Dielectric coagulometry: a new approach to estimate venous thrombosis risk

We present dielectric coagulometry as a new technique to estimate the risk of venous thrombosis by measuring the permittivity change associated with the blood coagulation process. The method was first tested for a simple system of animal erythrocytes suspended in fibrinogen solution, where the coagulation rate was controlled by changing the amount of thrombin added to the suspension. Second, the method was applied to a more realistic system of human whole blood, and the inherent coagulation process was monitored without artificial acceleration by a coagulation initiator. The time dependence of the permittivity at a frequency around 1 MHz showed a distinct peak at a time that corresponds to the clotting time. Our theoretical modeling revealed that the evolution of heterogeneity and the sedimentation in the system cause the peak of the permittivity.     

Savonius风力机叶片重叠比的风洞实验研究

为了探明其最佳重叠比,首先对具有3种典型重叠比(OL=0,02和0.5)的Savonius风力机进行了风洞实验,确认了OL=0.2的风力机具有较佳的性能.之后将OL设定在0.15～0.30之间,以0.025为间隔细分为7个模式,每一模式中又分为带有中心转轴和无转轴两种类型,分别进行了详细的风洞实验,对叶片重叠比以及转轴轴径对Savonius风力机的静态起动特性和动态功率输出特性的影响进行了研究.     

Effect of addition of Tween 80 and potassium dihydrogenphosphate to basal medium on the isolation of marine eukaryotes, thraustochytrids

Tween 80, KH(2)PO(4) and tomato juice were added to basal medium for the isolation of thraustochytrids. By the addition of Tween 80 and KH(2)PO(4), the number of thraustochytrids isolated from seawater increased. KH(2)PO(4) and Tween 80 were considered to be useful for isolating thraustochytrids.     

Postnatal uterine development in Inverdale ewe lambs

Postnatal development of the uterus involves, particularly, development of uterine glands. Studies with ovariectomized ewe lambs demonstrated a role for ovaries in uterine growth and endometrial gland development between postnatal days (PNDs) 14 and 56. The uterotrophic ovarian factor(s) is presumably derived from the large numbers of growing follicles in the neonatal ovary present after PND 14. The Inverdale gene mutation (FecXI) results in an increased ovulation rate in heterozygous ewes; however, homozygous ewes (II) are infertile and have 'streak' ovaries that lack normal developing of preantral and antral follicles. Uteri were obtained on PND 56 to determine whether postnatal uterine development differs between wild-type (++) and II Inverdale ewes. When compared with wild-type ewes, uterine weight of II ewes was 52% lower, and uterine horn length tended to be shorter, resulting in a 68% reduction in uterine weight:length ratio in II ewes. Histomorphometrical analyses determined that endometria and myometria of II ewes were thinner and intercaruncular endometrium contained 38% fewer endometrial glands. Concentrations of estradiol in the neonatal ewes were low and not different between ++ and II ewes, but II ewes had lower concentrations of testosterone and inhibin-alpha between PNDs 14 and 56. Receptors for androgen and activin were detected in the neonatal uteri of both ++ and II ewes. These results support the concept that developing preantral and/or antral follicles of the ovary secrete uterotrophic factors, perhaps testosterone or inhibin-alpha, that acts in an endocrine manner to stimulate uterine growth and endometrial gland development in the neonatal ewes.     

Development of a high power density 2.5 kW class solid oxide fuel cell stack

We have developed a 2.5 kW class solid oxide fuel cell stack. It is constructed by combining 70 power generation units, each of which is composed of an anode-supported planar cell and separators. The power generation unit for the 2.5 kW class stack were designed so that the height of the unit were scaled down by 2/3 of that for our conventional 1.5 kW class stack. The power generation unit for the 2.5 kW class stack provided the same output as the unit used for the conventional 1.5 kW class stack, which means that power density per unit volume of the 2.5 kW class stack was 50% greater than that of the conventional 1.5 kW class stack.     

Influence on moisture and hydrocarbons on conversion rate of tritium in catalytic reactors of fusion-DEMO detritiation system

Thoughtful consideration of abnormal events such as fire is required to design and qualify a detritiation system (DS) of a nuclear fusion facility. Since conversion of tritium to tritiated vapor over catalyst is the key process of the DS, it is indispensable to evaluate the effect of excess moisture and hydrocarbons produced by combustion of cables on tritium conversion rate considering fire events. We conducted demonstration tests on tritium conversion under the following representative conditions: (I) leakage of tritium, (II) leakage of tritium plus moisture, and (III) leakage of tritium plus hydrocarbons. Detritiation behavior in the simulated room was assessed, and the amount of catalyst to fulfill the requirement on tritium conversion rate was evaluated. The dominant parameters for detritiation are the concentration of hydrogen in air and catalyst temperature. The tritium in the simulated room was decreased for condition (I) following ventilation theory. An initial reduction in conversion rate was measured for condition (II). To recover the reduction smoothly, it is suggested to optimize the power of preheater. An increase in catalyst temperature by heat of reaction of hydrocarbon combustion was evaluated for condition (III). The heat balance of catalytic reactor is a point to be carefully investigated to avoid runaway of catalyst temperature.     

