Three-dimensional thermal weight function method for the interface crack problems in bimaterial structures under a transient thermal loading

Different from previous two-dimensional thermal weight function (TWF) method, a three-dimensional (3D) TWF method is proposed for solving elliptical interface crack problems in bimaterial structures under a transient thermal loading. The present 3D TWF method based on the Betti's reciprocal theorem is a powerful tool for dealing with the transient thermal loading due to the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of whole transient process obtained through the static finite element computation. Several representative examples demonstrate that the 3D TWF method can be used to predict the SIFs of elliptical interface crack subjected to transient thermal loading with high accuracy. Moreover, numerical results indicate that the computing efficiency can be enhanced when dealing with transient problems, especially for large amount of time instants.     

Atypical familial Mediterranean fever developed in a long‐term hemodialysis patient

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is usually an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis. FMF develops before the age of 20 years in 90% of patients. It has intervals of 1 week to several years between attacks, which leads to renal dysfunction—amyloidosis. We report a case of atypical FMF that developed in a long‐term hemodialysis patient. A 65‐year‐old Japanese female undergoing hemodialysis for 32 years was referred to our hospital with a fever of unknown origin (FUO) following cervical laminoplasty. The fever occurred as recurrent attacks accompanied by oligoarthralgia of the left hip and knee. We suspected FMF because of recurrent self‐limited febrile attacks, although the patient showed atypical clinical features such as late‐onset and highly frequent attacks. After receiving treatment, she achieved a complete response to colchicine. Therefore, a diagnosis of FMF was made based on the Tel‐Hashomer criteria, which was confirmed by genetic testing. The case suggests that FMF may be of note in long‐term hemodialysis patients developing FUO.     

Efficient Oxidative Cleavage of Tetrahydrofuran‐2‐methanols to γ‐Lactones by a 2‐Iodobenzamide Catalyst in Combination with Oxone®

An environmentally friendly oxidative cleavage of tetrahydrofuran‐2‐methanols to the corresponding γ‐lactones using a catalytic amount of 2‐iodo‐N‐isopropylbenzamide has been developed. The reaction of various tetrahydrofuran‐2‐methanols with the catalyst in the presence of Oxone^® (2 KHSO₅⋅KHSO₄⋅K₂SO₄) as a co‐oxidant in DMF at room temperature successfully affords the corresponding lactones in good to high yields, and recovery of the catalyst is readily accomplished using a reductive work‐up. This method is notable because it enables the transformation of tetrahydrofuran‐2‐methanols to γ‐lactones under mild conditions without the use of any toxic heavy metals.

     

Unified computable urban economic model

The computable urban economic (CUE) model is a tool for analyzing real urban economies and evaluating urban polices in practice. The CUE model can output a set of variables which describe a real urban economy: a distribution of locators or activities including households and firms, a distribution of land use including residential, commercial, manufacturing, business, agricultural and other types and a distribution of land price/rent and building price/rent. The CUE model, working with transport models consistent with microeconomic theory, can also output a distribution of passenger trips aggregated by OD, mode and path, and a distribution of freight cargo as well. Urban models that belong to the CUE model family have been developed and applied since the late 1980s. This paper first presents a general form of the CUE model, describing its mathematical forms and theoretical features. Then, the paper introduces several models in the CUE model family developed in Japan and shows that a CUE model constructed on the basis of the general form comprises the existing models. The paper compares the models with each other from the viewpoints of experiences of application, and mathematical function form, and provides clear insight into the relationship between the models.     

Fabrication of amorphous calcium carbonate composite particles‐polymer multilayer films by a layer‐by‐layer method

Organic–inorganic hybrid multilayer films were prepared on a precoated cationic glass substrate by using a layer‐by‐layer (LbL) electrostatic self‐assembly technique with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) as a polycation and submicron‐sized stable amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) composite particles. The ACC composite particles (ACP) stabilized with poly(acrylic acid) were obtained by a carbonate controlled‐addition method. The average particles size of ACP was (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10² nm. An ethanolic dispersion of ACP was used for the LbL electrostatic self‐assembly technique on the precoated substrate due to instability of ACP in water. The deposition of the particles was confirmed by SEM analysis. The film thickness of the multilayer assembly increased from 230 to 710 nm with increasing the deposition layers. The FTIR spectra of scratched multilayer samples showed characteristic broaden peaks of ACC. The amorphous phase was stable after the LbL assembly process as well as after 2 months in a dry film state. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:330–335, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Pitting corrosion of intermetallic compound Ni3(Si,Ti) in sodium chloride solutions

