Heat-induced and other chemical changes in commercial UHT milks

The properties of commercial directly and indirectly heated UHT milks, both after heating and during storage at room temperature for 24 weeks, were studied. Thermally induced changes were examined by changes in lactulose, furosine and acid-soluble whey proteins. The results confirmed previous reports that directly heated UHT milks suffer less heat damage than indirectly heated milk. During storage, furosine increased and bovine serum albumin in directly heat-treated milks decreased significantly. The changes in lactulose, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin were not statistically significant. The data suggest that heat treatment indicators should be measured as soon as possible after processing to avoid any misinterpretations of the intensity of the heat treatment.

Phase diagram for the system Nd-Mn-O and thermodynamic properties of NdMnO3 and NdMn2O5

Studies on the phase relations in the system Nd-Mn-O at 1223 K showed two stable ternary compounds, NdMnO3 and NdMn2O5. An isothermal section of the ternary phase diagram for the system Nd-Mn-O was constructed based on phase analysis of samples quenched after equilibration using XRPD and EDS. An advanced version of the solid-state cell incorporating a buffer electrode was used to determine the Gibbs energies of decomposition of NdMnO3 and NdMn2O5 in the temperature range from 925 to 1400 K. Pure oxygen gas at 0.1 MPa was used as the reference electrode, and yttria-stabilized zirconia as the solid electrolyte. The buffer electrode was designed to prevent polarization of the three-phase electrode and ensure accurate data. The measured oxygen potential corresponding to the reaction,2 Nd2O3 + 4 MnO + O-2 --> 4 NdMnO3 can be represented by the equation,Amu(o2) / J.mol(-1) (+/-580) = -523 960 + 170.96 (T/K)Similarly, for the formation of NdMn2O5 according to the reaction,3 NdMnO3 + Mn3O4 + O-2 --> 3 NdMn2O5 Amu(o2) / J.mol(-1) (+/-660) = - 269 390 + 181.74 (T/K) (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

System Nd-Pd-O: Phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of oxides using a solid-state cell with advanced features

An isothermal section of the phase diagram for the system Nd-Pd-O at 1350 K has been established by equilibration of samples representing 13 different compositions and phase identification after quenching by optical and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive analysis of x-rays. The binary oxides PdO and NdO were not stable at 1350 K. Two ternary oxides Nd4PdO7 and Nd2Pd2O5 were identified. Solid and liquid alloys, as well as the intermetallics NdPd3 and NdPd5, were found to be in equilibrium with Nd2O3. Based on the phase relations, three solidstate cells were designed to measure the Gibbs energies of formation of PdO and the two ternary oxides. An advanced version of the solid-state cell incorporating a buffer electrode was used for high-temperature thermodynamic measurements. The function of the buffer electrode, placed between reference and working electrodes, was to absorb the electrochemical flux of the mobile species through the solid electrolyte caused by trace electronic conductivity. The buffer electrode prevented polarization of the measuring electrode and ensured accurate data. Yttria-stabilized zirconia was used as the solid electrolyte and pure oxygen gas at a pressure of 0.1 MP a as the reference electrode. Electromotive force measurements, conducted from 950 to 1425 K, indicated the presence of a third ternary oxide Nd2PdO4, stable below 1135 (±10) K. Additional cells were designed to study this compound. The standard Gibbs energy of formation of PdO (†f G 0) was measured from 775 to 1125 Kusing two separate cell designs against the primary reference standard for oxygen chemical potential. Based on the thermodynamic information, chemical potential diagrams for the system Nd-Pd-O were also developed.

System Cu-Rh-O: Phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of ternary oxides CuRhO2 and CuRh204

An isothermal section of the phase diagram for the system Cu-Rh-O at 1273 K has been established by equilibration of samples representing eighteen different compositions, and phase identification after quenching by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDX). In addition to the binary oxides Cu2O, CuO, and Rh2O3, two ternary oxides CuRhO2 and CuRh2O4 were identified. Both the ternary oxides were in equilibrium with metallic Rh. There was no evidence of the oxide Cu2Rh2O5 reported in the literature. Solid alloys were found to be in equilibrium with Cu2O. Based on the phase relations, two solid-state cells were designed to measure the Gibbs energies of formation of the two ternary oxides. Yttria-stabilized zirconia was used as the solid electrolyte, and an equimolar mixture of Rh+Rh2O3 as the reference electrode. The reference electrode was selected to generate a small electromotive force (emf), and thus minimize polarization of the three-phase electrode. When the driving force for oxygen transport through the solid electrolyte is small, electrochemical flux of oxygen from the high oxygen potential electrode to the low potential electrode is negligible. The measurements were conducted in the temperature range from 900 to 1300 K. The thermodynamic data can be represented by the following equations: {fx741-1} where Δf(ox) G o is the standard Gibbs energy of formation of the interoxide compounds from their component binary oxides. Based on the thermodynamic information, chemical potential diagrams for the system Cu-Rh-O were developed.

