Computational Electrochemistry: A Model to Studying Ohmic Distortion of Voltammetry in Multiple Working Electrode,Microfluidic Devices,an Adaptive FEM Approach

Characteristics of mass transport and potential distribution applicable to microfluidic electrochemical flow cell devices has been modelled using the finite element method. A flexible, automatic grid generation algorithm has been combined with an a‐posteriori error indication technique presented by Nann and Heinze to allow irregular cell geometries to be modelled. The code has been applied to the problem of steady state generator – detector linear sweep voltammetry in a channel flow cell showing the effects of IR drop on the voltammetric response of each electrode.     

Micromechanisms and Mechanics of Damage and Fracture in Thin Film/Substrate Systems

The purpose of this paper is to review the mechanisms and available theoretical methods for modeling the strength and failure of thin film/substrate systems     

Vessel Arrival Process and Queueing in Marine Ports Handling Bulk Materials

We study the vessel arrival process in bulk ports handling either cargo containers or minerals. Then we introduce the SHIP/G/1 queue to be able to study the queueing behavior at the port. We present approximations for the asymptotic probabilities of delay and the number of vessels at the port. Numerical examples show the accuracy of the approximations. In appendices, we provide details of the analysis of the number of vessels at the port and the correlation properties of the vessel arrival process.     

Cellulose-based fibers from liquid–crystalline solutions. II. Processing and morphology of acetate/butyrate esters

Fibers were spun from isotropic and anisotropic dimethylacetamide solutions of cellulose esters. Take-up speeds of the dry jet/wet spinning process varied. Water served as the coagulant. The mechanical properties of the fibers increased as spinning progressed from the isotropic to the anisotropic state of the solution. A trade-off in solubility and fiber properties was noted as the butyryl acetyl ratio decreased. Whereas high butyryl content enhances both overall solubility and the formation of liquid–crystalline solutions at lower concentration, it results in lower fiber modulus and strength. Morphology of the fibers depended on the coagulation rate which was influenced by the concentration of the sppinning solution. The level of orientation and crystallinity of the fibers increased somewhat when they were spun from liquid-crystalline solutions. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An interpolation approximation for the GI/G/1 queue based on multipoint Padé approximation

The performance evaluation of many complex manufacturing, communication and computer systems has been made possible by modeling them as queueing systems. Many approximations used in queueing theory have been drawn from the behavior of queues in light and heavy traffic conditions. In this paper, we propose a new approximation technique, which combines the light and heavy traffic characteristics. This interpolation approximation is based on the theory of multipoint Padé approximation which is applied at two points: light and heavy traffic. We show how this can be applied for estimating the waiting time moments of the ^GI/G/1 queue. The light traffic derivatives of any order can be evaluated using the MacLaurin series analysis procedure. The heavy traffic limits of the ^GI/G/1 queue are well known in the literature. Our technique generalizes the previously developed interpolation approximations and can be used to approximate any order of the waiting time moments. Through numerical examples, we show that the moments of the steady state waiting time can be estimated with extremely high accuracy under all ranges of traffic intensities using low orders of the approximant. We also present a framework for the development of simple analytical approximation formulas. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of aromatic poly(thioether ketone)

Aromatic poly(thioether ketone)s were prepared by the direct polycondensation of aromatic dicarboxylic acids with aryl compounds containing ether or sulfide structures using phosphorus pentoxide/methanesulfonic acid (PPMA) as a condensing agent and solvent. Polycondensation proceeded smoothly and produced aromatic poly(thioether ketone)s with inherent viscosities up to 0.73 dL/g. The synthesis of substituted aryl ketones by the reaction of substituted benzoic acids with aryl compounds in PMMA was studied in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of the reaction for polymer formation. The thermogravimetry of the aromatic poly(thioether ketone)s showed a 10% weight loss in air and nitrogen at around 450 and 460°C, respectively. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Internal audits in private medical laboratory practice – a Finnish experience in 1996–2000

Internal audits inherently effect quality improvement, and concrete results can be expected by careful planning. As audits should improve the quality system in situ, the development of audits should not be neglected. ISO/IEC 17025 describes the objectives of internal audits and management reviews in more detail compared to the former standards EN 45001 and ISO/IEC Guide 25, although the main features are unchanged. This addresses continuous surveillance of the current practice. A brief questionnaire on vertical audits was distributed to 74 of 120 employees at a Finnish private medical laboratory, Medix Laboratories Ltd. A positive feed-back was received from the current management of audits. However, the study revealed that continuous supervision of audits is needed. Many employees were not willing to perform audits if they had no previous experience. Additionally, audits performed at the workbench were not considered as the best possible for fruitful discussions. Received: 20 February 2001 Accepted: 30 November 2001     

Low-energy ion-assisted control of interfacial structures in metallic multilayers

A molecular dynamics method has been used to simulate the argon ion-assisted deposition of Cu/Co/Cu multilayers and to explore ion beam assistance strategies that can be used during or after the growth of each layer to control interfacial structures. A low-argon ion energy of 5–10 eV was found to minimize a combination of interfacial roughness and interlayer mixing (alloying) during the ion-assisted deposition of multilayers. However, complete flattening with simultaneous ion assistance could not be achieved without some mixing between the layers when a constant ion energy approach was used. It was found that multilayers with lower interfacial roughness and intermixing could be grown either by modulating the ion energy during the growth of each metal layer or by utilizing ion assistance only after the completion of each layers deposition. In these latter approaches, relatively high-energy ions could be used since the interface is buried and less susceptible to intermixing. The interlayer mixing dependence upon the thickness of the over layer has been determined as a function of ion energy.     

Electrooxidation of carbo/thiocarbohydrazide and their hydrazone derivatives at a glassy carbon electrode

Electrochemical oxidation of thio/carbohydrazide and their hydrazone derivatives Benzaldehyde thiocarbohydrazone [BTCH] diacetylene thiocarbohydrazone [DATCH] have been studied in Brit-ton Robinson buffer in aqueous and nonaqueous media at a glassy carbon electrode. The effects of pH, sweep rate, concentration, temperature and surfactants have been studied. The complex bis (carbo/thiocabohydrazide) Zn(II) chloride was also subjected to voltammetric analysis in order to understand the reactivity both in free and metal bound states. The reaction conditions were optimized for the determination of above compounds in micrograms quantities by differential pulse voltammetry, analytical utility of this investigation is also highlighted.