The pitting corrosion of intermetallic compound Ni₃(Si,Ti) was investigated as functions of test temperature and chloride concentration in sodium chloride solutions by using a potential step method. In addition, the pitting corrosion of solution-annealed austenitic stainless steel type 304 and pure nickel was also studied under the same experimental condition for comparison. The pitting potential obtained for the intermetallic compound decreased with increasing chloride concentration and test temperature. A critical chloride concentration below which no pitting corrosion took place was found to exist and to decrease with increasing test temperature. The specific pitting potential at the critical chloride concentration also decreased with increasing test temperature. In addition, the pitting potential at various constant chloride concentrations above the critical chloride concentration decreased with increasing test temperature. The pitting potential of Ni₃(Si,Ti) was higher than pure nickel, but lower than that of type 304.     

Production of aldehyde oxidases by microorganisms and their enzymatic properties

In order to establish an efficient process to decompose environmentally toxic aldehydes, dioxygen-dependent aldehyde oxidase (ALOD) from microorganisms was first sought, and some bacteria and actinomycetes were found to produce the enzyme in their cells. Methylobacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Streptomyces moderates were selected as the representative ALOD-producing strains and their enzymes were partially purified and characterized. The three ALODs could oxidize a wide range of aldehydes including formaldehyde, aliphatic aldehydes, and aromatic aldehydes, though their preferences differ depending on their producing strains. The other enzymatic properties were also determined with regard to their producing strains. Methylobacillus sp. ALOD had the most acidic optimum pH for its activity and stability and Pseudomonas sp. ALOD had the highest stability against heat treatment. Three native ALODs had molecular weights ranging from 140 to 148 kDa and were composed of three subunits of different sizes: large (85 to 88 kDa), medium-sized (37 to 39 kDa) and small (18 to 23 kDa).     

Effects of Baccharin Isolated from Brazilian Green Propolis on Adipocyte Differentiation and Hyperglycemia in ob/ob Diabetic Mice

Propolis is a honeybee product with various biological activities, including antidiabetic effects. We previously reported that artepillin C, a prenylated cinnamic acid derivative isolated from Brazilian green propolis, acts as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligand and promotes adipocyte differentiation. In this study, we examined the effect of baccharin, another major component of Brazilian green propolis, on adipocyte differentiation. The treatment of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with baccharin resulted in increased lipid accumulation, cellular triglyceride levels, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and glucose uptake. The mRNA expression levels of PPARγ and its target genes were also increased by baccharin treatment. Furthermore, baccharin enhanced PPARγ-dependent luciferase activity, suggesting that baccharin promotes adipocyte differentiation via PPARγ activation. In diabetic ob/ob mice, intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg baccharin significantly improved blood glucose levels. Our results suggest that baccharin has a hypoglycemic effect on glucose metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Anatase formation on titanium by two-step thermal oxidation

Two-step thermal oxidation of commercially pure Ti was investigated with a focus on the formation of anatase. A first-step treatment was conducted in Ar–(0.1–20)%CO atmosphere at a temperature of 773–1173 K for a holding time of 0 or 86.4 ks, and a subsequent second-step treatment was conducted in air at 473–873 K for 0–86.4 ks. Titanium oxides and titanium oxycarbide were obtained in the first step, with relative amounts depending on heating temperature, holding time, and CO partial pressure. An anatase-rich layer on Ti was obtained after second-step treatment in air at 573–773 K in cases where single-phase titanium oxycarbide formed in the first step. Thus, the formation of single-phase titanium oxycarbide in the first step and temperature control in the second step were required for the formation of an anatase-rich layer. The bonding strength of an anatase-rich layer with a thickness of 0.5 μm was calculated to be around 90 MPa. This study reveals the conditions under which an anatase-rich layer with excellent adherence to Ti can be prepared by thermal oxidation.