Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in foodstuffs and human milk

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used worldwide as additive flame retardants in polymeric materials. Commercial products consist predominantly of deca-, octa-, and pentabromodiphenyl ether mixtures. PBDEs are resistant to degradation in the natural environment and Penta-BDE in particular accumulates in the fatty tissues of fish, birds and mammals (including humans). Several toxic effects on the thyroid system or on neurodevelopment have been reported in experimental animals exposed to PBDEs. It is likely that human exposure is predominantly through the ingestion of contaminated food and/or mother's milk. The potential health effects of dietary exposure to PBDEs have now become a great concern because of the increasing PBDE levels in the biosphere. In this review, published information on the toxicology of PBDEs, levels in foodstuffs and human milk, and analytical methods has been compiled.     

微导通孔的电镀填孔技术

本文主介绍了电镀填孔技术,并探讨了DC和PPR电镀填孔技术的优缺点和影响填孔效果的相关因素。     

In vitro calcification of UHMWPE/PU composite membrane

Polyurethane composite made from biaxially drawn ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (BDUHMWPE) is likely an alternative for polyurethane currently being plagued for medical applications. In this study, an in vitro calcification protocol was used to determine the relative resistance to calcification of the composite membranes. The results demonstrated that the composite membranes were susceptible to extrinsic calcification that was closely related to the matrix polyurethane material used. The calcification of the composite was different from that of the solution cast polyurethane membranes. The incorporation of hydrophobic reinforcement BDUHMWPE effectively postponed the calcification. The differences of calcification between composite and polyurethane were greatly due to the differences in surface structures and properties of the as-cast polyurethane.     

Pipe Jacking Method for Long Curve Construction

The D301 pipe jacking method is the first to accomplish long spans, curves and high speed construction in the field of small diameter (300 mm) tunneling. The design of the system components are described: tunneling machine with directional control ability, jacking machine, power unit, and control unit which contains a microprocessor. As a result of field tests in about 100 m in length with a 200 curvature radius, the following capabilities are confirmed: the span length is up to 100 m, the curvature radius is down to 200 m, it is useable in either cohesive or sandy soils having N‐curves up to 10, and the construction speed is up to 3 m∕h.     

Titanium nitride film as a protective coating for a vacuum deposition chamber

A hard and anti-corrosive titanium nitride coating is proposed for use as a permanent coating layer on the inside walls of vacuum chambers and tooling that are exposed to repeated depositions of soft metals. Excellent characteristics for the removal of deposited aluminum or copper by either chemical cleaning or glass bead blasting are demonstrated. The completion of removal can easily be monitored by the obvious gold color of the coating layer.The outgassing rate at room temperature is considerably lower than that of bare stainless steel plate. Characterization of the titanium nitride layer is made by X-ray diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and secondary ion mass spectrometry.     

Uretero-external iliac artery fistula: a case report

We report a case of uretero-external iliac artery fistula. A 60-year-old female was referred to our hospital complaining of intermittent gross macrohematuria. She had undergone radical hysterectomy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for advanced cervical cancer 2 years ago. The patient had a 7 Fr ureteral double-J stent for left hydronephrosis. Retrograde urography showed a filling defect (8 mm in diameter) of the left ureter. A contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scan showed left hydronephrosis and hydroureter but no evidence of fistula formation or extravasation. A pelvic arteriography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the left external iliac artery at the crosspoint between the left ureter and the iliac artery. Surgical repair of the left uretero-external arterial fistula was successfully performed as well as left nephroureterectomy. The possibility of fistula formation between ureter and artery should be kept in mind in patients with long-term indwelling ureteral stents and history of radiation therapy.     

Durable Ultraflexible Organic Photovoltaics with Novel Metal‐Oxide‐Free Cathode

Flexible and stretchable organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are promising as a power source for wearable devices with multifunctions ranging from sensing to locomotion. Achieving mechanical robustness and high power conversion efficiency for ultraflexible OPVs is essential for their successful application. However, it is challenging to simultaneously achieve these features by the difficulty to maintain stable performance under a microscale bending radius. Ultraflexible OPVs are proposed by employing a novel metal‐oxide‐free cathode that consists of a printed ultrathin metallic transparent electrode and an organic electron transport layer to achieve high electron‐collecting capabilities and mechanical robustness. In fact, the proposed ultraflexible OPV achieves a power conversion efficiency of 9.7% and durability with 74% efficiency retention after 500 cycles of deformation at 37% compression through buckling. The proposed approach can be applied to active layers with different morphologies, thus suggesting its universality and potential for high‐performance ultraflexible OPV devices.     

烧结厂烧结废气能见度分析

烧结厂可见的烧结废气严重影响工厂周围景色。通过详细分析大分厂一号烧结机烧结废气的组分和粉尘,对可见烟气的形成机理进行了讨论。含有硫酸的烧结废气在冷却过程中形成的可见烟气的主要物质为空气中的雾气凝结物。硫酸具有促进雾气凝结和降低可见水雾汽化的作用,废气中的粉尘可作为雾气凝结的凝结核。在名古屋3号烧结机进行的测试验证了这种机理认识,通过将富含SOx的气体与烧结废气重新混合来观察具有长尾迹的可见烟气。总之,要使烧结废气不可见,需要有脱硫设备。     

Mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide removal with steel making slag

In the present study, we experimentally investigated the removal of hydrogen sulfide using steel-making slag (SMS) and clarified the mechanism of hydrogen sulfide removal with the SMS. The results proved that SMS is able to remove hydrogen sulfide dissolved in water, and the maximum removal amount of hydrogen sulfide per unit weight of the SMS for 8 days was estimated to be 37.5 mg S/g. The removal processes of hydrogen sulfide were not only adsorption onto the SMS, but oxidation and precipitation as sulfur. The chemical forms of sulfide adsorbed onto the SMS were estimated to be sulfur and manganese sulfide in the ratio of 81% and 19%, respectively. It is demonstrated here that the SMS is a promising material to remediate organically enriched coastal sediments in terms of removal of hydrogen sulfide. Furthermore, using SMS is expected to contribute to development of a recycling-oriented society.