Evaluation of thermodynamic properties of irreversible protein thermal unfolding measured by DSC

Summary We assessed the applicability of the extrapolation procedure at infinite scanning rate to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data related to irreversible protein unfolding. To this aim, an array of DSC curves have been simulated on the basis of the Lumry-Eyring model N↔U→F. The results obtained confirmed that when the apparent equilibrium constant K_{app (T=T1/2)} is lower than 3, the application of the extrapolation procedure provides accurate thermodynamic parameters. Although this procedure applies only to monomeric proteins for which the Lumry-Eyring model is a reasonable approximation, it will hopefully contribute to increase the potential of DSC in obtaining reliable thermodynamic information regarding the folding/unfolding equilibrium.     

Design and Application of a Set of Vitreous Standards for EDS-SEM Microanalysis of Melting Shop Slags

Non-metallic inclusions in steel are formed due to interactions between liquid steel and its environment in the melting shop (refractories and slags). Particles not trapped in the slag remain in the cast steel, impairing steel properties in service. Inclusion composition varies and certified standards covering the whole compositional range are unavailable.The present study describes the preparation of a set of homogeneous, glassy and crystalline standards with a wide compositional range for use in analysing non-metallic steel inclusions. For this, materials were designed based on knowledge of the compositional range of interest in the Al₂O₃–SiO₂–CaO–MgO–CaF₂ system, which is the matrix of the most frequent steel inclusions. The composition and microstructural homogeneity of the reference materials was verified.     

An interview with Sam C. Saunders

Sam C. Saunders, the son of Elizabeth Cundiff and Winston E. Saunders, was born in Richland, OR, on February 24, 1931. The family moved to La Grande, OR, in 1944, where Sam completed high school and two years at Eastern Oregon College. He then received the BSc degree in Mathematics from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, in 1952, and he attended the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, receiving a PhD degree under Z. W. Birnbaum. After graduating, he accepted employment at the Boeing Company in its Mathematical Services Unit and, in 1972, a position as a Full Professor at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, from which he retired in 1996.     

缆机起重作业驾驶员的操作行为可靠性研究

缆机是大坝浇筑过程中的主要运输设备之一,缆机驾驶员操作水平直接关系缆机起重作业安全.为有效提高缆机起重作业驾驶员操作行为可靠性,预防起重作业安全事故,针对缆机起重作业周期性多维运动的特点,分解驾驶员操作流程;剖析操作行为失误,建立驾驶员行为模式;从时间角度量化操作流程,计算缆机驾驶员操作行为响应失误概率;构建操作行为可靠性分析模型,定量表达操作行为可靠性,分析人因失误对缆机起重作业安全事故的影响.结果表明,吊具与吊罐对接、混凝土卸料等作业过程的缆机驾驶员操作行为可靠性低,需加强安全培训,严格考核制度,从根本上提高缆机驾驶员操作行为的可靠性,以期提升缆机生产效率,实现预防安全事故的目标.     

冗余技术提高PLC控制系统可靠性的研究

针对工业现场对PLC控制系统可靠性提出更高的要求,提出利用冗余技术提高其可靠性。分析了硬件冗余和软件冗余在PLC控制系统中的应用,详细阐述了PLC控制器、输入输出口、通讯网络和电源各自的冗余方法,并着重以西门子300/400系列PLC为例进行了软硬件冗余的架构和原理分析。最后对冗余控制系统的可靠性进行分析,结果表明,使用冗余技术可使PLC控制系统的可靠性得到明显提高。     

大气环境下的钢筋混凝土桥梁时变可靠度分析

为了探究钢筋混凝土桥梁抗力退化对桥梁可靠性能的影响,综合考虑一般大气环境下混凝土强度、钢筋强度、混凝土与钢筋黏结性能的降低,建立普通钢筋混凝土桥梁的抗力退化时变模型,分析规范车辆荷载作用的桥梁时变可靠度。研究结果表明,(1)一般大气环境下,桥梁抗力随着服役时间的增加而减小,其中钢筋强度退化对桥梁抗力的影响最大,其次是钢筋与混凝土黏结性能降低,而混凝土强度退化对桥梁抗力的影响相对较小; (2)桥梁可靠指标随着服役时间的增加而减小,密集行车占比越大,桥梁承载能力失效的概率就越大;非平稳车载作用下的桥梁可靠指标小于平稳车载,桥梁需要维修补强的时间比平稳车载提前; (3)多梁式简支梁桥在建造时应该提高边梁的安全储备,在管养时可以采取限载措施进行干预。     

基于概率密度演化的输电塔-线体系抗风可靠性分析

以三线两塔直线段输电塔-线体系为工程对象,应用有限元数值模拟,建立了基于概率密度演化的输电塔-线体系抗风可靠性分析方法。首先,应用谱表示-降维方法模拟结构脉动风场,生成风荷载的代表性样本集合。然后,结合概率密度演化理论,分析了输电塔-线体系考虑气弹效应的随机动力反应。最后,应用等价极值思想构建了风荷载作用下输电塔-线体系失效准则,进而对输电塔-线体系的抗风可靠性进行精细化分析。本文结合谱表示-降维方法与概率密度演化理论,实现了仅用较少数量的代表性样本来精细地分析结构的抗风可靠性,为工程实践提供参考。     

考虑车辆随机停放的停车楼减震设计与可靠度分析

在停车楼的设计中通常将车辆荷载以活荷载的方式均匀分布到结构上,实际上受车辆随机停放的影响,停车楼结构整体质量中心偏移,一旦结构遭遇罕遇地震时,车辆的随机停放可能造成停车楼结构发生扭转破坏.本文在传统减震设计方法的基础上考虑车辆活荷载的随机性,并从可靠度的角度验算减震结构在大震作用下的倒塌概率.结果表明,相同的减震设计布...     

基于油液分析的柴油机可靠性试验磨损评价研究

介绍了＂EQD×××-××＂型柴油机的1000h混合负荷可靠性试验的试验方案.在该型柴油机的可靠性试验中,提出了开展柴油机磨损状态实时评价的概念,将磨损评价作为描述柴油机可靠性的一部分内容.在磨损评价时,通过运用油液分析中的光谱、铁谱和PQ分析等手段并结合趋势图分析,对该型柴油机试验阶段的磨损状态进行了识别.油液分析表明：在试验进行到400 h左右,试验柴油机出现了严重磨损,这一磨损评价结果与同一时段柴油机因阀座下沉引起气门间隙变小以及试验后柴油机拆检发现气门阀座磨损过大的实际情况相吻合.研究试验证实,磨损评价应成为分析柴油机可靠性的有机组成部分;将多种油液分析手段集成运用,可有效地描述柴油机可靠性试验过程中主要零部件的磨损状况,为柴油机可靠性评定提供了新的手段.