Optimum design criteria for solar hot water systems

This paper is concerned with the optimisation of some design criteria of SHW systems intended for residential and hotel applications. For this purpose, a system model based on TRNSYS programme has been used to correlate the performance and cost effectiveness of the system with a number of key design criteria which include the Collector to Consumer Factor (FCC) expressed in m 2 of collector per consumer and the Collector to Load Factor (FCL) expressed in m 2 of collector per annual GJ of thermal load

Modelling the structure of full-length Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a clinically important human virus associated with several cancers and is the etiologic agent of infectious mononucleosis. The viral nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA1) is central to the replication and propagation of the viral genome and likely contributes to tumourigenesis. We have compared EBNA1 homologues from other primate lymphocryptoviruses (LCV) and found that the central glycine/alanine repeat (GAr) domain, as well as predicted cellular protein (USP7 and CK2) binding sites are present in homologues in the Old World primates, but not the marmoset; suggesting that these motifs may have co-evolved. Using the resolved structure of the C-terminal one third of EBNA1 (homodimerisation and DNA binding domain), we have gone on to develop monomeric and dimeric models in silico of the full length protein. The C-terminal domain is predicted to be structurally highly similar between homologues, indicating conserved function. Zinc could be stably incorporated into the model, bonding with two N-terminal cysteines predicted to facilitate multimerisation. The GAr contains secondary structural elements in the models, while the protein binding regions are unstructured, irrespective of the prediction approach used and sequence origin. These intrinsically disordered regions may facilitate the diversity observed in partner interactions. We hypothsise that the structured GAr could mask the disordered regions, thereby protecting the protein from default degradation. In the dimer conformation, the C-terminal tails of each monomer wrap around a proline-rich protruding loop of the partner monomer, providing dimer stability, a feature which could be exploited in therapeutic design

The Design and Synthesis of New Clathrate Compounds

A comprehensive review of clathrate inclusion compounds is given. Following this orientating survey, a study of the role of hydrogen bonding in clathrate formation is described, the host chosen for structural modification being Dianin's compound, 4-p-hydroxyphenyl-2,2,4-trimethylchroman. Replacement of the hydroxyl function by the mercapto group gives a new host, which is isomorphous with Dianin's compound, and has sextets of thiol molecules linked by hydrogen bonds involving their SH groups, such that the sulphur atoms form a hexagon. On the other hand, replacement of the OH group of Dianin's compound by the NH2 group gives an amine which undergoes spontaneous resolution on recrystallisation, without inclusion of solvent. The wide-ranging inclusion properties of 3-p-(2,2,4-trimethylchroman-4-yl)-phenyl-2-phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone have been studied, important classes of guest being cycloalkanes, cyclic ethers, halides and ketones and aromatic molecules. In the case of the methylcyclohexane adduct, two guest molecules reside in each large closed cavity formed in the crystal host lattice. A thia-analogue of this versatile host has also been investigated. A new rationale for the design of clathrate inclusion compounds, whose structures are not directly related/ related to any known host, is described. This approach, based on analogy is distinct from the earlier idea which depends on making judicious modifications to known hosts. Thus a series of hexa-substituted benzenes which incorporate the same symmetry and overall dimensions as the hydrogen-bonded hexameric units found in the clathrates of phenol, hydroquinone and Dianin's compound have been prepared. No less than twelve "hexa-hosts" have been discovered and shown to exhibit a wide range of inclusion behaviour. The crystals of the carbon tetrachloride adduct of hexaphenylthiobenzene are isomorphous with the above hydrogen-bonded hosts' clathrate structures. Furthermore, the substantial selective inclusion behaviour towards mixtures of isomeric hydrocarbon solvents observed for these hosts is of potential commercial interest

THE INTERNET IS A BOY’S CLUB?: ANALYZING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COMPUTER & INTERNET ADOPTION BY OLDER ADULTS

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Innovation in Aging following peer review. The version of record Wilson D. A. (2019). THE INTERNET IS A BOY’S CLUB?: ANALYZING GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COMPUTER & INTERNET ADOPTION BY OLDER ADULTS. Innovation in Aging, 3(Suppl 1), S862. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.3167 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz038.3167. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.The realization of technology’s exponential advancement has been noted in recent years. With ever advancing technologies becoming more integrated in our everyday lives, we must adapt and learn to utilize these new technologies in order to maintain a presence in society. One group that has been stereotyped as struggling to adopt and learn the processes involved with advancing technologies is that of the older adult population. However, previous literature tends to suggest that there are also gendered differences in the adoption of different forms of modern and advancing technologies among older adults. While some articles state that older adult women have been reported to use social media than their male counterparts, conflicting previous literature states that older adult women use newer technologies less, but are more creative in their uses. With these conflicting reports, there comes a need for proper analyses on the gendered use of modern technology among older adults. Using data from the 2015 Current Population Survey (CPS) Computer and Internet Use Supplement, different demographic factors are analyzed for influences on use of technologies. The older adult age cohorts analyzed include the Baby Boomer and the Silent Generation age cohorts. This analysis includes of controlling for additional factors such as regional residence, educational attainment, and other social location variables. Contrary to much of the existing literature, there is little difference in the adoption of computer and internet technologies by older adults. Additionally, the analyses are performed on the Generation X and Millennial age cohorts for comparison

Control of cracking in concrete by steel reinforcement : an examination of some of the mechanisms involved

The techniques tried up till now to model the problem of cracking in reinforced concrete have been largely empirical. Many relationships have been identified between certain parameters and the occurrence and size of cracks. This thesis reviews these, reports on the current state of knowledge, and discusses some of the theories proposed. Because of the great variation and complexity of the materials and stress interactions involved, the problem has to date defied completely objective theoretical modelling. The finite element method provides a powerful new modelling tool for theoretical simulation of complex real problems. Recent developments on constitutive models for concrete make this method extremely attractive for use in this case. This thesis attempts to make use of these tools by carrying out some analyses of the cracking of reinforced concrete prisms stressed in tension. The method is found to be a viable way of examining mechanisms and effects which are not ordinarily visible in laboratory experiments. These mechanisms are discussed in the light of the experimental findings recorded in the literature

Updated asparagus root carbohydrate monitoring system – Aspire Lite phone app

Presentation to the New Zealand Asparagus Council conference at Napier. Sarah Sinton presented. Aspire Asparagus Lite is free and open source Android phone app to assist in the management of carbohydrate reserves of asparagus crops. The App is available from the Google Play Store