Techno-economic modelling and cost functions of CO2 capture processes

The paper presents the techno-economic modelling of CO2 capture process in coal-fired power plants. An overall model is being developed to compare carbon capture and sequestration options at locations within the UK, and for studies of the sensitivity of the cost of disposal to changes in the major parameters of the most promising solutions identified. Technological options of CO2 capture have been studied and cost estimation relationships (CERs) for the chosen options calculated. Created models are related to the capital, operation and maintenance cost. A total annualised cost of plant electricity output and amount of CO2 avoided have been developed. The influence of interest rates and plant life has been analysed as well. The CERs are included as an integral part of the overall model.

Effect of polydextrose on intestinal microbes and immune functions in pigs

Dietary fibre has been proposed to decrease risk for colon cancer by altering the composition of intestinal microbes or their activity. In the present study, the changes in intestinal microbiota and its activity, and immunological characteristics, such as cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 gene expression in mucosa, in pigs fed with a high-energy-density diet, with and without supplementation of a soluble fibre (polydextrose; PDX) (30 g/d) were assessed in different intestinal compartments. PDX was gradually fermented throughout the intestine, and was still present in the distal colon. Irrespective of the diet throughout the intestine, of the four microbial groups determined by fluorescent in situ hybridisation, lactobacilli were found to be dominating, followed by clostridia and Bacteroides. Bifidobacteria represented a minority of the total intestinal microbiota. The numbers of bacteria increased approximately ten-fold from the distal small intestine to the distal colon. Concomitantly, also concentrations of SCFA and biogenic amines increased in the large intestine. In contrast, concentrations of luminal IgA decreased distally but the expression of mucosal COX-2 had a tendency to increase in the mucosa towards the distal colon. Addition of PDX to the diet significantly changed the fermentation endproducts, especially in the distal colon, whereas effects on bacteria] composition were rather minor. There was a reduction in concentrations of SCFA and tryptamine, and an increase in concentrations of spermidine in the colon upon PDX supplementation. Furthermore, PDX tended to decrease the expression of mucosal COX-2, therefore possibly reducing the risk of developing colon cancer-promoting conditions in the distal intestine.

Synthesis, x-ray structure and anion binding properties of a cryptand-like hybrid calixpyrrole

The novel cryptand in/out-3, containing two tripyrrolemethane units briged by three 1,3- diisopropylidenbenzene arms was readily synthesized by a convergent three-step synthesis. It binds fluoride by inclusion with excellent selectivity with respect to a number of other tested anions. The structure of the free receptor and that of its fluoride complex were investigated in solution by NMR spectroscopy. The solid state X-ray structure of the free cryptand 3 was also determined.

Optical and semi-conductor properties of Lead Telluride coatings

The optical and semiconductor properties of lead telluride coatings are dependant on various factors contributing to its performance. In this paper, we will present the temperature dependant effects of single layer lead telluride coatings on the dispersion and absorption characteristics, absorption edge, and carrier concentration from 15 K to 436 K using both experimental and theoretical analysis.

Assessment of CloudSat reflectivity measurements and ice cloud properties using ground-based and airborne cloud radar observations

