Shear-induced pre-crystallization structures of long chain branched polypropylene under steady shear flow near the melting temperature

Shear-induced crystallization of a long chain hyper-branched polypropylene (LCB-PP, denoted PP-3) was carried out at a relatively high temperature of 170 °C, close to its melting temperature of 158 °C. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that the intensity ratio of the normal to the perpendicular to the shear (V/H) was always larger than 1 for PP-3, indicating that shish-like structures were predominately formed and further growth to kebab was suppressed in PP-3. The crystallization behavior of PP-3 can be explained by the nature of PP-3 that there were a large amount of crystallization nuclei due to their branching points, and the point-like precursors formed from these nuclei were arrayed linearly along the shear direction and transformed into thread-like precursors or premature shishs; however, owing to the large amount of branching, further progress in crystallization was suppressed.     

Feasibility of palm‐biodiesel fuel for a direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cell

The feasibility of a direct internal reforming (DIR) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) running on wet palm‐biodiesel fuel (BDF) was demonstrated. Simultaneous production of H₂‐rich syngas and electricity from BDF could be achieved. A power density of 0.32 W cm^?2 was obtained at 0.4 A cm^?2 and 800 °C under steam to carbon ratio of 3.5. Subsequent durability testing revealed that a DIR‐SOFC running on wet palm‐BDF exhibited a stable voltage of around 0.8 V at 0.2 A cm^?2 for more than 1 month with a degradation rate of approximately 15 % / 1000 h. The main cause of the degradation was an increase in the ohmic resistance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fundamental welding R&D results for manufacturing vacuum vessel of JT-60SA

The real vacuum vessel (VV) manufacturing of JT-60SA has started since November 2009 at Toshiba. Prior to starting manufacturing, fundamental welding R&Ds had been performed by three stages. In the first stage, primary tests for screening welding method were performed. In the second stage, the trial welding for 1 m-long straight and curved double shell samples were conducted. The dependences of welding quality and distortion on the welding conditions, such as arc voltage and current, setting accuracy, welding sequence, and the shape of grooves were studied. In addition, welding condition with low heat input was explored. In the last stage, fabrication sequence was confirmed and established by the trial manufacturing of the 20° upper half mock-up [1]. This paper presents the R&D results obtained in the first and second stages.     

Visual search asymmetries within color-coded and intensity-coded displays.

Color and intensity coding provide perceptual cues to segregate categories of objects within a visual display, allowing operators to search more efficiently for needed information. Even within a perceptually distinct subset of display elements, however, it may often be useful to prioritize items representing urgent or task-critical information. The design of symbology to produce search asymmetries (Treisman & Souther, 1985) offers a potential technique for doing this, but it is not obvious from existing models of search that an asymmetry observed in the absence of extraneous visual stimuli will persist within a complex color- or intensity-coded display. To address this issue, in the current study we measured the strength of a visual search asymmetry within displays containing color- or intensity-coded extraneous items. The asymmetry persisted strongly in the presence of extraneous items that were drawn in a different color (Experiment 1) or a lower contrast (Experiment 2) than the search-relevant items, with the targets favored by the search asymmetry producing highly efficient search. The asymmetry was attenuated but not eliminated when extraneous items were drawn in a higher contrast than search-relevant items (Experiment 3). Results imply that the coding of symbology to exploit visual search asymmetries can facilitate visual search for high-priority items even within color- or intensity-coded displays. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of proteomic analysis to renal disease in the clinic

Chronic kidney disease accounts for a significant portion of many national health-care budgets. In this viewpoint, we highlight recent advances in urinary proteomic analyses that potentially may soon enhance the care of afflicted patients. To achieve this goal, cooperation of interdisciplinary teams from around the world will be vital, so as to standardize methodology for preparation urine samples and technical aspects of the analyses, and for better application of results. These collaborative activities will facilitate translational research in kidney diseases.     

Successful engraftment of unrelated cord blood stem cells for familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Kinki Cord Blood Bank

PURPOSE: To describe a case of Felty syndrome (FS) in a child with (JRA) and review the previous literature on this rare entity. METHODS: Review of clinical data including results of serial blood counts, bone marrow aspirate, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-typing, and abdominal sonography. RESULTS: Serial blood counts over 2 years revealed persistent leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow aspirate showed normal trilineage hematopoiesis, abdominal sonography demonstrated an enlarged spleen, but normal liver and portal circulation. HLA-typing was most significant for positivity of the DR 1 allele. CONCLUSION: This is only the third child, and the first preadolescent, to be reported with FS complicating juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This condition needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or both develop in patients with JRA.     

Snow Entrainment Coefficient Estimated by Field Observations and Wind Tunnel Experiments

The boundary condition for concentration of snow particles at the bed is necessary to calculate snowdrifts by a numerical analysis model. The flux type or the gradient type boundary conditions are reasonable. An idea of an entrainment coefficient of snow particle at the snow surface is useful. The values of the coefficient are considered to be a function of the density and viscosity of the working fluid and the properties of snow particles. In this paper, the values of the coefficient are estimated based on the k–ε turbulence model and the distribution of snow particle flux observed at the Mizuho Station, Antarctica in 2000, assuming the steady, fully developed flow over a flat snow surface. The snow entrainment coefficient is two or three orders smaller than the sand entrainment coefficient in a river. The reason is that the specific weight of snow particles in air is much larger than that of sand particles in water.