Verification of the performance of rotatable jig for a single cantilever beam method using the finite element analysis

The performance of new jig for single cantilever beam test method was verified by finite element analysis. Two types of jig were designed for a small specimen that had relatively short length compared to the width of cantilever; one was simple fixed jig and the other was specially designed rotatable jig. The rotatable jig has a rotatable seesaw which adjusts the experimental misalignments between the specimen and test machine. Among the three translational and three rotational misalignments, following three important factors were considered; rotation about x-axis, rotation about z-axis, and translation in y-axis. Adhesive layer was modeled by cohesive zone element, and crack propagation behavior and the deviation of energy release rate were investigated. The fixed jig showed undesired asymmetric crack propagation and large deviation of energy release rate when it had rotational misalignment about x-axis. However, the proposed new rotatable jig showed almost symmetrical crack propagation and small deviation of energy release rate regardless of misalignments. Rotational motion of the seesaw automatically compensated the rotational misalignment of the specimen. The rotatable jig also showed relatively small deviation of energy release rate compared with the fixed jig by the rotational misalignment about the z-axis. In contrast, the rotatable jig showed deviation of energy release rate by translational misalignments in the y-axis. However, the magnitude of the deviation was very small within the controllable range of experimental misalignment. In conclusion, it was found out that the proposed jig was appropriate for the measurement of adhesion of a small specimen by single cantilever beam method.

     

Development of a Multiplex and Cost-Effective Genotype Test toward More Personalized Medicine for the Antiplatelet Drug Clopidogrel

There has been a wide range of inter-individual variations in platelet responses to clopidogrel. The variations in response to clopidogrel can be driven by genetic polymorphisms involved in the pathway of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and the target receptor P2Y12. A set of genetic variants known for causing variations in clopidogrel responses was selected, which included CYP2C19*2, *3, *17, CYP2B6*4, *6, *9, CYP3A4*18, CYP3A5*3, MDR1 2677G > T/A, 3435C > T, and P2Y12 H2 (742T > C). The simultaneous detection of these 10 variants was developed by using a multiplex PCR and single-base extension (MSSE) methodology. The newly developed genotyping test was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing in the representative positive control samples and validated in an extended set of 100 healthy Korean subjects. Genotyping results from the developed MSSE exhibited a perfect concordance with the direct DNA sequencing data and all of variants tested in 100 healthy Korean subjects were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). The present molecular diagnostic studies provide an accurate, convenient, and fast genotyping method for the detection of multiple variants. This would be helpful for researchers, as well as clinicians, to use genetic information toward more personalized medicine of clopidogrel and other antiplatelet drugs in the future.     

Source location in plates based on the multiple sensors array method and wavelet analysis

A new method for impact source localization in a plate is proposed based on the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) and wavelet analysis. For source localization, the direction of arrival of the wave caused by an impact on a plate and the distance between impact position and sensor should be estimated. The direction of arrival can be estimated accurately using MUSIC method. The distance can be obtained by using the time delay of arrival and the group velocity of the Lamb wave in a plate. Time delay is experimentally estimated using the continuous wavelet transform for the wave. The elastodynamic theory is used for the group velocity estimation.     

Field measurement and estimation of ventilation flow rates by using train-induced flow rate through subway vent shafts

This study measured and estimated the subway vent shaft air flow rate induced by moving trains in the tunnel. This work estimated the flow rate via the tunnel structure and train movement to determine the quantitative effect of vent shafts as air purification systems of natural ventilation to improve the air quality management of a subway. The amount of air suctioned into the tunnel is significantly larger than that vented from the tunnel. Thus, placing vent shafts near subway stations is desirable for natural ventilation systems. Experimental approaches to measure train-induced flow rates have not yet been published. Results of this study provide useful fundamental data to study the natural ventilation in a subway. Therefore, this study suggested the significant design factors required to control indoor air quality in a subway.     

The influence of calcination temperature on catalytic activities in a Co based catalyst for CO2 dry reforming

The carbon dioxide dry reforming of methane (CDR) reaction could be thermodynamically favored in the range of 800 to 1,000 °C. However, the catalyst in this reaction should be avoided at the calcination temperature over 800 °C since strong metal support interaction (SMSI) in this temperature range can decrease activity due to loss of active sites. Therefore, we focused on optimizing the temperature of pretreatment and a comparison of surface characterization results for CDR. Results related to metal sintering over support, re-dispersion by changing of particle size of metal-support, and strong metal support interaction were observed and confirmed in this work. In our conclusion, optimum calcination temperature for a preparation of catalyst was proposed that 400 °C showed a higher and more stable catalytic activity without changing of support characteristics.     

