Transformations of the products of methane oxidative coupling in the post-catalytic zone of the convertor

Catalytic oxidative coupling of methane with pyrolysis of C₂ H₆ in a heated post-catalytic zone /PCZ/ has been carried out in a stainless steel pilot scale convertor. The mechanism of transformations of C₂H₆, C₂H₄, CO₂, CO, H₂O, H₂ in PCZ have been studied and the routes of their decay and formation established. A strong catalytic wall effect has been demonstrated in several cases. The inevitability of some C₂H₄ losses in PCZ has been indicated.     

Recovery of thermally-stressed Escherichia coli O157:H7 by media supplemented with pyruvate

Unheated and heat-stressed (57 degrees C, 50 min and 60 min) cells of Escherichia coli O157:H7, were enumerated using three media supplemented with 1% sodium pyruvate (NaPyr): plate count agar (PCA), tryptic soy agar (TSA) and phenol red sorbitol agar (PhRSA) using the spread plate method. The medium recovering the greatest numbers of severely heated E. coli O157:H7 was PCA with 1% NaPyr. Recovery of heat stressed E. coli O157:H7 on this medium was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the two other media with pyruvate: 16.3% (50 min heating) and 0.55% (60 min heating) of the total population was recovered with TSA + 1% NaPyr when compared to those numbers found on PCA + 1% NaPyr. The ability of PhRSA + 1% NaPyr to recover heat-stressed E. coli O157:H7 was similar to that of TSA + 1% NaPyr. Using PhRSA + 1% NaPyr media. 12.9% (50 min heating) and 0.61% (60 min heating) of the total population were recovered when compared with the cells enumerated on PCA + 1% NaPyr. Recovery of the heat-stressed cells using the spread plate method was greater than using pour plate method. Recovery was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on the spread plates for highly stressed E. coli O157:H7(1.2 log) heated for 60 min than on the pour plates. Overall, the populations on the TSA spread and pour plates were low compared with the same heat-stressed cells recovered on media containing pyruvate. The     

Computer-Aided Development and Simulation Tools for Shape-Memory Actuators

This article discusses the dynamic properties of shape-memory alloy (SMA) actuators, which are characterized by their rate of heating and cooling procedures and can be described only insufficiently for different boundary conditions. Based on an analysis of energy fluxes into and out of the actuator, a numerical model implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK (MathWorks, Natick, MA) is presented. Besides the fluxes, the time-variable parameters like the latent heat of transformation or the influence of stress on the transformation temperatures are also included in the model. These parameters, depending on actuator geometry and temperature, the fraction of martensite, and the environmental conditions, are considered in the simulation in real time. In addition, this publication sums up the needed empirical data (e.g., fatigue behavior) to create a general-purpose engineering tool. The SMA wire-based actuation system can be configured by drag-and-drop tools and finally simulated and graphically displayed for different actuator systems. The development and verification of such a tool (called CASMADA) from theoretical equations to the verification on real elements is the main topic of this publication.     

On the Potentials of Shape Memory Alloy Valves

Shape memory alloys (SMA) can be utilized as thermal and electrical-activated drives for valve applications. By using the high actuation forces and medium strokes in combination with SMA intrinsic sensor functions, smart and versatile valve elements for multi-purpose applications can be designed. The sensoric functions, based on the change of the electrical characteristics of the SMA drive, allow to detect the system’s condition as well as the system’s fatigue. The paper systematizes the usability of the intrinsic sensor function with particular emphasis on service potentials. A methodical overview over the design-options of different applications is presented in the first part of the publications. This is followed by a methodical analysis of the potentials of SMA in service applications. Since the product development process is not only a mechanical engineering matter, the production and the service options according to such valves have to be regarded. Besides this publication presents an innovative production process based on a fused deposition production process (FDPP) of valves which contains the installation of SMA actuators during production. The publications present several demonstrator systems which have been produced with FDPP and analyzed in applications.     

A tilting device for three-dimensional microscopy: Application to in situ imaging of interphase cell nuclei

The resolution of an optical microscope is considerably less in the direction of the optical axis (z) than in the focal plane (x-y plane). This is true of conventional as well as confocal microscopes. For quantitative microscopy, for instance studies of the three-dimensional (3-D) organization of chromosomes in human interphase cell nuclei, the 3-D image must be reconstructed by a point spread function or an optical transfer function with careful consideration of the properties of the imaging system. To alleviate the reconstruction problem, a tilting device was developed so that several data sets of the same cell nucleus under different views could be registered. The 3-D information was obtained from a series of optical sections with a Zeiss transmission light microscope Axiomat using a stage with a computer-controlled stepping motor for movement in the z-axis. The tilting device on the Axiomat stage could turn a cell nucleus through any desired angle and also provide movement in the x-y direction. The technique was applied to 3-D imaging of human lymphocyte cell nuclei, which were labelled by in situ hybridization with the DNA probe pUC 1.77 (mainly specific for chromosome 1). For each nucleus, 3-D data sets were registered at viewing angles of 0°, 90° and 180°; the volumes and positions of the labelled regions (spots) were calculated. The results also confirm that, in principle, any angle of a 2p geometry can be fixed for data acquisition with a high reproducibility. This indicates the feasibility of axiotomographical microscopy of cell nuclei.     

