Performance-Governing Transport Mechanisms for Heat Pipes at Ultra-thin Form Factors

Heat pipes and vapor chamber heat spreaders offer a potential solution to the increasing thermal management challenges in thin-form-factor mobile computing platforms, where efficient spreading is required to simultaneously prevent overheating of internal components and formation of hot regions on the device exterior surfaces. Heat pipe performance limitations unique to such ultrathin form factors and the key heat transfer mechanisms governing the performance must be characterized. A thermal resistance network model and a detailed 2-D numerical model are used to analyze the performance of heat pipes under these conditions. A broad parametric study of geometries and heat inputs using the reduced-order model helps delineate the performance thresholds within which the effectiveness of a heat pipe is greater than a comparable solid heat spreader. A vapor-phase threshold unique to ultrathin heat pipes operating at low-power inputs is observed. At this threshold, the vapor-phase thermal resistance imposed by the saturation pressure/ temperature gradient in the heat pipe causes a crossover in the thermal resistance relative to a solid heat spreader. The higher fidelity numerical model is used to assess the accuracy of the resistance network model and to verify the validity and applicability of each assumption made regarding the transport mechanisms. Key heat transfer mechanisms not captured by the reducedorder thermal network models are identified. These include the effects of boundary conditions on the interface mass flux profile, convective effects on the vapor core temperature drop, and 2-D conduction on smearing of evaporation/condensation mass flux into the adiabatic section

Metallurgy of Complex Pb, Cu and Zinc Sulfides

For the winning of Pb, Cu and from sulfides ores by conventional methods, it is essential that these be beneficiated to high grade concentrates. The ore mine- rals in polymetallic and complex deposits are often found to be in close mutual penetration with each other and to the non-metallic gangue.In many cases where the attempts have been made to concentrate these ores; it is either difficult to obtain - a suitable grade of the concentrate by conventional flotation methods or the recovery of metals into the respective concentrate is poor. Zinc that finds its way to a copper concentrate is always discarded in the slag as a waste, while copper in a Pb concentrate leads to serious smelting problems. In such cases the cost of production by a smelting process becomes unfavourable and new approaches to process these ores become more attractive. Hydrometallurgical processes, based on leach-ing and precipitation alone, or in combination with conv-entional extractive metallurgical methods will play an important role in meeting the requirements of such complex ores. Such processes can more easily be adopted to small scale operation than conventional smelting and refining

A supply chain management model to optimise the sorting capability of a ‘third party logistics’ distribution centre

In this paper, the process flow within a high-end 3PL distribution centre is studied in order to determine the optimal split between the parcel size categories moved within the system. The article considers the application of an optimisation (MIQP) model with a corresponding discrete event simulation model to validate the authenticity of the solution. The study assumes that the current process flow and layout of the centre remains fixed; the entering and exiting routes to and from the centre and the centre itself are located optimally within the network and the models have base times of one and seven days respectively. Performance measures have been analysed through utilization states of equipment and labour, queue contents versus time and average throughput times of each of the parcel categories. The findings in this paper can create a positive trigger for improvement within the distribution centre as equipment and labour can be downsized to decrease costs and improve safety and benefit the company through the alignment of a network of distribution centres that each applies modified relevant versions of the modelling logic conveyed in this paper

Single-electron latch with granular film charge leakage suppressor

A single-electron latch is a device that can be used as a building block for Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) circuits. It consists of three nanoscale metal "dots" connected in series by tunnel junctions; charging of the dots is controlled by three electrostatic gates. One very important feature of a single-electron latch is its ability to store ("latch") information represented by the location of a single electron within the three dots. To obtain latching, the undesired leakage of charge during the retention time must be suppressed. Previously, to achieve this goal, multiple tunnel junctions were used to connect the three dots. However, this method of charge leakage suppression requires an additional compensation of the background charges affecting each parasitic dot in the array of junctions. We report a single-electron latch where a granular metal film is used to fabricate the middle dot in the latch which concurrently acts as a charge leakage suppressor. This latch has no parasitic dots, therefore the background charge compensation procedure is greatly simplified. We discuss the origins of charge leakage suppression and possible applications of granular metal dots for various single-electron circuits.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Time series modelling of the Kobe-Osaka earthquake recordings

A problem of great interest in monitoring a nuclear test ban treaty (NTBT) is related to interpreting properly the differences between a waveform generated by a nuclear explosion and that generated by an earthquake. With a view of comparing these two types of waveforms, Singh (1992) developed a technique for identifying a model in time domain. Fortunately this technique has been found useful in modelling the recordings of the killer earthquake occurred in the Kobe-Osaka region of Japan at 5.46 am on 17 January, 1995. The aim of the present study is to show how well the method for identifying a model (developed by Singh (1992)) can be used for describing the vibrations of the above mentioned earthquake recorded at Charters Towers in Queensland, Australia

Evolución del diseño de interiores en los grandes Centros Comerciales de Lima Central Sur en las últimas tres décadas

La investigación responde a una problemática que se evidencia a través de una serie de debilidades que repercuten en el diseño de dichos centros comerciales. El conocimiento de nuevas tecnologías para el diseño interior era escaso, no había conocimientos de enchapes, acabados finos, iluminación decorativa y diseño interior en general. Los materiales tampoco eran de gran ayuda, solo se conocían las estructuras comunes, como el cemento y el acero. Tampoco había conocimientos sobre técnicas constructivas

