A fast algorithm for integrating connected-component labeling and euler number computation

This paper proposes a fast algorithm for integrating connected-component labeling and Euler number computation. Based on graph theory, the Euler number of a binary image in the proposed algorithm is calculated by counting the occurrences of four patterns of the mask for processing foreground pixels in the first scan of a connected-component labeling process, where these four patterns can be found directly without any additional calculation; thus, connected-component labeling and Euler number computation can be integrated more efficiently. Moreover, when computing the Euler number, unlike other conventional algorithms, the proposed algorithm does not need to process background pixels. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is much more efficient than conventional algorithms either for calculating the Euler number alone or simultaneously calculating the Euler number and labeling connected components.     

Poly(l-lactide)/nano-structured carbon composites: Conductivity, thermal properties, crystallization, and biodegradation

The effects of nano-structured carbon fillers [fullerene C₆₀, single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT), carbon nanohorn (CNH), carbon nanoballoon (CNB), and ketjenblack (KB)] and conventional carbon fillers [conductive grade and graphitized carbon black (CB)] on conductivity (resistance), thermal properties, crystallization, and proteinase K-catalyzed enzymatic degradation of poly(l-lactide) [i.e., poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)] films were investigated. Even at low filler concentrations such as 1 wt%, the addition of SWCNT effectively decreased the resistivity of PLLA film compared with that of conventional CB, and PLLA-SWCNT film with filler concentration of 10 wt% attained the resistivity lower than 100 Ω cm. The crystallization of PLLA further decreased the resistivity of films. The addition of carbon fillers, except for C₆₀ and CNB at 5 wt%, lowered the glass transition temperature, whereas the addition of carbon fillers, excluding C₆₀, elevated softening temperatures, if an appropriate filler concentration was selected. On heating from room temperature, cold crystallization temperature was determined mainly by the molecular weight of PLLA, whereas on cooling from the melt, the carbon fillers, excluding KB, elevated the cold crystallization temperature, reflecting the effectiveness of most of the carbon fillers as nucleating agents. Despite the nucleating effects, the addition of carbon fillers decreased the enthalpy of cold crystallization of PLLA on both heating and cooling. The addition of CNH, CNB, and CB elevated the starting temperature of thermal degradation of PLLA, whereas the addition of SWCNT reduced the thermal stability. Furthermore, the addition of C₆₀ and SWCNT enhanced the enzymatic degradation of PLLA, whereas the addition of KB and CNB disturbed the enzymatic degradation of PLLA. The reasons for the effects of carbon fillers on the physical properties, crystallization, and enzymatic degradation of PLLA films are discussed.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) membranes via thermally induced liquid–liquid phase separation

Porous membranes were prepared through the thermally induced phase separation of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH)/glycerol mixtures. The binodal temperature and dynamic crystallization temperature were determined by optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, respectively. It was determined experimentally that the liquid–liquid phase boundaries were shifted to higher temperatures when the ethylene content in EVOH increased. For EVOHs with ethylene contents of 32–44 mol %, liquid–liquid phase separation occurred before crystallization. Cellular pores were formed in these membranes. However, only polymer crystallization (solid–liquid phase separation) occurred for EVOH with a 27 mol % ethylene content, and the membrane morphology was the particulate structure. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the sizes of the cellular pores and crystalline particles in the membranes depended on the ethylene content in EVOH, the polymer concentration, and the cooling rate. Furthermore, the tendency of the pore and particle sizes was examined in terms of the solution thermodynamics of the binary mixture and the crystallization kinetics. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 853–860, 2003     

Preparation and surface-active properties of telomer-type anionic surfactants from maleic anhydride

Maleic acid alkyl ester and N-alkyl maleamic acid monomers (R_nMa and R_nMaAm; n is alkyl chain length; n=6, 8, 10, 12, 14) were synthesized by the reaction of maleic anhydride with alkyl alcohol or alkylamine. The telomerization of R_nMa or R_nMaAm in the presence of alkanethiol as a chain transfer agent gave telomer-type anionic surfactants (xR_nMa, xR_nMaAm; x is total average number of alkyl chains; x=2.8–3.3) having multialkyl chains and multicarboxylate groups. Their surface-active properties were investigated by several techniques such as surface tension, foaming property, and emulsification power measurements. Critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of xR_nMa were 1/110–1/14 of those of R_nMa with the same alkyl chain length. xR_nMa and xR_nMaAm gave higher efficiencies in lowering the surface tension than R_nMa and R_nMaAm in aqueous solutions. In particular, the surface tension of 3.2R₁₂MaAm was 24.4 mN m⁻¹ at the CMC. Foaming abilities and foam stabilities of xR_nMa and xR_nMaAm were higher than those of R_nMa and R_nMaAm. The addition of 300 ppm of Ca²⁺ to the aqueous solutions rendered the telomers less surface active. Shaking the aqueous solutions of telomers with toluene emulsified them. The highly stable oil-in-water type emulsion was formed by using 3.0R₁₀MaAm and 3.2R₁₂MaAm, and the degree of emulsification was kept at a level of about 80% after 60 min of standing. Thus, telomer-type surfactants showed excellent surface activities that were superior to the corresponding monomers as well as to conventional surfactants. The relationship between alkyl chain length of the telomers and the properties of surface tension, foaming, and emulsification was unclear.     

