Inverse modeling of pan heating in domestic cookers

The heating uniformity of the cooking vessels in domestic stoves depends on the type of heat source (induction, electric resistance, gas burner, etc.) and of the way in which the power is transferred to the pan. The evaluation of the stove functionalities is currently carried out by the manufacturers with costly experimental tests with real food, which are an important phase of the design process for the improvement of their performance in the food elaboration. In order to help to design the cookers and avoid the expensive tests, it is interesting to know how the heating power is distributed in each situation, so that the cookers can be adapted to obtain a more uniform heating. The contribution of this work is an inverse thermal model for the three aforementioned technologies of domestic cookers, which allows the calculation of the power distribution generated in the bottom of the pan from the measurement of the surface temperature. The results show that the proposed inverse model is of interest in many practical situations and can be used under diverse conditions

Laser pointer maculopathy. A new public health problem?

pre-print186 K

Modeling of pancake frying with non-uniform heating source applied to domestic cookers

The design of domestic cooking stoves is usually optimized by performing time-consuming cooking experiments, often using frying of pancakes as a standard. Simulation of cooking processes may reduce the number of experiments used in the development of the cooking stoves, saving time and resources. In this work we propose a model of contact frying of pancakes in domestic cookers, particularly in induction hobs and radiant cookers, in which the heating of the cooking vessels can be non-uniform. This non-uniformity is unavoidable in practice, but it can be reduced by optimizing the design of the cooker. The proposed model combines heat and mass transfer phenomena, and also includes the correlation between the browning development and the temperature distribution, the local water content and the cooking time. The model has been also validated through experiments using a commercial induction hob and a radiation stove. With this model the color of the cooked pancakes can be predicted, taking into account also uneven heating, and through simulations the design of the cooker can be improved

Development of Clay Plasters Containing Thermoregulating Microcapsules for Indoor Walls

This work shows the technical feasibility of incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) into clay plastering mortars to improve the thermal properties of the building envelopes. Due to the absence of regulated and internationally agreed-upon norms for clay mortars containing thermoregulating microcapsules (MPCMs), two tests following UNE-EN-998-1:2010 and UNE-EN-1015, were designed to provide the greatest similarity to its final application. Three different dosages 5, 10, and 15 wt% of MPCM relative to the dried mortar weight were used. Fresh mortars were physically characterized to determine its consistency, apparent density, period of workability and open time, and occluded air content. Physical and mechanical characteristics were determined for hardened mortar. The thermal characteristics of the specimens were analysed by using a differential scanning calorimetry, obtaining their apparent specific heat capacities and the enthalpy curves. Building simulation software is a fundamental tool for designing buildings with almost zero energy consumption. In this study, three identical architectural models were simulated. The reference building had inner coatings of clay-based mortar, mortar with 15% added material, and a conventional gypsum mortar. These buildings were subjected to the same exposure and radiation conditions, which allowed the result to be compared to evaluate the effect of incorporating the PCM

Geothermometrical modelling applied to the CO2-rich thermal waters of the Lanjarón hydrothermal system (Granada, Spain)

[No abstract

External economies as a mechanism of agglomeration in EU manufacturing

International audienceProductive externalities are significant determinants of agglomeration, not deeply studied at the industry and international level. We analyse the impact on productivity growth of technological externalities, both inter- and intraindustry, national or international, at the industry level for the European Union (EU) countries and the period 1995-2002. The results confirm the advisability of considering international externalities when countries are takes as regions, whose omission underestimates national spillovers. Together with national endowments and a central geographical position, the growth of productivity is encouraged by national and international specialization as a general result; moreover, it is fuelled by stronger interindustry spillovers and productive diversification, a result more evident for high technology industries, while lower technology industries are more sensitive to the omission of international externalities. Economic integration seems to be relevant, because supranational regions with less friction for goods and factor movements are more likely to take advantage of external economies as a mechanism of productivity growth and agglomeration

Outcome of Antifungal Combination Therapy for Invasive Mold Infections in Hematological Patients is Independent of the Chosen Combination

Invasive mold infection (IMI) remains a major cause of mortality in high-risk hematological patients. The aim of this multicenter retrospective, observational study was to evaluate antifungal combination therapy (ACT) for proven and probable IMI in hematological patients. We analyzed 61 consecutive cases of proven (n=25) and probable (n=36) IMI treated with ACT collected from eight Spanish hospitals from January 2005 to December 2009. Causal pathogens were: Aspergillus spp (n=49), Zygomycetes (n=6), Fusarium spp (n=3), and Scedosporium spp (n=3). Patients were classified in three groups according to the antifungal combination employed: Group A, liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) plus caspofungin (n=20); Group B, LAmB plus a triazole (n=20), and Group C, voriconazole plus a candin (n=21). ACT was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. Thirty-eight patients (62%) achieved a favorable response (35 complete). End of treatment and 12-week survival rates were 62% and 57% respectively, without statistical differences among groups. Granulocyte recovery was significantly related to favorable response and survival (p<0.001) in multivariate analysis. Our results suggest that comparable outcomes can be achieved with ACT in high risk hematological patients with proven or probable IMI, whatever the combination of antifungal agents used

Cell spotting: Educational and motivational outcomes of cell biology citizen science project in the classroom

Success stories of citizen science projects widely demonstrate the value of this open science paradigm and encourage organizations to shift towards new ways of doing research. While benefits for researchers are clear, outcomes for individuals participating in these projects are not easy to assess. The wide spectrum of volunteers collaborating in citizen science projects greatly contributes to the difficulty in the evaluation of the projects'' outcomes. Given the strong links between many citizen science projects and education, in this work we present an experience with hundreds of students (aged 15-18) of two different countries who participate in a project on cell biology research-Cell Spotting-as part of their regular classroom activities. Apart from introducing the project and resources involved, we aim to provide an overview of the benefits of integrating citizen science in the context of formal science education and of what teachers and students may obtain from it. In this case, besides helping students to consolidate and apply theoretical concepts included in the school curriculum, some other types of informal learning have also been observed such as the feeling of playing a key role, which contributed to an increase of students'' motivation

Syngas/H2 production from bioethanol in a continuous Chemical-Looping Reforming prototype

Chemical-looping reforming (CLR) allows H2 production without CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The use of a renewable fuel, bioethanol, in an auto-thermal CLR process has the advantage to produce H2 with negative CO2 emissions. This work presents the experimental results obtained in a continuously operating CLR unit (1 kWth) using ethanol as fuel. Two NiO-based oxygen carriers were used during more than 50 h of operation. The influence of variables such as temperature, water-to-fuel and oxygen-to-fuel molar ratios was analysed. Full conversion of ethanol was accomplished and carbon formation was easily avoided. A syngas composed of ≈ 61 vol.% H2, ≈ 32 vol.% CO, ≈ 5 vol.% CO2 and ≈ 2 vol.% CH4 was reached at auto-thermal conditions for both materials. Gas composition was closed to the given by the thermodynamic equilibrium. These results demonstrate the technical viability of H2/syngas production by using bioethanol in an auto-thermal CLR process.This work is partially supported by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (MICINN project ENE2011-26354) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by CTGAS-ER (project OTT20130989). A. Serrano also thanks the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the F.P.I. fellowshipPeer reviewe