Heat transfer and solidification microstructure evolution of continuously cast steel by non-steady physical simulation

The heat transfer and solidification microstructure evolution during continuous casting were experimentally studied in this work. A new approach to physically simulate the steel solidification behavior during continuous casting was developed. Six steel grades with different solidification mode were introduced to elucidate the carbon equivalent dependent mold heat flux, prior austenite grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing. It is found that the non-steady mold heat fluxes in the experiment against time for all steel grades are comparative to that versus distance in practical continuous casting. Due to the occurrence of L→L+δ→δ+γ→γ transformation with the largest amount of volume contraction in hypo-peritectic steel, it shows the lowest mold heat flux among these six steel grades. It is also demonstrated from the solidification microstructure results that the prior austenite grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing in the physical simulation are in good agreement with those in continuously cast strand. In addition, the steel with a higher temperature for the onset of δ→γ transformation reveals the larger prior austenite grains resulted from the higher grains growth rate in the post solidification process.     

Immobilization of poly (ethylene imine) on poly (l-lactide) promotes MG63 cell proliferation and function

Poly (ethylene imine) (PEI) is a polycation widely used for DNA transfection to cells but also applied as primary polycation for layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of polyelectrolytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of modification with PEI on the biocompatibility of poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) films. PEI with different molecular weight was immobilized on PLLA by either adsorption or covalent binding. Cell morphologies, immuno-fluorescence staining, cell proliferation by lactate dehydrogenase assay and cell differentiation by alkaline phosphatase assay were utilized to assess the biocompatibility of the modified PLLA using osteoblast cell line MG63. Results revealed that PEI modification remarkably improved cell adhesion, viability, proliferation and function compared with plain PLLA. Hence, PEI-modified PLLA is acceptable as transfection vehicle for engineering of bone and other tissues, or as primary layer to allow LBL assembly to generate biomimetic surface coatings.     

Acoustic emission activities and damage evaluation of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with CFRP sheets

In this study, the applicability of acoustic emission (AE) techniques to monitor damage evolution in reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in flexure with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets is investigated. The objective is to initiate the creation of a user-friendly health monitoring system for RC structures strengthened with CFRP sheets using AE techniques. Five beams, 200 mm×300 mm in cross-section, were tested under three-point bending over a span of 1700 mm. One of the beams was tested in its virgin condition to serve as reference; the remaining four beams were tested after being strengthened with CFRP sheets bonded on the tension face. The parameters investigated in this study include both the amount of CFRP sheets and construction imperfections (the CFRP sheets were intentionally bonded without adhesive in the centermost 10% and 20% bonding area). The AE signals were collected and analyzed for all specimens. The AE parameters were analyzed for four levels of damage based on initial crack, propagation, yielding of main bars, and fracture or rip-off of the CFRP sheets. The frequency-peak magnitude distribution of the AE parameters was used to determine the b-value, defined by the Gutenberg–Richter relationship, for evaluating the damage evolution and fracture process of RC beams strengthened in flexure with CFRP sheets. From the results of this study, the signal characteristics – event, amplitude versus frequency, and amplitude versus duration – show clear differences in the different loading stages, depending upon the active damage mechanism. The b-value is correlated to the fracture process of the RC beams bonded with CFRP sheets and the degree of localization of damage. The AE technique is a useful nondestructive technique for monitoring the behavior of RC beams that are externally reinforced in flexure with CFRP sheets.     

Effect of irradiation on the antioxidative and antigenotoxic activities of a green tea leaf and stem extract

