Experimental study of the gravity effect on the distribution of refrigerant flow in a multi-pass condenser

Gravity in multi-pass condensers affects the refrigerant flow rate distribution, owing to the gravitational pressure drop that occurs mainly in the U-bend tubes in fin and tube condensers with horizontal tubes. This effect was studied using an experimental approach. A condenser with two ‘nU’ circuits was selected, and the temperature variation of the refrigerant side was measured and compared along each circuit. The critical air velocity, which indicated the initiation of the gravity effect, was found for a given refrigerant flow rate. As the air velocity increased beyond the critical air velocity, the gravity effect (or mal-distribution of the refrigerant flow) developed further. Similarly, the critical refrigerant flow rate was also determined for a given air velocity. As the refrigerant flow rate decreased below the critical refrigerant flow rate, the gravity effect also developed further. The gravity-affected region was shown in the table with rows of air velocities and columns of refrigerant flow rates, and expressed using a single parameter for a given refrigerant flow circuit.     

Effect of lactic acid on Listeria monocytogenes and Edwardsiella tarda attached to catfish skin

This study evaluated the use of lactic acid to decontaminate Listeria monocytogenes andEdwardsiella tarda attached to catfish skin with or without mucus. At the highest inoculum levels (10⁴–10⁵cfu skin⁻¹), lactic acid (0·5–2·0%) exposure for 10 min reduced counts of L. monocytogenes firmly attached to catfish skin by 0·9–>1·9 log₁₀cfu skin⁻¹and cells loosely attached by 2·7–>3·7 logs. Counts of E. tarda firmly attached to catfish skin were reduced by 0·9–>3·0 logs and cells loosely attached by 1·5–>3·5 logs. Overall bacterial numbers of lactic acid-treated cells that were firmly attached to skin with mucus were higher than on skin without mucus. Firmly attached L. monocytogenes was more resistant to lactic acid than was firmly attached E. tarda. Catfish skin mucus decreased the antimicrobial effect of lactic acid against attached L. monocytogenes and E. tarda.     

Nature and etiology of hollow-organ abdominal injuries in frontal crashes

Injuries to the hollow organs of the lower digestive system carry substantial risk of complication due to infection and blood loss, and commonly require invasive abdominal surgery to diagnose and treat. The causes of, and risk factors for, lower abdomen injury in automobile collisions are poorly understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the risk factors and potential mechanisms of hollow-organ, lower abdomen injury in belted automobile occupants in frontal collisions.     

A Small Organic Molecule Blocks EGFR Transport into the Nucleus by the Nonclassical Pathway Resulting in Repression of Cancer Invasion

In addition to the traditional epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways, nuclear EGFR has been shown to control multiple cellular functions, including cell proliferation and invasion. It has been reported that EGFR is transported into the nucleus after forming a complex with KPNA/KPNB1 or KPNB1. Herein, it is shown that EGFR can interact with both KP and KPNA, but EGF‐activated EGFR mostly binds with KPNB1 through the pull‐down assay. Also, a small organic molecule ( 1 ), an effective binder of KPNB1, inhibits the interaction between EGFR and KPNB1 in the nonclassical transport pathway, but not KPNA. Furthermore, treatment of cancer cells with 1 noticeably blocks the nuclear entry of EGFR, which results in significant suppression of invasion by lung cancer H1299 cells. These findings show that 1 is an effective inhibitor of EGFR/KPNB1 interactions in vitro, it may be used in cellular studies as a tool to determine the role of nuclear EGFR, and it is a drug candidate.     

Simultaneous determination of four bioactive compounds in Korean rice wine (makgeolli) by solvent extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine reported to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. We developed an approach involving solvent extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine four bioactive compounds, farnesol (FOH), squalene (SQ), and newly identified 4-vinyl guaiacol (4-VG) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP), in makgeolli. The method was validated with the linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, intra- and inter-day precision, and accuracy. The validated method was then applied to several makgeolli, beer, and wine samples. 4-VG and DTBP were identified in all beverages, but FOH and SQ were only identified in makgeolli.     

Believable interaction with a quasi‐tangible tabletop interface

In this paper, we present a believable interaction mechanism for manipulation multiple objects in ubiquitous/augmented virtual environment. A believable interaction in multimodal framework is defined as a persistent and consistent process according to contextual experiences and common‐senses on the feedbacks. We present a tabletop interface as a quasi‐tangible framework to provide believable processes. An enhanced tabletop interface is designed to support multimodal environment. As an exemplar task, we applied the concept to fast accessing and manipulating distant objects. A set of enhanced manipulation mechanisms is presented for remote manipulations including inertial widgets, transformable tabletop, and proxies. The proposed method is evaluated in both performance and user acceptability in comparison with previous approaches. The proposed technique uses intuitive hand gestures and provides higher level of believability. It can also support other types of accessing techniques such as browsing and manipulation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of catfish skin mucus on trisodium phosphate inactivation of attached Salmonella Typhimurium,Edwardsiella tarda,and Listeria monocytogenes

This study examined the antimicrobial effectiveness of trisodium phosphate (TSP) on Edwardsiella tarda, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella Typhimurium attached to catfish skin with and without mucus. Salmonella Typhimurium and E. tarda attached more readily to catfish skin than did L monocytogenes. At high inoculum levels (10(7) CFU/ml), TSP treatments (at 2 to 6%) for 10 min reduced bacterial counts of E. tarda by >2.5 to >3.3 log10 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 3.5 to 3.6 log10 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Counts of L. monocytogenes declined by 0.6 to >1.8 log10 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 1.2 to 2.2 log10 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Counts of Salmonella Typhimurium were reduced by 3.6 to >3.8 log10 CFU per skin sample for firmly attached cells and by 3.5 to >3.8 log10 CFU per skin sample for loosely attached cells. Overall, counts of firmly attached bacteria on TSP-treated skins with mucus were higher than counts on skin without mucus. Firmly attached L. monocytogenes was more resistant to TSP than was firmly attached Salmonella Typhimurium or E. tarda. The presence of mucus on skins slightly decreased the antimicrobial effect of TSP Significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the numbers of all three bacteria can be achieved by treatment with 6% TSP for 10 min.     

Biocidal polyester

Polyester fabrics were modified by covalently linking heterocyclic moieties, which could be halogenated, to the surfaces of the polyester fibers. Antimicrobial activity was introduced into the fabrics and fibers by exposure to a source of oxidative chlorine (chlorine bleach) that converted the heterocyclic precursor moieties into N‐chloramine functionalities. The antimicrobial activity could be repeatedly regenerated following its loss on challenge with suspensions of bacteria by further washing with aqueous oxidative chlorine. Biocidal polyester fabrics, fibers, and other materials potentially will be effective in reducing, or eliminating entirely, pathogenic microorganisms and odor‐causing micro‐organisms which directly contact them. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 177–182, 2002     

Evaluation of visual-induced motion sickness from head-mounted display using heartbeat evoked potential: a cognitive load-focused approach

Virtual Reality - Based on sensory conflict theory, motion sickness is strongly related to the information processing capacity or resources of the brain to cope with the multi-sensory stimuli...     

Analytical method validation for terbutryn using gas chromatography/ion trap,gas chromatography/mass selective detector,and liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometers

Food Science and Biotechnology - Analytical methods including solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography/ion-trap (GC/IT) with scan and MS/MS mode, a GC/mass selective detector (GC/MSD), and...