Autocatalytic hydrolysis of amorphous-made polylactides: effects of l-lactide content, tacticity, and enantiomeric polymer blending

Poly(dl-lactide), i.e., poly(dl-lactic acid) (PDLLA), poly(l-lactide), i.e. poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), and poly(d-lactide), i.e., poly(d-lactic acid) (PDLA) were synthesized to have similar molecular weights. The non-blended PDLLA, PLLA, and PDLA films and PLLA/PDLA(1/1) blend film were prepared to be amorphous state, and the effects of l-lactide unit content, tacticity, and enantiomeric polymer blending on their autocatalytic hydrolysis were investigated in phosphate-buffered solution (pH7.4) at 37 °C for up to 24 months. The results of gravimetry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and tensile testing showed that the autocatalytic hydrolyzabilities of polylactides, i.e. poly(lactic acid)s (PLAs) in the amorphous state decreased in the following order: nonblended PDLLA>nonblended PLLA, nonblended PDLA>PLLA/PDLA(1/1) blend. The high hydrolyzability of the nonblended PDLLA film compared with those of the nonblended PLLA and PDLA films was ascribed to the lower tacticity of PDLLA chains, which decreases their intramolecular interaction and therefore the PDLLA chains are susceptible to the attack from water molecules. In contrast, the retarded hydrolysis of PLLA/PDLA(1/1) blend film compared with those of the nonblended PLLA and PDLA films was attributable to the peculiar strong interaction between PLLA and PDLA chains in the blend film, resulting in the disturbed interaction of PLLA or PDLA chains and water molecules. The X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) elucidated that all the initially amorphous PLA films remained amorphous even after the autocatalytic hydrolysis for 16 (PDLLA film) and 24 [nonblended PLLA and PDLA films, PLLA/PDLA(1/1) blend film] months and that the melting peaks observed at around 170 and 220 °C for the PLLA/PDLA(1/1) blend film after the hydrolysis for 24 months were ascribed to those of homo- and stereocomplex crystallites, respectively, formed during heating at around 100 and 200 °C but not during the autocatalytic hydrolysis.     

Particle separation performance by use of electrical hydro-cyclone

A special electrical hydro-cyclone is developed and tested. In the underflow collection box of the hydro-cyclone, it has a central metal rod electrode and a cylindrical metal wall between which the desired DC electrical potential or no potential is applied. Effect of central rod diameter and length on separation cut size was examined. The aqueous suspensions of silica particles with a median diameter of 754 nm were tested using a 20 mm-diameter hydro-cyclone without underflow.

It was found that the zeta potential of particles increased proportionally with the value of pH. The electrical potential exhibits a stronger effect when the suspension indicates high pH value. The cut size decreases with the increase of initial pH values. This result is due to the increased negative zeta potential under high pH condition and negatively charged particles are easily collected by electrostatic force.

The cut size decreases with the increase of electrode diameter. The cut size becomes smallest under high pH, large electrode diameter and long electrode length conditions. For the negatively charged particles, the center electrode should be negative polarity and outer cylindrical wall should be positive. By use of the electrostatic force, the cut size decreases about 9.2% smaller compared to the standard case without electrostatic force.     