Quantitative approach to collaborative learning: performance prediction,individual assessment,and group composition

The benefits of collaborative learning, although widely reported, lack the quantitative rigor and detailed insight into the dynamics of interactions within the group, while individual contributions and their impacts on group members and their collaborative work remain hidden behind joint group assessment. To bridge this gap we intend to address three important aspects of collaborative learning focused on quantitative evaluation and prediction of group performance. First, we use machine learning techniques to predict group performance based on the data of member interactions and thereby identify whether, and to what extent, the group’s performance is driven by specific patterns of learning and interaction. Specifically, we explore the application of Extreme Learning Machine and Classification and Regression Trees to assess the predictability of group academic performance from live interaction data. Second, we propose a comparative model to unscramble individual student performances within the group. These performances are then used further in a generative mixture model of group grading as an explicit combination of isolated individual student grade expectations and compared against the actual group performances to define what we coined as collaboration synergy - directly measuring the improvements of collaborative learning. Finally the impact of group composition of gender and skills on learning performance and collaboration synergy is evaluated. The analysis indicates a high level of predictability of group performance based solely on the style and mechanics of collaboration and quantitatively supports the claim that heterogeneous groups with the diversity of skills and genders benefit more from collaborative learning than homogeneous groups.     

Smart Control Systems for Smart Materials

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are thermally activated smart materials. Due to their ability to change into a previously imprinted shape by the means of thermal activation, they are suitable as actuators for microsystems and, within certain limitations for macroscopic systems. Most commonly used SMAs for actuators are binary nickel-titanium alloys (NiTi). The shape memory effect relies on the martensitic phase transformation. On heating the material from the low temperature phase (martensite) the material starts to transform into the high temperature phase (austenite) at the austenite start temperature (A _s). The reverse transformation starts at the martensite start temperature after passing a hysteresis cycle. To apply these materials to a wide range of industrial applications, a simple method for controlling the actuator effect is required. Today??s control concepts for shape memory actuators, in applications as well as in test stands, are time-based. This often leads to overheating after transformation into the high temperature phase which results in early fatigue. Besides, the dynamic behavior of such systems is influenced by unnecessary heating, resulting in a poor time performance. To minimize these effects, a controller system with resistance feedback is required to hold the energy input on specific keypoints. These two key points are directly before transformation (A _s) and shortly before retransformation (M _s). This allows triggering of fast and energy-efficient transformation cycles. Both experimental results and a mechatronical demonstrator system, exhibit the advantages of systems concerning efficiency, dynamics, and reliability.     

On additivity of the yields of ethylene formed from methane and naphtha by an integrated process

A heat-effective ‘integrated’ process carried out in one reactor, composed of exothermic oxidative coupling of CH₄ over the catalyst fixed bed and endothermic pyrolysis of naphtha injected from the outside to the stream of gaseous coupling products in the hot oxygen-free postcatalytic zone, has been studied. An additivity of the yields of ethylene formed in both component processes was examined under varied operating conditions (type of naphtha fraction, flow rate of reagents and temperature of pyrolysis). A very high degree of additivity of the yields of ethylene and its main coproducts was observed, independently of the relative contribution of the component processes to the integrated process and of applied variations in the process conditions. Evidently, the mutual interactions between the component processes and products were negligible under experimental conditions. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Strategies for Self-Repairing Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are thermally activated smart materials. Due to their ability to change into a previously imprinted actual shape by the means of thermal activation, they are suitable as actuators for microsystems and, within certain limitations, macroscopic systems. A commonly used shape memory actuator type is an alloy of nickel and titanium (NiTi), which starts to transform its inner phase from martensitic to austenitic structure at a certain austenite start temperature. Retransformation starts at martensitic start temperature after running a hysteresis cycle. Most SMA-systems use straight wire actuators because of their simple integration, the occurring cost reduction and the resulting miniaturization. Unfortunately, SMA-actuators are only seldom used by constructors and system developers. This is due to occurring functional fatigue effects which depend on boundary conditions like system loads, strains, and number of cycles. The actuating stroke does not reduce essentially during the first thousand cycles. Striking is the elongation of the wire while maintaining the stroke during cycling (walking). In order to create a system which adjusts and repairs itself, different concepts to solve this problem are presented. They vary from smart control methods to constructive solutions with calibration systems. The systems are analyzed due to their effective, life cycle, and system costs showing outstanding advantages in comparison to commonly used SMA actuators.