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaf and stem extract, a major byproduct of the green tea industry, was investigated for its antioxidative and antigenotoxic activities after 20 kGy of irradiation. In vitro antioxidative activities, including 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition activities, and the reducing power were tested. Green tea leaf extract (GTLE) had higher antioxidative activities than the green tea stem extract (GTSE). Irradiation of 20 kGy to GTLE showed a decreasing tendency in DPPH radical, hydrogen peroxide‐scavenging activities, and reducing power, while that to GTSE showed an increasing tendency of the antioxidative activities. Tyrosinase inhibition activity showed no difference on irradiation, in GTLE and GTSE. Overall, irradiation had positive influences on the antioxidative activity in the GTSE more than in the GTLE. Antigenotoxic effect of the green tea extracts on an oxidative DNA damage in human leucocytes by a DNA comet assay also indicated a protective effect of GTLE. The irradiated GTLE began to decrease the DNA damage significantly at 10 μg mL^?1, which showed a higher inhibition activity than the non‐irradiated GTLE. The non‐irradiated and irradiated GTSE showed similar inhibition trends and they were comparable with that of the GTLE. Results suggest that the extract of GTSE, a major byproduct of the green tea industry, can be considered as a cost‐effective functional ingredient for industrial applications. Furthermore, irradiation of the GTSE may have beneficial effects on its functional activity.     

Evaluating visualization approaches to detect abnormal activities in network traffic data

International Journal of Information Security - Designing innovative approaches to detect intrusive network activities is considered as one of the most significant research topics in network...     

Experimental study on heat transfer characteristics of water-spray-bed heat exchanger

An experimental study was conducted on a water-spray-bed heat exchanger to investigate the heat transfer characteristics. A laboratory-scale test rig was built and its heat transfer characteristics were investigated with respect to various design and operation parameters such as the water spray flow rate, exhaust gas flow rate and number of tube rows. It was found that the implementation of the water spray increased the heat transfer rate to about 1.3 - 2.2 times that of a heat exchanger without water spray, although with a slight increase in the pressure loss. It was thus confirmed that the water spray was effective for enhancing condensing heat recovery from an exhaust gas.

     

Luminescent properties of Y(P,V)O4:Eu3+ phosphors prepared by combining liquid phase precursor method and planetary ball milling

Red emitting nano-sized Y(P,V)O₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were prepared by liquid phase precursor (LPP) method followed by grinding in planetary ball mill, and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated. A single phase Y(P,V)O₄:Eu³⁺ phosphor was successfully synthesized by LPP process, and as-synthesized phosphor exhibited an elongated morphology of ～2 μm long and ～400 nm wide. The planetary ball milling yielded a spherical nano-powder of ～100 nm size and its PL intensity decreased to 17% of as-synthesized phosphor due to some degree of amorphization. The subsequent annealing at 1100 °C produced a well-crystallized, polygonal shaped Y(P,V)O₄:Eu³⁺ nano phosphor of ～300 nm size and its PL intensity increased to 120% compared to both as-synthesized and commercial Y(P,V)O₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors.     

Enhancement of gene transfer to cervical cancer cells using transferrin-conjugated liposome

Transferrin-conjugated cationic liposome (T_f -DDAB liposome) was developed as a targeted gene delivery system by using heterobifunctional cross-linking agent, N-succimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), and gradient metrizamide ultracentrifugation method. Physico-chemical properties of T_f -liposome were determined by scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and dynamic laser-light scattering method (DLS) with a mean diameter of 584±15 nm. Gel retardation assay was performed using various DDAB:DNA ratios, and proved that the 6:1 weight ratio formulation gave the most neutralized complex. In vitro transfection was done in human cervical cancer cells, HeLa, and the transfection efficiency of T_f -liposome was found to be fivefold higher than that of unconjugated (plain) DDAB liposome and twofold higher than that of Lipofectin™. In conclusion, a target-oriented T_f -DDAB liposome was made successfully and proved to be very efficient in DNA delivery into the cervical cancer cells in culture.     

A study on the environmental aspects of hydrogen pathways in Korea

In this study, the environmental aspects of H₂ pathways are analyzed according to plausible H₂ production methods, production capacity, and distribution options in Korea, using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The target H₂ pathways analyzed are H₂ via naphtha steam reforming (Naphtha SR), H₂ via natural gas steam reforming (NG SR), H₂ via liquefied petroleum gas steam reforming (LPG SR), H₂ via water electrolysis with wind power (WE[Wind]), and H₂ via water electrolysis with Korea electricity mix (WE[KEM]). The results are then compared with those of conventional fuels (gasoline, diesel, and LPG) to identify which H₂ pathway has less environmental impact than the conventional fuels.