This paper presents the results obtained from measurements and experiences gained from interviews on 12 advanced solar low energy houses designed and built as part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Solar Heating and Cooling Programme—Task 13. Three years after the IEA Task 13 formally ended, the results were collected by means of questionnaires sent to the former participants in Task 13. A small IEA working group was responsible for collecting and processing the results. The paper gives a brief presentation of the houses and the applied energy saving measures. Measured and expected energy consumptions and indoor climate conditions are compared and differences explained. Special innovative installations and systems are described and evaluated. In general the measured energy consumption was higher than the expected values due to user influence and unforeseen technical problems but still an energy saving of 60% compared with typical houses was achieved. Prevention of overheating requires special attention also at northern latitudes. Interviews with occupants revealed the need to explain the building’s behaviour thoroughly to its users and elaboration of user manuals.

Methods for classification of two-dimensional (2-DE) electrophoresis gels based on multivariate data analysis are demonstrated. Two-dimensional gels of ten wheat varieties are analyzed and it is demonstrated how to classify the wheat varieties in two qualities and a method for initial screening of gels is presented. First, an approach is demonstrated in which no prior knowledge of the separated proteins is used. Alignment of the gels followed by a simple transformation of data makes it possible to analyze the gels in an automated explorative manner by principal component analysis, to determine if the gels should be further analyzed. A more detailed approach is done by analyzing spot volume lists by principal components analysis and partial least square regression. The use of spot volume data offers a mean to investigate the spot pattern and link the classified protein patterns to distinct spots on the gels for further investigation. The explorative approach in analysis of 2-D gels makes it possible, in a fast and convenient way, to screen many gels in order to determine the protein patterns that form clusters and could be selected for further examination.

Multivariate analysis has been applied as support to proteome analysis in order to implement an easier and faster way of data handling based on separation by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The characterisation phase in proteome analysis by means of simple visual inspection is a demanding process and also insecure because subjectivity is the controlling element. Multivariate analysis offers, to a considerable extent, objectivity and must therefore be regarded as a neutral way to evaluate results obtained by proteome analysis. Proteome analysis of storage proteins from the wheat gluten complex based on two-dimensional electrophoresis and analysis of the N-terminal sequence has revealed a protein homologous to gamma-gliadins, tentatively associated with quality and within the molecular weight range 27-35 kDa. Further examinations of gliadin data based on mass spectrometry revealed that quality among wheat varieties could be determined by means of principal component analysis. Further examinations by interval partial least squares made it possible to encircle an overall optimal molecular weight interval from 31.5 to 33.7 kDa. The use of multivariate analysis on data from mass spectrometry has thus shown to be a promising technique to minimize the number of two-dimensional gels within the field of proteome analysis.

During the crystallization of polymers, both uncrystallizable material (solute') and the heat of fusion are released at the growing interface. Both must diffuse away rapidly enough to permit interface propagation at a velocity (the ‘natural’ velocity) determined by the thermodynamic driving force. In general, the final microstructure of the solid is determined by the degree to which the flux of solute and heat are compatible with the natural velocity. When the diffusion length δ = DV (D = diffusivity, V = interface velocity) is equivalent to or smaller than a dimension of the growing body, diffusional processes control the transformation and the ultimate microstructure. Except for cases of high orientation and relatively large effective undercooling, only solute flow is important. Diffusion solutions for solute flow predict a critical radius, beyond which fibrillated spherulites with solute incorporated between the fibril arms must form. Using a eutectic model, the inter-arm spacing is predicted, with crystallization temperature and diffusivity as governing parameters. Under extreme strain, it is possible for a non-diffusive transformation to take place. In this case, all solute is captured within the growing crystal and the microstructure is governed by the dissipation of the heat of fusion. Very fine, defective fibrillar crystals are predicted. In fibre spinlines, fibrillar crystals grow into a stationary thermal gradient. Modelling of the situation is based on the growth of a thermal dendrite. At each spinline temperature, there is a critical spinline velocity above which crystal growth, in thermal dendrite form, is not possible. This critical velocity dictates the dendrite tip radius. Under these conditions, the fibril diameter must be in the range of 10–100 nm.

The Berg-Barrett X-ray diffraction contrast technique has been used to observe dislocation arrangements beneath the cleavage surfaces of pure zinc crystals after they had been subjected to either a particular chemical polishing treatment or a heavy etching. Three principal effects were noted: (a) the segmentation of existing dislocation lines by surface terracing, (b) the creation of hexagonal-shaped prismatic dislocation loops, and (c) the generation of shallow half-loops. The latter two observations seem important, for zinc, at least, because of the influence that chemical preparation techniques may have on the “intrinsic” dislocation structure.

Dislocation spirals and loops are observed by Berg-Barrett X-ray topography in the basal cleaved zinc single crystals in the presence of large numbers of slip dislocations of all three basal Burgers vectors. Dislocation spirals and loops are often composed of bundles of these basal slip dislocations. The climb of dislocation spirals and loops, associated with vacancy injection into the lattice during oxidation, is also observed during the surface oxidation process at room temperature. The results imply that the oxidation process is closely related to and controlled by the lattice defect density and dislocation arrangements near the crystal surface.