Modified constitutive equation for quasi-linear theory of viscoelasticity

The constitutive equation of the quasi-linear theory of viscoelasticity is modified with the view to simplify our understanding of the physical meaning of numerous kernel functions. In the resulting equation, the instantaneous and the regular parts have the same structure, and the instantaneous part coincides with the well-known constitutive equation of the nonlinear theory of elasticity.     

Physicochemical characterization of sahti,an ‘ancient’ beer style indigenous to Finland

Sahti, a strong, unhopped farmhouse beer flavoured with juniper, is still actively brewed in rural areas in Finland. Presented here is the first comprehensive analysis of the physical and chemical properties of this unique beer style. Twelve sahti samples from the southwest of Finland were analysed and, while properties varied, the beers generally had high levels of alcohol (mean = 7.9% ABV) and high residual extract (mean = 9.5°P). Foam stability was negligible, as is typical for the style, and glycerol concentrations at 3.1 – 4.7 g L^?1 were higher than in reference beers (commercial lager, wheat beer and porter). These features may be attributed to the very high gravity conditions employed in brewing sahti beers. Bitterness levels were relatively low (3–13 IBU) owing to the absence or moderate use of hops. All samples contained detectable levels of the clove‐like compound 4‐vinylguaiacol owing to the use of baker's rather than brewer's yeast for brewing. Concentrations of higher alcohols and esters were high, with many individual aroma compounds being above the normal flavour thresholds. Results have highlighted the uniqueness of this style of beer in comparison to commercially available beers and have contributed to our understanding of the reasons for the particular sensorial properties of this traditional beer style. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Acoustic Characterization of a Microcrystalline Cellulose Powder During and After Its Compression

Acoustic emissions were detected, both during the roller compaction of the microcrystalline cellulose powder and from single tablets after compaction by a single-punch tablet machine, via air using a microphone with a flat frequency response up to 20 kHz. Both of the compaction units were instrumented for the measurement of applied compressive force. The microcrystalline cellulose roller compacted using compressive forces below 30 kN showed a quite normal compaction behaviour but the product compacted at this force split into two and turned to yellow by its edges. This “capping” phenomenon was indicated by an enhancement of acoustic emission in the region of about 17-23 kHz. Acoustic emissions from single tablets after compaction by a single-punch tablet machine seemed to appear as wave packets consisting in very many frequency components that may, in addition, be time-varying. However, some small peaks were found probably being characteristic of these transient sounds.     

Exciton Origin of Color-Tuning in Ca2+-Binding Photosynthetic Bacteria

Flexible color adaptation to available ecological niches is vital for the photosynthetic organisms to thrive. Hence, most purple bacteria living in the shade of green plants and algae apply bacteriochlorophyll a pigments to harvest near infra-red light around 850–875 nm. Exceptions are some Ca²⁺-containing species fit to utilize much redder quanta. The physical basis of such anomalous absorbance shift equivalent to ~5.5 kT at ambient temperature remains unsettled so far. Here, by applying several sophisticated spectroscopic techniques, we show that the Ca²⁺ ions bound to the structure of LH1 core light-harvesting pigment–protein complex significantly increase the couplings between the bacteriochlorophyll pigments. We thus establish the Ca-facilitated enhancement of exciton couplings as the main mechanism of the record spectral red-shift. The changes in specific interactions such as pigment–protein hydrogen bonding, although present, turned out to be secondary in this regard. Apart from solving the two-decade-old conundrum, these results complement the list of physical principles applicable for efficient spectral tuning of photo-sensitive molecular nano-systems, native or synthetic.     

Determination of conversion factors from air kerma to operational dose equivalent quantities for low-energy X-ray spectra

The conversion coefficients from air kerma to ICRU operational dose equivalent quantities for STUK's realisation of the X-radiation qualities N-15 to N-60 of the ISO narrow (N) spectrum series were determined by utilising X-ray spectrum measurements. The pulse-height spectra were measured using a planar high-purity germanium spectrometer and unfolded to fluence spectra using Monte Carlo generated data of the spectrometer response. To verify the measuring and unfolding method, the first and second half-value layers and the air kerma rate were calculated from the fluence spectra and compared with the values measured using an ionisation chamber. For each radiation quality, the spectrum was characterised by the parameters given in ISO 4037-1. The conversion coefficients from the air kerma to the ICRU operational quantities H(p)(10), H(p)(0.07), H'(0.07) and H(*)(10) were calculated using monoenergetic conversion coefficients at zero angle of incidence. The results are discussed with respect to ISO 4037-4, and compared with published results for low-energy X-ray spectra.     

Acoustic Emission during powder Compaction and its Frequency Spectral Analysis

Acoustic emission was detected during compaction of three different pharmaceutical materials: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose and maize starch varying compressive forces between 0 and 60 kN. Acoustic emission signals were recorded on magnetic tape with a microphone and transformed to frequency spectra by using FFT-analysis.

After rough identification of frequency components each spectrum was divided into three bands. By using integrated band powers the acoustic activity on these bands could be compared quantitatively. Many frequency peaks were observed, too, and many of them could be identified.     

Increased variation of the response index of nociception during noxious stimulation in patients during general anaesthesia

Objective

Analgesia is an important part of general anaesthesia, but no direct indicators of nociceptive-anti-nociceptive balance have been validated in detail. The Response Index of Nociception (RN) is a multiparameter approach which combines photoplethysmographic waveform (PPG), State Entropy (SE), Response Entropy (RE), and heart rate variability (HRV). We aimed at evaluating RN during general anaesthesia; especially we wanted to compare pre- and post-index values of certain noxious stimuli to the average index values. Our assumption was that RN could be a useful indicator of nociceptive-anti-nociceptive balance during the surgery.

Methods

Sixty women undergoing gynaecological or breast surgery participated in the study. All patients had elective surgery and anaesthesia was maintained with propofol-remifentanil target controlled infusion. Neuromuscular blocking agent rocuronium was used at the beginning of the surgery. Electrocardiography (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG) and electroencelophalography (EEG) were registered and extracted off-line. An index, reflecting amplitude and frequency of occurrence of abrupt increases (“peaks”) in the RN was evaluated during surgery in general and around occurrences of predefined noxious stimuli in particular.

Results

Fifty-four patients were eligible for analysis. Patient movement was associated with increased index values, both before and after the event. Post-event values of the index for intubation and skin incision were higher than its intra-surgery baseline, while pre-event values remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Changes in RN can be used to detect noxious stimuli during surgery. RN also predicted movement in our patients under propofol-remifentanil anaesthesia.     

Portable TL dosemeter--ESD phantom combination for chest and lumbar spine radiography

A thermoluminescence dosemeter (TLD)—entrance surfacedose (ESD) phantom combination was calibrated in terms of air-kermain IEC RQR X-ray radiation qualities between 50 and 150 kV.The ESD phantom was designed and constructed as a part of thework. With the combination, air-kermas were measured for fourradiological examinations (two chest and two lumbar spine examinationsin two hospitals), and converted to ESD_a using Monte–Carlocalculated BSF data tabulated for different tube voltages, filtrationsand beam diameters at 1 m distance. The results agreed withthe ionisation-chamber measurements within the reported overalluncertainty of the TLD method. In the calibration, the ESD phantomcan be replaced by the ISO water slab phantom unaffecting thereported overall uncertainty. Backscatter-related parametersfor the ISO water slab phantom and the newly designed ESD phantomwere determined for the IEC RQR qualities used in the secondarystandard dosimetry laboratory of STUK at 1 m distance, includingan approximate H_p(10)/H_p(0.07) ratio.