Bayesian highest posterior density intervals for the availability of a system with a 'rest-period' for the repair facility

CITATION: Yadavalli, V. S. S., et al. 2001. Bayesian highest posterior density intervals for the availability of a system with a 'rest-period' for the repair facility. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 12(2):17-24, doi:org/10.7166/12-2-345.The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.zaIn this paper Bayesian estimation for the steady state availability of a one-unit system with a rest-period for the repair facility is studied. The assumption is that the repair facility takes rest with probability p after each repair completion and the facility does not take the same with probability (l - p). The prior information is assumed to be vague and the Jeffreys' prior is used for the unknown parameters in the system. Gibbs sampling is used to derive the posterior distribution of the availability and subsequently the highest posterior density (HPD) intervals. A numerical example illustrates these results.In hierdie artikel word die Bayes-beraming van die ewewigstoestandsbeskikbaarheid van 'n stelsel wat afwisselend gebruik word, voorgestel. Daar word veronderstel dat die herstelfasiliteit na voltooiing van elke herstel of 'n rustydperk binnegaan of nie. Die rustydperk sal geneem word met waarskynlikheid p en die waarskynlikheid dat daar nie 'n rustydperk geneem word nie, is (l - p). Jeffrey se a priori-verdeling word vir die onbekende parameters in die stelsel aanvaar. Gibbs-steekproefneming word gebruik om die a posterioriverdeling van die beskikbaarheid en daarna die hoogste a posteriori-digtheidsintervalle (HPD) af te lei. 'n Numeriese voorbeeld illustreer hierdie resultate.http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/345Publisher's versio

Applications of quadrivariate exponential distribution to a three-unit warm standby system with dependent structure

Two-unit warm standby systems have been elaborately dealt within the literature. However, the study of standby systems with more than two units, though very relevant in state-of-the-art practical situations, has received little attention because of mathematical intricacies involved in analyzing them. Also, such systems have been studied assuming: (i) the lifetime or repair time of the units to be exponential, or (ii) the life-time and repair time to be independent. The present contribution is an improvement in the state-of-the-art in the sense that three-unit warm standby system with dependent structure is shown to be capable of comprehensive analysis.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lsta202018-03-20hj2018Industrial and Systems Engineerin

Micropatterned silk-fibroin/eumelanin composite films for bioelectronic applications

There has been growing interest in the use of natural bionanomaterials and nanostructured systems for diverse biomedical applications. Such materials can confer unique functional properties as well as address concerns pertaining to sustainability in production. In this work, we propose the biofabrication of micropatterned silk fibroin/eumelanin composite thin films to be used in electroactive and bioactive applications in bioelectronics and biomedical engineering. Eumelanin is the most common form of melanin, naturally derived from the ink of cuttlefish, having antioxidant and electroactive properties. Another natural biomaterial, the protein silk fibroin, is modified with photoreactive chemical groups, which allows the formation of electroactive eumelanin thin films with different microstructures. The silk fibroin/eumelanin composites are fabricated to obtain thin films as well as electroactive microstructures using UV curing. Here, we report for the first time the preparation, characterization, and physical, electrochemical, and biological properties of these natural silk fibroin/eumelanin composite films. Higher concentrations of eumelanin incorporated into the films exhibit a higher charge storage capacity and good electroactivity even after 100 redox cycles. In addition, the microscale structure and the cellular activity of the fibroin/eumelanin films are assessed for understanding of the biological properties of the composite. The developed micropatterned fibroin/eumelanin films can be applied as natural electroactive substrates for bioapplications (e.g., bioelectronics, sensing, and theranostics) because of their biocompatible properties.The authors acknowledge the FRONTHERA project (Frontiers of technology for theranostics of cancer, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases) n degrees NORTE-01-0145-FEDER0000232, the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 under grant agreement n degrees 668983. FoReCaST (Forefront Research in 3D Disease Cancer Models as in vitro Screening Technologies), and FCT grants POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031590, PD/BD/150546/2019 and PTDC/BTM-ORG/28168/2017. VKY acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation (CBET1704435)

Synthetic prions generated in vitro are similar to a newly identified subpopulation of PrPSc from sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

In recent studies, the amyloid form of recombinant prion protein (PrP) encompassing residues 89–230 (rPrP 89-230) produced in vitro induced transmissible prion disease in mice. These studies showed that unlike “classical” PrPSc produced in vivo, the amyloid fibrils generated in vitro were more proteinase-K sensitive. Here we demonstrate that the amyloid form contains a proteinase K-resistant core composed only of residues 152/153–230 and 162–230. The PK-resistant fragments of the amyloid form are similar to those observed upon PK digestion of a minor subpopulation of PrPSc recently identified in patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Remarkably, this core is sufficient for self-propagating activity in vitro and preserves a β-sheet-rich fibrillar structure. Full-length recombinant PrP 23-230, however, generates two subpopulations of amyloid in vitro: One is similar to the minor subpopulation of PrPSc, and the other to classical PrPSc. Since no cellular factors or templates were used for generation of the amyloid fibrils in vitro, we speculate that formation of the subpopulation of PrPSc with a short PK-resistant C-terminal region reflects an intrinsic property of PrP rather than the influence of cellular environments and/or cofactors. Our work significantly increases our understanding of the biochemical nature of prion infectious agents and provides a fundamental insight into the mechanisms of prions biogenesis