Modeling of primary dendrite arm spacing variations in thin-slab casting of low carbon and low alloy steels

Solidification structure of a High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel, in terms of dendrite arm spacing distribution across the shell thickness, is studied in a breakout shell from a thin-slab caster at Tata Steel in IJmuiden. Columnar dendrites were found to be the predominant morphology throughout the shell with size variations across the shell thickness. Primary Dendrite Arm Spacing (PDAS) increases by increasing the distance from meniscus or slab surface. Subsequently, a model is proposed to describe the variation of the PDAS with the shell thickness (the distance from slab surface) under solidifiction conditions experienced in the primary cooling zone of thin-slab casting. The proposed relationship related the PDAS to the shell thickness and, hence, can be used as a tool for predicting solidifcation structure and optimizing the thin-slab casting of low alloy steels

Objective assessment of tumour response to therapy based on tumour growth kinetics

Current standards for assessment of tumour response to therapy (a) categorise therapeutic efficacy values, inappropriate for patient-specific and deterministic studies, (b) neglect the natural growth characteristics of tumours, (c) are based on tumour shrinkage, inappropriate for cytostatic therapies, and (d) do not accommodate integration of functional/biological means of therapeutic efficacy assessed with, for example, positron emission tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, with data from anatomical changes in tumour

Disentangling the heterogeneous income elasticity and dynamics of health expenditure.

In this article, we empirically study the impact of per capita income on health-care expenditure and its dynamics over time in a sample of 14 OECD countries for the period 1971 to 2009. A simple model, built upon one developed by Newhouse (1977), suggests that health care is a necessity in the short run but it cannot be rejected to be a luxury good in the long run. Our findings provide strong empirical evidence that a year’s health expenditure is conditioned by the previous one. Interestingly, our results reveal increasing income inelasticity over time along with huge heterogeneity across countries. Finally, this article supports the hypothesis of conditional convergence in health-care spending among countries. In designing policies which facilitate the sustainability of national health systems, we emphasize that ceteris paribus the greater the participation of public health, the lower the growth rate of health spending. High share of children and elderly over working age population opposite influences. We also provide evidence that technological progress could reduce the long-run income elasticity for health care, which in turn threaten the sustainability of health-care systems

Trends, Persistence, and Volatility in Energy Markets

This paper makes a threefold contribution to the underlying dynamic properties and causal effects of energy prices. Firstly, the paper makes a study of the underlying trends to help identify the time series path of nonrenewable energy resources, which can have far reaching consequences for economists and policy makers alike. The analysis is extended to also determine the persistence of oil price shocks. Secondly, the study examines the causal relation between oil prices and the macroeconomy allowing for nonlinear models that have been recently advocated in the literature. Finally, this study describes the relation between oil prices and agricultural commodities. From a policy perspective, these interrelationships of agricultural and oil prices warrant careful consideration in the context of the recent energy crisis, which may very well continue in the future

A novel selective flue gas SO2 removal with an amine absorbent

Wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) is the most widespread one among all SO2 removal methods. A novel desulfurization method is presented throughout this paper in which an amine based absorber is used to reduce SO2 concentration, from 8000ppm to less than 200 ppm. In this study, the selectivity of the new desulfurization method with consideration of operational parameters such as: SO2 concentration, column pressure, temperature of absorption process and final released SO2 emission are investigated in a steady-state condition. According to the experiments, sulfur dioxide which was in range of 4000 ppm to 8000 ppm in gas mixture. and was reduced to less than 200 ppm and 1000 ppm respectively was reduced from 4000-8000ppm to an amount of less than 200 ppm in the outlet of the pilot. During the scrubbing process, SO2 absorption was performed in atmospheric pressure and a temperature between 52 to 73 degrees Celsius. influences of PH, gas to liquid ratio (G/L) and the stripper temperature at certain condition are investigated