Fabrication and morphological control of ion-induced zinc nanostructures

An efficient method for the fabrication of zinc (Zn) nanostructures (nanoneedles and nanofibers) of controllable density and morphology without any catalyst, hazardous chemicals or external heat supply has been investigated. By varying the ion irradiation time and the ion current density, morphological control and the density of Zn nanostructures were successfully achieved using a fast and viable ion irradiation technique. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results revealed that the sputtered surface was almost entirely covered with densely distributed conical and needle-like protrusions with linear shaped (sometimes curved) nanostructures (such as nanoneedles and nanofibers) with diameters and lengths of about 20-50 nm and several hundred nanometers, respectively. Detailed analysis of selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns with TEM analysis indicates that the Zn nanofibers were polycrystalline in nature. A possible mechanism of the formation of Zn nanostructures is briefly discussed. These aligned arrays of Zn nanoneedles/nanofibers could be a promising material for the fabrication of zinc oxide nanostructures by subsequent oxidation of Zn nanostructures and their future application in nanodevices. Thus, it is believed that this ion irradiation technique could open up a new approach for the fabrication of many kinds of nanomaterials of controllable density.     

Numerical verification of a simplified model for vapor bubble lift-off from a hydrophilic heated flat-wall

Three-dimensional interface tracking simulations were carried out to investigate the role of surface tension force in the process of vapor bubble lift-off from a hydrophilic heated surface in nucleate boiling. Since bubbles are frequently flattened along the heated surface in photographic experiments reported in literature, a bubble was assumed to be spheroidal in shape in the initial condition. The effect of phase change at the bubble interface was not taken into consideration for the sake of simplicity. In the present numerical simulations, the initially spheroidal bubble approached the spherical shape due to the surface tension force and was eventually lifted off the surface. The change in bubble shape induced local liquid flow directing toward the bubble base, that was the direct cause of the occurrence of the bubble lift-off. The dependence of the bubble migration velocity on several important parameters including the bubble size, surface tension coefficient and the density of surrounding liquid was also investigated. The change in bubble shape from flattened to more rounded causes the reduction of the surface energy, while the formation of local liquid flow leads to an increase in the kinetic energy. It was demonstrated that the bubble migration velocity after the lift-off can successfully be interpreted from the standpoint of energy conservation during the lift-off process.     

Basic Study of a Ship Navigator's Stress Using Salivary Amylase Activity

Evaluation of ship handling mental workload/training has usually depended on professionals (captain, pilot) who have a lot of experience on board. We are attempting to evaluate a ship navigator's mental workload (stress) based on a physiological index. The physiological indices, heart rate variability (R-R interval) and nasal temperature, are good indices of the stress found in ship handling. It is best if we get response and evaluation results quickly on the spot. A recent study shows salivary amylase activity is induced by the sympathetic nervous system; however, a research on ship navigator has not yet accepted worldwide. This article proposes that salivary amylase activity shows a ship navigator's stress during ship handling. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Analysis of Extensible Reinforcement Subject to Oblique Pull

A rational analysis of extensible sheet reinforcement subjected to an oblique end force has been presented that properly accounts for complex soil-reinforcement interaction and involves stress-deformation relationship implicitly. The results can be used for internal design of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls against pullout failure and tension failure. The pullout force and the end displacement at pullout for an extensible reinforcement are found to be almost the same as those for an inextensible reinforcement if the ratio of the reinforcement stiffness to the axial pullout capacity J* is greater than 15. With decrease in J* below 15, the maximum strain increases, the pullout failure becomes irrelevant, the tension failure dominates and the maximum allowable oblique force decreases. A minimum stiffness of about 25 times the axial pullout capacity is required to avoid the tension failure before the pullout provided the failure strain is 0.1. The predicted results have been calibrated against the finite-element analysis of pullout tests and detailed back analyses of published test data on model reinforced walls constructed with a wide range of extensible materials. The present analysis gives better predictions of the critical height against the pullout and the tension failure in model reinforced soil walls constructed with extensible reinforcements as compared to that of Rankine’s method.