A quantitative assessment of Cloudsat reflectivities and basic ice cloud properties (cloud base, top, and thickness) is conducted in the present study from both airborne and ground-based observations. Airborne observations allow direct comparisons on a limited number of ocean backscatter and cloud samples, whereas the ground-based observations allow statistical comparisons on much longer time series but with some additional assumptions. Direct comparisons of the ocean backscatter and ice cloud reflectivities measured by an airborne cloud radar and Cloudsat during two field experiments indicate that, on average, Cloudsat measures ocean backscatter 0.4 dB higher and ice cloud reflectivities 1 dB higher than the airborne cloud radar. Five ground-based sites have also been used for a statistical evaluation of the Cloudsat reflectivities and basic cloud properties. From these comparisons, it is found that the weighted-mean difference ZCloudsat − ZGround ranges from −0.4 to +0.3 dB when a ±1-h time lag around the Cloudsat overpass is considered. Given the fact that the airborne and ground-based radar calibration accuracy is about 1 dB, it is concluded that the reflectivities of the spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based radars agree within the expected calibration uncertainties of the airborne and ground-based radars. This result shows that the Cloudsat radar does achieve the claimed sensitivity of around −29 dBZ. Finally, an evaluation of the tropical “convective ice” profiles measured by Cloudsat has been carried out over the tropical site in Darwin, Australia. It is shown that these profiles can be used statistically down to approximately 9-km height (or 4 km above the melting layer) without attenuation and multiple scattering corrections over Darwin. It is difficult to estimate if this result is applicable to all types of deep convective storms in the tropics. However, this first study suggests that the Cloudsat profiles in convective ice need to be corrected for attenuation by supercooled liquid water and ice aggregates/graupel particles and multiple scattering prior to their quantitative use.

Oligosaccharides of pitaya (dragon fruit) flesh and their prebiotic properties

The major carbohydrates of white and red-flesh pitayas (dragon fruit) were glucose, fructose and some oligosaccharides (total concentrations of 86.2 and 89.6 g/kg, respectively). The molecular weight distribution of the extract was affected by the extraction solvent. The maximum oligosaccharides content (27.40%), which included fractions with molecular weights of 273–275, 448–500 and 787–911 Da, were obtained using 80% ethanol extraction at room temperature (28 ± 2 °C). The low molecular weight fraction, including glucose and fructose, was successfully removed by yeast cultivation. The molecular weights of mixed oligosaccharides (716, 700, 490 and 474 Da) were confirmed by mass spectrometry. The mixed oligosaccharides showed that they were resistant to hydrolysis by artificial human gastric juice and human α-amylase, giving maximum hydrolysis of 4.04% and 34.88%, respectively. The mixed oligosaccharides were also found capable of stimulating the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

Modelling capability and affordance as properties of human/machine resource systems

Understanding how and why the capability of one set of business resources, its structural arrangements and mechanisms compared to another works can provide competitive advantage in terms of new business processes and product and service development. However, most business models of capability are descriptive and lack formal modelling language to qualitatively and quantifiably compare capabilities, Gibson’s theory of affordance, the potential for action, provides a formal basis for a more robust and quantitative model, but most formal affordance models are complex and abstract and lack support for real-world applications. We aim to understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of business capability, by developing a quantitative and qualitative model that underpins earlier work on Capability-Affordance Modelling – CAM. This paper integrates an affordance based capability model and the formalism of Coloured Petri Nets to develop a simulation model. Using the model, we show how capability depends on the space time path of interacting resources, the mechanism of transition and specific critical affordance factors relating to the values of the variables for resources, people and physical objects. We show how the model can identify the capabilities of resources to enable the capability to inject a drug and anaesthetise a patient.

Transreal limits and elementary functions

We extend all elementary functions from the real to the transreal domain so that they are defined on division by zero. Our method applies to a much wider class of functions so may be of general interest.

Structure and electrical transport properties of the ordered skutterudites MGe1.5S1.5 (M = Co, Rh, Ir)

High-resolution powder neutron diffraction data collected for the skutterudites MGe1.5S1.5 (M=Co, Rh, Ir) reveal that these materials adopt an ordered skutterudite structure (space group R3¯), in which the anions are ordered in layers perpendicular to the [111] direction. In this ordered structure, the anions form two-crystallographically distinct four-membered rings, with stoichiometry Ge2S2, in which the Ge and S atoms are trans to each other. The transport properties of these materials, which are p-type semiconductors, are discussed in the light of the structural results. The effect of iron substitution in CoGe1.5S1.5 has been investigated. While doping of CoGe1.5S1.5 has a marked effect on both the electrical resistivity and the Seebeck coefficient, these ternary skutterudites exhibit significantly higher electrical resistivities than their binary counterparts.