.37 mM in three tea infusions, and at somewhat higher concentration in the case of the ready drink, which was also considered for comparison.     

Self-controlled case series analyses: Small-sample performance

Second-order expressions for the asymptotic bias and variance of the log relative incidence estimator are derived for the self-controlled case series model in a simplified scenario. The dependence of the bias and variance on factors such as the relative incidence and ratio of risk to observation period are studied. Small-sample performance of the estimator in realistic scenarios is investigated using simulations. It is found that, in scenarios likely to arise in practice, asymptotic methods are valid for numbers of cases in excess of 20-50 depending on the ratio of the risk period to the observation period and on the relative incidence. The application of Monte Carlo methods to self-controlled case series analyses is also discussed.     

Modeling and performance analysis of IP access interface in optical transmission networks with packet switching

The article analyzes the influence of the Internet Protocol (IP) access interface on the packet loss probability and delay times in the optical packet switched network. The network and node model have been proposed, and the structure of the IP access interface, including assembler and holder, have been included in the analysis. It has been shown that the increase of the maximum optical packet sizes, as well as use of the holding feature as contention resolution mechanism, decrease the packet loss probability, but introduce delays at the optical network access points. Modeling and analysis were based on the discrete event simulation assuming self-similar traffic sources. IP packet lengths were modeled using empirical data. This work has been conducted while the author was affiliated with the Telecommunication Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL-STI-ITOP-TCOM), Lausanne, Switzerland     

Issues in modelling of advanced heterogeneous ceramics

Summary The conceptual and computational issues regarding the development of models to predict microstructure/mechanical-property relationships in advanced ceramics are discussed. Advanced ceramics provide a particular challenge because their higher toughness or reliability, relative to monolithic ceramics, is a result of stable, distributed damage evolution. Capturing the details of distributed damage at atomistic and microstructural length scales is computationally prohibitive, but only in certain systems does it appear plausible to neglect atomistic and crack-tip details in favor of larger-scale damage propagation and interaction. Examples, mainly from the author's own work, are briefly presented to indicate the range of problems that have been addressed and the relative successes and failures.     

利用计算机进行油气资源评价和勘探决策

本文着重介绍了构成《现代勘探决策理论系统》的5个主要计算机模块,即:生油岩热演化处理、求任意曲边形面积、数学模拟预测资源量、勘探经济评价分析及决策、辅助处理等模块。该系统曾在塔里木盆地和准噶尔盆地的油气资源评价和勘探决策中发挥了作用,受到了专家和用户的好评。     

AlGaAs／GaAs HBT表面效应的二维数值分析

采用表面效应集总模型综合考虑表面费米能级钉扎和表面复合效应，对ＡｌＧａＡｓ／ＧａＡｓＨＢＴ表面效应的影响进行了二维数值模拟。结果表明，表面态的存在对集电极电流几乎不产生影响，但显著增加基极电流，使得电流增益明显下降。同时还发现在台面结构ＡＩＧａＡｓ／ＧａＡｓＨＢＴ中外基区表面复合的集边效应，即外基区表面复合主要发生在发射极台面与外基区的交界处附近，与外基区长度基本无关。模拟还表明基区缓变结构可以减少表面复合，提高电流增益。     

NUMERICAL STUDY ON QUASI- STEADY FLOW OF NONNEWTONIAN FLUID IN SUCK-ROD PUMP

This paper presents a numerical method for simulation of the flow and thecalculated results of the quasi-steady axisymmetrical flow field and pressure distribution on valveball with power-law model for Non-Newtonian fluid in suck-rod pump.We believe the methodcan provide a foundation for further research and improvement of the design of suck-rod pump.     

漳泽水库最优兴利调度研究

漳泽水库供水能力下降。优化调度方式是提高水库效益的最有效途径。通过采用随机动态规划方法与模拟模型交互运算得到现行控制水位的水库优化调度图。采用同样方法对不同控制水位的水库运行方式进行优化调度，选出的规划水库最优控制水位为汛限水位９０４ ．５ ｍ ，正常高水位９０５ ．５ ｍ 。优化的控制水位方案在保障水库防洪安全的前提下可供给城市生活和工业用水６ ３００ 万ｍ３ ，较现行控制水位下的供水量提高１ ２５５ 万ｍ３ 。但农业用水仍然不足，应采取一定措施给予解决，如对灌区工程进行改造，因地制宜采取不同节水措施和污水回用等。     

Valid parameter range analyses for chemical reaction kinetic models

The present work quantifies the relations between the structure of a chemical reaction kinetic model, its valid parameter range, and the truncation error tolerance of the model. General methods are presented to solve the three important problems of valid parameter range analysis: (1) identification of the valid parameter range of a kinetic model, (2) estimation of the error tolerance required when applying a kinetic model over a specified parameter range, and (3) improvement of existing model generation algorithms to construct more robust models. Finally, the relationship between a model's structure, its valid parameter range, and the truncation error tolerance are illustrated by the flexibility-tolerance-model graph. The new methods are applied to pyrolysis of methane/ethane mixtures.     

Performance characteristics of a therapeutic ultrasound wire waveguide apparatus

Therapeutic ultrasound angioplasty has been investigated, clinically, by a number of researchers and represents a potentially promising therapy for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions. To date, there has been no detailed analysis of the effect of mechanical design parameters, such as wire geometry or damping characteristics, on wire waveguide performance. An apparatus capable of delivering therapeutic ultrasound down small diameter nickel–titanium (NiTi) wire waveguides is described. The output peak-to-peak (p–p) displacements at the distal tip of a 1.0 mm diameter waveguide were measured experimentally, by means of an optical microscope and image analysis software. The output was measured for a range of waveguide lengths from 118 to 303 mm. Wire waveguide distal tip displacements as high as 98 μm (p–p) at 23.5 kHz were measured. For the range of lengths tested, the experimental measurements show the critical relationship between the length of the waveguide and the output distal tip displacements. A finite element model that can predict the resonant frequencies and distal tip displacements of various wire waveguide geometries and configurations, including the effect of damping, is presented. This numerical model has been validated against the experimental displacement data obtained. This will be a valuable design tool for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound angioplasty procedures.