A Voltage Space Vector Diagram Formed by Nineteen Concentric Dodecagons for Medium-Voltage Induction Motor Drive

In this paper, a multilevel dodecagonal voltage space vector structure with nineteen concentric dodecagons is proposed for the first time. This space vector structure is achieved by cascading two sets of asymmetric three-level inverters with isolated H-bridges on either side of an open-end winding induction motor. The dodecagonal structure is made possible by proper selection of dc link voltages and switching states of the inverters. The proposed scheme retains all the advantages of multilevel topologies as well as the advantages of dodecagonal voltage space vector structure. In addition to that, a generic and simple method for calculation of pulsewidth modulation timings using only sampled reference values (v(alpha) and v(beta)) is proposed. This enables the scheme to be used for any closed-loop application such as vector control. In addition, a new method of switching technique is proposed, which ensures minimum switching while eliminating the fifth-and seventh-order harmonics and suppressing the eleventh and thirteenth harmonics, eliminating the need for bulky filters. The motor phase voltage is a 24-stepped wave-form for the entire modulation range thereby reducing the number of switchings of the individual inverter modules. Experimental results for steady-state operation, transient operation, including start-up have been presented and the results of fast Fourier transform analysis is also presented for validating the proposed concept.

Basic measurements of radiation from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) in the years 1992 to 2012, reference list of 6378 datasets

In the framework of the global energy balance, the radiative energy exchanges between Sun, Earth and space are now accurately quantified from new satellite missions. Much less is known about the magnitude of the energy flows within the climate system and at the Earth surface, which cannot be directly measured by satellites. In addition to satellite observations, here we make extensive use of the growing number of surface observations to constrain the global energy balance not only from space, but also from the surface. We combine these observations with the latest modeling efforts performed for the 5th IPCC assessment report to infer best estimates for the global mean surface radiative components. Our analyses favor global mean downward surface solar and thermal radiation values near 185 and 342 Wm**-2, respectively, which are most compatible with surface observations. Combined with an estimated surface absorbed solar radiation and thermal emission of 161 Wm**-2 and 397 Wm**-2, respectively, this leaves 106 Wm**-2 of surface net radiation available for distribution amongst the non-radiative surface energy balance components. The climate models overestimate the downward solar and underestimate the downward thermal radiation, thereby simulating nevertheless an adequate global mean surface net radiation by error compensation. This also suggests that, globally, the simulated surface sensible and latent heat fluxes, around 20 and 85 Wm**-2 on average, state realistic values. The findings of this study are compiled into a new global energy balance diagram, which may be able to reconcile currently disputed inconsistencies between energy and water cycle estimates.

Defining reference service life : an open innovation approach

The endeavour to obtain estimates of durability of components for use in lifecycle assessment or costing and infrastructure and maintenance planning systems is large. The factor method and the reference service life concept provide a very valuable structure, but do not resolve the central dilemma of the need to derive an extensive database of service life. Traditional methods of estimating service life, such as dose functions or degradation models, can play a role in developing this database, however the scale of the problem clearly indicates that individual dose functions cannot be derived for each component in each different local and geographic setting. Thus, a wider range of techniques is required in order to devise reference service life. This paper outlines the approaches being taken in the Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation project to predict reference service life. Approaches include the development of fundamental degradation and microclimate models, the development of a situation-based reasoning ‘engine’ to vary the ‘estimator’ of service life, and the development of a database on expert performance (Delphi study). These methods should be viewed as complementary rather than as discrete alternatives. As discussed in the paper, the situation-based reasoning approach in fact has the possibility of encompassing all other methods.

Configurable reference modeling languages

This chapter discusses reference modelling languages for business systems analysis and design. In particular, it reports on reference models in the context of the design-for/by-reuse paradigm, explains how traditional modelling techniques fail to provide adequate conceptual expressiveness to allow for easy model reuse by configuration or adaptation and elaborates on the need for reference modelling languages to be configurable. We discuss requirements for and the development of reference modelling languages that reflect the need for configurability. Exemplarily, we report on the development, definition and configuration of configurable event-driven process chains. We further outline how configurable reference modelling languages and the corresponding design principles can be used in future scenarios such as process mining and data modelling.

QoS-aware reference station placement for regional network RTK

Network RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) is a technology that is based on GPS (Global Positioning System) or more generally on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) measurements to achieve centimeter-level accuracy positioning in real-time. Reference station placement is an important problem in the design and deployment of network RTK systems as it directly affects the quality of the positioning service and the cost of the network RTK systems. This paper identifies a new reference station placement for network RTK, namely QoS-aware regional network RTK reference station placement problem, and proposes an algorithm for the new reference station placement problem. The algorithm can always produce a reference station placement solution that completely covers the region of network RTK.