Blends of aliphatic polyesters. VIII. Effects of poly(L‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) on enzymatic hydrolysis of poly(L‐lactide), poly(ε‐caprolactone), and their blend films

Poly(L ‐lactide), that is, poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), and their blend (50/50) films containing different amounts of poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) (PLLA‐CL), were prepared by solution casting. The effects of added PLLA‐CL on the enzymatic hydrolysis of the films were investigated in the presence of proteinase K and Rhizopus arrhizus lipase by use of gravimetry. The addition of PLLA‐CL decreased the proteinase K–catalyzed hydrolyzabilities of the PLLA and PLLA/PCL (50/50) films as well as the Rhizopus arrhizus lipase‐catalyzed hydrolyzability of the PCL and PLLA/PCL (50/50) films. The decreased enzymatic hydrolyzabilities of the PLLA and PCL films upon addition of PLLA‐CL are attributable to the fact that the PLLA‐CL is miscible with PLLA and PCL and the dissolved PLLA‐CL must disturb the adsorption and/or scission processes of the enzymes. In addition to this effect, the decreased enzymatic hydrolyzabilities of the PLLA/PCL (50/50) films upon addition of PLLA‐CL can be explained by the enhanced compatibility between the PLLA‐rich and PCL‐rich phases arising from the dissolved PLLA‐CL. These effects result in decreased hydrolyzable interfacial area for PLLA/PCL films. The decrement in proteinase K–catalyzed hydrolyzability of the PLLA film upon addition of PLLA‐CL, which is miscible with PLLA, was in marked contrast with the enhanced proteinase K–catalyzed hydrolyzability of the PLLA film upon addition of PCL, which is immiscible with PLLA. This confirms that the miscibility of the second polymer is crucial to determine the proteinase K–catalyzed hydrolyzabilities of the PLLA‐based blend films. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 412–419, 2003     

Spherulite growth of l-lactide copolymers: Effects of tacticity and comonomers

The spherulite growth behavior and mechanism of l-lactide copolymers, poly(l-lactide-co-d-lactide) [P(LLA-DLA)], poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) [P(LLA-GA)], and poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) [P(LLA-CL)] have been studied using polarization optical microscopy in comparison with poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) having different molecular weights to elucidate the effects of incorporated comonomer units. The incorporation of comonomer units reduced the radius growth rate of spherulites (G) and increased the induction period of spherulite formation (t_i), irrespective of the kind of comonomer unit. Such effects became remarkable with the content of comonomers. At a crystallization temperature (T_c) of 130 °C, the disturbance effects of comonomers on the spherulite growth decreased in the following order: d-lactide>glycolide>ε-caprolactone, when compared at the same comonomer unit or reciprocal of averaged l-lactyl unit sequence length (l_l). The t_i estimation indicated that the glycolide units have the lowest disturbance effects on the formation of spherulite (crystallite) nuclei. The PLLA having the number-average molecular weight (M_n) exceeding 3.1×10⁴ g mol⁻¹ showed the transition from regime II to regime III at T_c=120 °C, whereas PLLA with the lowest M_n of 9.2×10³ g mol⁻¹ crystallized solely in regime III kinetics and the copolymers excluding P(LLA-DLA) with 3% of d-lactide units crystallized solely according to regime II kinetics. The nucleation and front constant for regime II and III [K_g(II), K_g(III), G₀(II), and G₀(III), respectively] estimated with each (not with a fixed for high-molecular-weight PLLA) decreased with increasing the amount of defects per unit mass of the polymer for crystallization, i.e. with increasing the comonomer content and the density of terminal group through decreasing the molecular weight.     

The analysis and design of a both open ended hollow fiber type RO module

The use of seawater desalination plants using RO technology has spread and the scale of the plants has increased. In such a situation, a larger‐sized RO module has been strongly required. The conventional hollow fiber type RO element is a single open‐ended (SOE) structure. That is, one side of the hollow fibers in the modules is opened and the other side is closed. In this SOE structure, the increase in the flow pressure loss of the permeated water which flows in the bore side of the hollow fibers prevents development of a large‐sized (longer) RO element. In this work, a both open‐ended (BOE) element was devised which can reduce the flow pressure loss of the permeated water. It has been confirmed by analysis and experiment that the permeate flow rate of BOE is greater by about 30% than that of SOE. Furthermore, the large‐sized RO module with high volume efficiency was designed using the performance analysis method that was confirmed to be applicable to BOE. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of multi-inlet flow on particle classification performance of hydro-cyclones

The effect of multi-inlet flow on particle classification performance of hydro-cyclones was examined experimentally and via a simulation study. Cut size of the type A cyclone with two inlets flow indicated smaller cut size and sharp separation performance compared to the standard cyclone. Numerical simulation indicated a nearly uniform rotational fluid velocity profile for the type A cyclone. On the other hand, the standard cyclone showed a non-uniform rotational velocity profile near the inlet part of the main flow. The type B cyclone with a small additional flow injection area, showed smaller cut sizes as the flow rate of the additional flow increased. The type B cyclone showed smaller cut size compared to the standard cyclone without the additional flow. The use of a multi-inlet cyclone is quite effective at improving particle separation performance compared to the standard one.