Leaching kinetics of neodymium in sulfuric acid from E-scrap of NdFeB permanent magnet

The leaching kinetics of neodymium in NdFeB permanent magnet powder was analyzed for the purpose of recovery of neodymium in sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) from E-scrap (electric scrap) of NdFeB permanent magnet powder treated by oxidation roasting to form a reactant. The reaction was conducted with H₂SO₄ concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 3.5M, a pulp density of 110.8 g/L, an agitation speed of 750 rpm, and a temperature range of 30 to 70 °C. After 4 h of leaching, the neodymium content in the E-scrap powders was completely converted into a neodymium sulfate (Nd₂(SO₄)₃) solution phase in H₂SO₄ in the condition of 70 °C and 3.0M H₂SO₄. Based on a shrinking core model with sphere shape, the leaching mechanism of neodymium was determined by the rate-determining step of the ash layer diffusion. Generally, the solubility of pure rare earth elements in H₂SO₄ is decreased with an increase in leaching temperatures. However, the leaching rate of the neodymium in E-scrap powders increased with the leaching temperatures in this study because the ash layer included in the E-scrap powder provided resistance against the leaching. Using the Arrhenius expression, the apparent activation energy values were determined to be 2.26 kJmol^?1 in 2.5M H₂SO₄ and 2.77 kJmol^?1 in 3.0 M H₂SO₄.     

Binding and dispersion behavior of amorphous powders in diamond particles

This work was to prepare the diamond reinforced Cu₅₄Ni₆Zr₂₂Ti₁₈ bulk metallic glass matrix composites using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) process. The effect of mixing methods such as mechanical alloying (MA), and turbula mixing–dry mixing (DM) and wet mixing (WM) on the uniformity of constituent phase was also investigated. Examination of microstructure and evaluation of mechanical properties of the composites were performed depending on the mixing processes. As a result, WM composite showed the highest mechanical properties. The experimental results indicated that the mixing method was essential parameter to determine the quality of MG/diamond composites such as the uniformity of phase and binding behavior.     

Prediction of flow stress of metallic material and interfacial friction condition at high temperature using inverse analysis

Inverse analysis is a method for determining material parameters by minimizing the difference between experimental and the finite element (FE) simulated results, such as the load-stroke curve and barreling shape of a deformed specimen using an optimum design technique. In this study, ring compression tests were conducted to predict the flow stress of materials and interfacial friction conditions. Cylinder compression tests were conducted under the same process conditions to estimate the validity of the data obtained from the ring compression tests. By comparing the experimental results with the FE simulated results, it was confirmed that flow stress and the interfacial friction condition obtained from the ring compression tests, as well as their inverse analysis, are quite reasonable. The validity of both the flow stress function and the interfacial friction condition using the above procedures was verified by the experiments.     

Direct observation on the temperature-dependent change of magnetic domains in epitaxial MnAs film on GaAs (001)

We present a systematic change of the magnetic domain structure with temperature in epitaxial ferromagnetic MnAs film on GaAs (001), observed in a wide temperature range of 15-45 degrees C by magnetic force microscopy. Interestingly, it is found that, as temperature increases, the domain structure within the ferromagnetic alpha-MnAs stripes shows a mixture of head-on and simple domains at 15 degrees C and then, takes a complete transition to simple ones above 15 degrees C. This change could be understood by change in the demagnetizing factor of the cross-section of the ferromagnetic stripes with temperature.     

Electron beam lithography-assisted fabrication of Au nano-dot array as a substrate of a correlated AFM and confocal Raman spectroscopy

This paper documents a study of an Au nano-dot array that was fabricated by electron beam lithography on a glass wafer. The patterns that had features of 100nm dots in diameter with a 2-mum pitch comprised a total area of 200x200mum(2). The dot-shaped Cr underlayer was open to the air after developing Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). When dipped into the Cr etchant, the exposed Cr layer was eliminated from the glass wafer in a short period of time. In order to ultimately fabricate the Ti/Au dot arrays, Ti and Au were deposited onto the arrays with a thickness of 2 and 40nm, respectively. The lift-off procedure was carried out in the Cr etchant using sonication in order to completely remove the residual Cr/PMMA layer. The fabricated Au nano-dot array was then immersed in an Ag enhancing solution and then into an ethanol solution containing (N-(6-(Biotinamido)hexyl)-3'-(2'-pyridyldithio)-propionamide (Biotin-HPDP). The substrate was analyzed using a correlated atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal Raman spectroscopy. Through this procedure, position-dependent surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signals could be obtained.