Smart windows: Thermal modelling and evaluation

Copyright @ 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article shared under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).A numerical investigation of the performance of a multi paned smart window integrated with water-cooled high efficiency third generation GaAsP/InGaAs QWSC (∼32% efficiency) solar cells illuminated by two-axis tracking solar concentrators at 500× in the inter pane space is presented. Optimising system parameters such as optical concentration ratio and coolant (water) flow rate is essential in order to avoid degradation in system performance due to high cell temperatures and thermal stresses. Detailed modelling of the thermo-fluid characteristics of the smart windows system was undertaken using a finite volume CFD package. Results of this analysis which considered the conductive, convective and radiative heat exchange processes taking place in the interior of the smart window system as well as the heat exchange to the internal and external ambient environment are presented.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Counci

Antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B

An updated review of the antiviral agents currently available or under trial for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B is presented. There are two broad groups: (1) immunomodulators including interferon α (which also has a direct antiviral effect), thymosin α1 and Theradigm-HBV and (2) viral suppressors such as famciclovir and lamivudine. These agents are still in clinical trial worldwide, singly or in combination. Their long term efficacy in the treatment of hepatitis B remains to be evaluated.published_or_final_versio

Pattern of angiogenesis in the healing of composite intramembranous bone and demineralized bone matrix

Abstract no. 3133published_or_final_versio

An update on hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common cancer occurring in males in the world and has an annual incidence worldwide of 1 million. There are variations in its geographical distribution. It is the second most common cancer in Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and ranks third among males in China.published_or_final_versio

The natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection

Chronic hepatitis B infection is a global health problem that affects about 300 million people. Of these, 75% are Chinese. Most Chinese who become chronic carriers, contract the virus during the perinatal period. The natural history of these chronic hepatitis B carriers includes an initial immune tolerance phase, followed by immune clearance and an inactive hepatitis B non-replicative phase with the development of cirrhosis that may be complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma. The classification of hepato-cellular carcinoma has recently been revised. Based on immunohistochemical studies, it has been found that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary markers have a poorer survival than patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but who have negative biliary markers. Sometimes, a fourth phase, a hepatitis B envelope-negative hepatitis B virus replicative phase, reflecting the emergence of a pre-core mutant strain, may follow. Our improved understanding of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection has led to more effective approaches towards the control of this viral infection and its sequelae. Most importantly, immunisation against hepatitis B virus in the perinatal setting has been shown to prevent chronic infection.published_or_final_versio

Clinical management of a child with melanotic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy

A rare case of melanotic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy affecting the maxilla is reported. These are rare, mainly benign neoplasms that present during infancy. Prompt surgery and rehabilitation using partial dentures are essential to minimise the effects of the deformity. The integrated surgical and prosthodontic management needed to attain good restoration of aesthetic and masticatory function in a child are emphasised. Additional partial dentures need to be made that accommodate the changes in the dental arch that occur as the child grows.published_or_final_versio

Neural Network Modelling of Track Profile in Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing.

Cold spray additive manufacturing is an emerging technology that offers the ability to deposit oxygen-sensitive materials and to manufacture large components in the solid state. For further development of the technology, the geometric control of cold sprayed components is fundamental but not yet fully matured. This study presents a neural network predictive modelling of a single-track profile in cold spray additive manufacturing to address the problem. In contrast to previous studies focusing only on key geometric feature predictions, the neural network model was employed to demonstrate its capability of predicting complete track profiles at both normal and off-normal spray angles, resulting in a mean absolute error of 8.3%. We also compared the track profile modelling results against the previously proposed Gaussian model and showed that the neural network model provided comparable predictive accuracy, even outperforming in the predictions at cold spray profile edges. The results indicate that a neural network modelling approach is well suited to cold spray profile prediction and may be used to improve geometric control during additive manufacturing with an appropriate process planning algorithm.This research was funded by CSIRO’s Active Integrated Matter Future Science Platform (AIM FSP)under the testbed number: TB10_WB04

Persistence of hepatic hepatitis B virus after serological clearance of HBsAG with autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation

Delayed clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen was previously reported in a 38 year old woman after high dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell rescue. Sixteen months later, this patient remained hepatitis B surface antigen negative, hepatitis B surface anti-body positive, and serum hepatitis B DNA negative by polymerase chain reaction. Serial liver biopsies (one at hepatitis B e antigen positive stage, one at hepatitis B e antibody positive stage, and one at hepatitis B surface antigen negative and hepatitis B surface antibody positive stage) showed a gradual resolution of the inflammatory activity with loss of hepatitis B e antigen and then hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum. However, the degree of fibrosis, though mild, remained the same. With the serological clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen, a small amount of hepatitis B virus DNA was still detectable in the nuclei of liver cells.published_or_final_versio

Solution structure of the dimerization domain of the eurkaryotic stalk P1/P2 complex reveals the structural organization of the eukaryotic stalk

Poster Presentation: abstract A01The lateral ribosomal stalk is responsible for the kingdom‐specific binding of translation factors and activation of GTP hydrolysis during protein synthesis. The eukaryotic stalk consists of the scaffold P0 protein which binds two copies of P1/P2 hetero‐dimers to form a P0(P1/P2)2 pentameric P‐complex. The structure of the eukaryotic stalk is currently not known. To provide a better understanding on the structural organization of eukaryotic stalk, we have determined the solution structure of the N‐terminal dimerization domain …postprin

Application of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequence polymorphisms to the study of HBV transmission

Short sequences in hypervariable regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome can be used to identify different strains, providing a novel approach to the study of HBV transmission. The nucleotide sequence in positions 2551-2650 (1: EcoRI site) was determined for serum HBV DNA from 96 Chinese children living in Hong Kong and from 38 of their parents. HBV DNA was extracted and sequenced after amplification with the polymerase chain reaction, using as primers oligonucleotides corresponding to two conserved sequences. Among 82 unrelated children, 32 HBV DNA variants were present. One sequence was present in 33 children and 31 variants were found among the other 49. Siblings within each of nine families had the same variant; in three families siblings had different variants. Six of the eight fathers and 28 of the 30 mothers had HBV DNA sequences identical to those of their offspring. A total of 34 variants were found among the 134 individuals. The hypothesis of random assortment of sequences in parents and children was rejected (P < .00005). Thus, this new approach proves the occurrence of intrafamilial transmission of HBV among Chinese.published_or_final_versio