Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in GdZn2 synthesized by ball milling

In this study, we prepared GdZn₂ by mechanical alloying method and measured its magnetization to reveal the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties. For a milling time (MT) ≥ 10 and 20 h, the GdZn₂ phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction measurements. For MT = 40 and 60 h, amorphous like patterns are observed. For MT = 10 and 20 h, magnetization (M) as a function of temperature below 80 K shows ferromagnetic-like increase. The observed values of M are 4.5 μ_B at 5 K for MT = 10 and 20 h, which is smaller than that of the theoretical expected value of 7 μ_B. For MT = 40 and 60 h, the long-range ferromagnetic order collapses because there is no spontaneous magnetization. The value of ΔT, where ΔT is the full width at half maximum of the magnetic entropy change (ΔS_m (T)), increases significantly for MT ≤ 20 h because of the gradual release of magnetic entropy by the milling effect. Since M decreases with increasing MT, the maximum values of |ΔS_m|, the relative cooling power, and the refrigerant capacity also decreases.     

Immature megakaryocytes undergo apoptosis in the absence of thrombopoietin

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively performed a two-step risk assessment in patients in the early phase after acute myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: Noninvasive methods like Holter electrocardiographic monitoring (HM) and determination of the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) as well as the invasive technique of programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) have been used to identify patients in the late phase after MI as candidates for prophylactic implantation of a cardioverter/defibrillator. However, it is unclear whether these results can be transferred to patients following acute MI. METHODS: A series of 657 patients with acute MI (< or = 75 years) underwent HM and EF. If one of the two methods yielded abnormal findings (HM > or = 20 ventricular ectopic beats/h/> or =10 ventricular pairs/day/ventricular tachycardia; EF < or = 40%), PVS was done (abnormal PVS: induction of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, duration >10 s, cycle length > or = 230 ms). RESULTS: Of 657 patients, 304 (46%) had either an abnormal HM or EF. The PVS performed in 146 of 304 patients was abnormal in 22. During a mean follow-up of 37 months, there were 106 (16%) deaths, being sudden in 24 (3.6%), nonsudden cardiac in 45 (6.8%). The incidence of arrhythmic events (sudden cardiac death, symptomatic ventricular tachycardia, cardiac arrest) was 18% (4/22) with an abnormal PVS and only 4% (5/124) with a normal PVS (odds ratio 4.0, p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of arrhythmic events is low in post-MI patients in the 1990s. Nevertheless, a two-step risk stratification is helpful in selecting candidates for a defibrillator trial aiming at primary prevention of sudden cardiac death after MI.     

Mechanical properties and superstructure of isotactic polypropylene fibers prepared by continuous vibrating zone‐drawing

A continuous vibrating zone‐drawing (CVZD) was applied to study the effect of vibration on the mechanical properties and superstructure of isotactic polypropylene fibers. The CVZD treatment was a new drawing method by which the fiber was continuously drawn at a rate of 0.5 m/min under vibration using the specially designed apparatus. The CVZD treatment was carried out in five steps at a drawing temperature of 150°C and a frequency of 100 Hz, and applied tensions increased step by step with processing in the range of 14.8 to 207 MPa. The obtained fiber had a birefringence of 0.0373, crystallinity of 62.4%, tensile modulus of 17.6 GPa, and tensile strength of 1.11 GPa. These values are higher than those of the continuous zone‐drawn isotactic polypropylene fiber previous reported. The vibration added to the fibers during the zone‐drawing was effective in developing amorphous orientation and improving the mechanical properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 600–608, 2001     

Enhancement of Catalytic Activity on Pd/C and Te–Pd/C During the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Sodium Lactate to Pyruvate in an Aqueous Phase Under Pressurized Oxygen

The oxidative dehydrogenation of sodium lactate to sodium pyruvate in an aqueous phase proceeded favorably using Pd/C and that doped with Te at 358 K with no adjustment in solution pH under pressurized oxygen, although previous reports had stated that this reaction would not proceed using Pd/C while Pd/C doped with either Pb, Bi or Te showed the activity at atmospheric pressure, 363 K, and a pH of 8.     

Production of structured TAG rich in 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-γ-linolenoyl glycerol from borage oil

γ-Linolenic acid (GLA) has the physiological functions of modulating immune and inflammatory responses. We produced structured TAG rich in 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-γ-linolenoyl glycerol (CGC) from GLA-rich oil (GLA45 oil; GLA content, 45.4 wt%), which was prepared by hydrolysis of borage oil with Candida rugosa lipase having weak activity on GLA. A mixture of GLA45 oil/caprylic acid (CA) (1∶2, w/w) was continuously fed into a fixed-bed bioreactor (18×180 mm) packed with 15 g immobilized Rhizopus oryzae lipase at 30°C, and a flow rate of 4 g/h. The acidolysis proceeded efficiently, and a significant decrease of lipase activity was not observed in full-time operation for 1 mon. GLA45 oil contained 10.2 mol% MAG and 27.2 mol% DAG. However, the reaction converted the partial acylglycerols to structured TAG and tricaprylin and produced 44.5 mol% CGC based on the content of total acylglycerols. Not only FFA in the reaction mixture but also part of the tricaprylin and partial acylglycerols were removed by molecular distillation. The distillation resulted in an increase of the CGC content in the purified product to 52.6 mol%. The results showed that CGC-rich structured TAG can efficiently be produced by a two-step process comprising selective hydrolysis of borage oil using C. rugosa lipase (first step) and acidolysis of the resulting GLA-rich oil with CA using immobilized R. oryzae lipase (second step).     

