Analysis of quality-of-service in a wide-area interactive distance learning system

Interactive distance learning (IDL) is an evolving paradigm of instruction and learning that attempts to overcome both distance and time constraints found in traditional classroom learning. The electronic classrooms at two sites of the University of Oslo and two further sites in Norway overcome separations in space by exchanging digital audio, video, and whiteboard information via the Norwegian academic ATM-based network Supernett II. The electronic classrooms are used since 1993 for teaching graduate level courses. This paper presents measurements and analysis results of transport, application, and user level Quality-of-Service (QoS) of the electronic classrooms. We describe our general experiences with this system for synchronous IDL. The lessons learned represent the motivation for the ongoing extension to support asynchronous IDL by a multimedia database system (MMDBS) to manage all data used and generated in the electronic classrooms.     

Online monitoring of the curing of adhesives with a miniaturised interdigital sensor using impedance spectroscopy

Monitoring adhesives during manufacturing and their lifetime has become increasingly important due to the variety of materials and applications. Impedance spectroscopy is a suitable method for online monitoring of the curing process. We present a miniaturised interdigital structure to monitor the curing process of the adhesives using impedance spectroscopy. Compared to other sensors, our sensor is ultrathin, so that it disappears in the adhesive joint. Therefore, it can remain in the joint and be used for lifetime monitoring. In addition it is suitable for thin adhesive layers due to its fine grid. We demonstrate that the impedance of the sensor embedded in the adhesive gives insight into the curing mechanisms. Therefore monitoring of a dispersion and an epoxy is shown. In addition, the curing cycles can be reliably controlled using this monitoring method. The permittivity of the adhesives is extracted from the impedance measurements, applying analytical models of the electrical field of the interdigital structure.     

Volatile flavours in raw egg yolk of hens fed on different diets

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that the composition of lipophilic components of egg yolk is influenced by the feed. The aim of the present study was to isolate volatile flavours from egg yolk after different feeding trials using solvent extraction and thin layer high‐vacuum distillation. The resulting aroma extract was analysed by various gas chromatographic techniques. Chickens were either fed with laying meal, laying meal plus cabbage and onion or laying meal plus rapeseed oil or held in free‐range. RESULTS: The predominating odour impressions were described as onion‐like. Comparing all analytical and sensory data of the flavour extracts, there were minimal differences among the respective samples. Free‐range eggs contained fewer volatile compounds than the other samples, whereas rapeseed oil supplementation caused an enrichment of sulfur compounds. CONCLUSION: While data from gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/olfactometry were less conclusive, the results from sulfur‐specific analysis using gas chromatography/flame photometric detection showed a considerable effect. However, because of the low abundance of sulfur compounds in the yolk, these differences are not expected to be perceivable by the consumer. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

ECN‐measurements at copper in artificial tap water – Investigation of anion‐effects

Electrochemical noise analysis was succesfully applied to study anion effects in the first 20 h starting period of copper corrosion in tap water. The influence of chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate as single anions and the interactions between them in three anion solutions were characterized in terms of standard deviation and PSD(I) data as well as interaction coefficients obtained from the evaluation of a set of experiments designed according to a statistical 2³‐factorial plan. The results let conclude that sulfate has an activating and chloride a passivating effect. Bicarbonate seems to act as a buffering agent. It is obviously the combination of the presence of all three anions in a narrow range of concentration ratios which finally leads to pitting corrosion. The relevance of these results from short term exposure for the long term performance of copper in tap water and the likelihood of pitting corrosion should now be investigated in long term exposure tests.     

Beurteilung von Korrosionsschutzsystemen für Offshore‐Windenergietürme – Teil 1: Problemstellung und Versuchsdurchführung

Assessment of corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers – part 1: Introduction and test scenario. Based on field and on laboratory tests, the corrosion protective performance of different corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers was investigated. The systems under investigation included duplex systems with Zn/Al metallization, multi‐layered organic systems, a single‐layer thick organic system, Zn/Mg metallization and cathodic protection of uncoated sections. Special field specimens and laboratory specimens were utilized in order to investigate the systems. Laboratory tests included immersion tests, ageing tests, test on cathodic compatibility and electro‐chemical impedance spectroscopy. Part 1 of the paper covers the general experimental design and details of the experimental procedures, whereas Part 2 deals with the results of the test programme.     

Zinc–magnesium-pigment rich coatings for corrosion protection of aluminum alloys

Chromate (Cr(VI))-based pigments have been widely used for corrosion protective coatings because of their outstanding protection efficiency especially for aluminum alloy products. However, due to environmental issues associated with Cr VI, more and more requests are being made for alternative solutions. In the presented work zinc was modified by alloying with magnesium to achieve a combination of properties – cathodic protection and less reactivity during production, storage and application of the pigments. The magnesium content leads to a lowering of the electrochemical potential which allows the cathodic protection of aluminum alloys. zinc–magnesium pigments were prepared in different compositions with special attention to the intermetallic phases MgZn, Mg₂Zn₃, and MgZn₂. Pigments were produced and a zinc–magnesium rich coating was formulated and compounded. Pickled samples of AA 2024 unclad were coated and the corrosion behavior investigated. A durability of more than 10,000 h in salt spray test could be achieved.     

Storage system support for continuous-media applications. Part 1. Requirements and single-disk issues

A multimedia storage system plays a vital role for the performance and scalability of multimedia servers. To handle the server load imposed by increased user access to on-demand multimedia streaming applications, new storage system solutions are needed. Multimedia storage systems store and retrieve data from storage devices and manage related issues including data placement, scheduling, file management, continuous data delivery, memory buffering, and prefetching. For high-data-rate multimedia systems, storage systems have long been viewed as a primary bottleneck for two reasons. First, multimedia applications have a much higher storage system load than previous applications. Second, storage devices have become only marginally faster compared to increased processor and network performance. This increasing speed mismatch has fueled a search for new storage structures and file system storage and retrieval mechanisms     

Online monitoring of crevice corrosion with electrochemical noise

The time‐related cumulated noise charges extracted from the noise signals between two “identical” crevice electrodes yield a direct quantitative easy‐to‐interpret information on time‐related corrosion intensities in the crevice. A new software‐assisted method of noise data evaluation allows a “counting of coulombs” exchanged between the system electrodes, the results of which directly correlate with the metal dissolution intensity in the crevice. The versatility of this “CoulCount” method is demonstrated in a failure analysis on the cause of crevice corrosion at spigots of automotive cooling water pumps.