Oxidation Behavior of Pt–Ir Modified Aluminized Coatings on Ni-base Single Crystal Superalloy TMS-82+

The oxidation resistance of Pt–Ir modified aluminized coatings, prepared by magnetron sputtering, was investigated. Cyclic oxidation tests revealed that Pt–30 at%Ir and Pt–50 at%Ir modified aluminide coatings demonstrated a smaller mass change compared with Pt, Pt–80 at%Ir and Ir modified aluminide coatings. Cross-sectional analyses following cyclic oxidation tests showed that the TGO layer formed on the Pt modified aluminide coating surface is almost twice as thick as those on the Pt–30 at%Ir and Pt–50 at%Ir coatings. In addition, the Pt–30 at%Ir and Pt–50 at%Ir samples had a much smoother surface than the Pt modified coatings after cyclic oxidation, and the latter suffered from severe surface rumpling. However, when the Ir content exceeded 80 at% in Pt–Ir modified coatings, internal voids formed during cyclic oxidation. These results show that the addition of 30–50 at%Ir to Pt-modified aluminized coatings is most effective in enhancing oxidation resistance.     

Evidence for an increased intracellular free calcium concentration in platelets of bronchial asthma patients

The pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is not yet fully understood. Recently much attention has been given to the hypothesis that intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) metabolism is abnormal in various diseases. In this study we investigated whether [Ca2+]i exists abnormally in subjects with bronchial asthma. The [Ca2+]i in 32 treated or untreated subjects with bronchial asthma were compared with 63 normal subjects. Resting levels of [Ca2+]i were estimated by loading the fluorescent indicator Fura-2 in washed platelets. The [Ca2+]i level in the control subjects was 129.7 +/- 18.0 nM (mean +/- SD). However, in that of the bronchial asthma patients was 152.7 +/- 44.1 nM, significantly higher than that of the control subjects (p < 0.05). It is well recognized that an increase of [Ca2+]i in vascular smooth muscle involves contraction. The findings suggest that the same phenomenon is quite possible in the tracheal smooth muscle and that it plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.     

Multilayer Debugging Process (A New Method of Screening)

In general, a small proportion of components will be substandard because of some imperfection in the control of the production process. Because no advance knowledge exists as to which are the substandard components, their presence affects the reliability. A great part of the substandard components can be eliminated by means of debugging procedures, but due to a nonzero proportion of defectives of the component population, it is impossible to eliminate all of the substandard components through conventional debugging processes. To remedy this drawback, this paper presents a new debugging process that is capable of eliminating almost all of the substandard components. From an analysis and comparison of the new debugging process with the conventional method, it has become evident that we can reduce the fraction defective of the lot after debugging by several orders of magnitude when compared with the conventional method.     

An experimental study of lightning overvoltages in wind turbine generation systems using a reduced‐size model

Wind turbine generation systems are built at locations where few tall structures are found nearby so as to obtain good wind conditions, and thus, they are often struck by lightning. To promote wind power generation, lightning‐protection methodologies for such wind turbine generation systems have to be established. This paper presents the result of an experimental study of lightning overvoltages in wind turbine generation systems using a reduced‐size wind turbine model. Overvoltages observed at wavefronts of lightning surges are focused on in this study. In the experiments, lightning strokes to one of the blades and to the nacelle were considered, and voltages and currents at various positions of the wind turbine model were measured. The following points have been deduced from the results: (i) The voltage rise due to the tower footing resistance can cause a significant voltage difference between the tower foot and an incoming conductor led from a distant point. Also, a voltage difference between the bottom of down conductors installed inside the tower and an incoming conductor can be of significance. (ii) The lightning current flowing through the tower body induces voltages in main and control circuits which form loops, and the induced voltages can cause overvoltages and malfunctions. (iii) Traveling‐wave phenomena in a wind turbine generation system for a lightning strike to the tip of a blade and to the nacelle have been clarified from the measured waveforms. This information can be used for developing an EMTP simulation model of wind turbine generation systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 158(4): 22– 30, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20466     

Crystallization Kinetics of α-Agl in Ag I-Based Silver Orthoborate Glasses

Kinetics for nucleation and growth of α-AgI crystals in AgI-based silver orthoborate glasses, in which only α-AgI crystals were found to crystallize in the heating process of the glasses, were studied by isothermal and nonisothermal measurements using differential scanning calorimetry and by observations of the microstructure of the glasses using scanning electron microscopy. The values of both n and m , dependent on the crystallization mechanism, were found to be 3, indicating that a constant number of nuclei of α-AgI precipitated in a glass matrix grew three-dimensionally. The preannealing of the glasses at temperatures between glass transition and crystallization did not affect the DSC isothermal curves in the crystal growth process, which suggested that the number of α-Agl nuclei would have been saturated in the glass when the glasses were prepared by quenching the AgI-based melts.