Catalytic performance of Ag–Al2O3 catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by higher hydrocarbons

Silver–aluminum mixed oxide catalyst (Ag–Al₂O₃) prepared by the sol–gel method was studied for the selective reduction of NO by various alkanes in the presence of water vapor. As the carbon number of alkanes increases, the de-NO_x activity and water tolerance were markedly increased. In the case of n-octane as a reductant, the presence of water vapor markedly promoted NO reduction. The results of reaction studies and in situ IR experiment showed that the possible reasons for the promoting effect by water vapor are the inhibition of the n-octane oxidation by O₂ and the suppression of the poisoning effect caused by carboxylate and carbonate species. Among various alumina-supported transition metal catalysts, Ag–Al₂O₃ showed the highest activity for SCR by n-octane. Ag–Al₂O₃ showed higher NO conversion to N₂ and selectivity than alumina-supported Pt and Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts for the selective reduction of NO by n-octane and i-octane.     

Seasonal Variation of Microstructure and Sintered Strength of Dry-Pressed Alumina

An origin was investigated for the variation of the density and the fracture strength of sintered alumina with the manufacturing season. Direct observation using immersion microscopy was utilized to examine the microstructures of granules, green bodies, and sintered samples for two specific cases: samples made in summer and others made in winter. This method revealed a seasonal difference in the pore structure of both green and sintered bodies. The variation of the density and the fracture strength with the manufacturing season was ascribed to the different concentrations of large pore defects in sintered bodies, which were developed from the green body structures. Formation of large pore defects resulted from void spaces at the center and at the boundary of granules in the green bodies. High temperature and humidity contributed to an increase in the deformability of granules, reducing defect sizes in summer and thus improving fracture strength.     

铜合金的疲劳寿命预测

采用平面弯曲疲劳试验,测定了C1100P-1／4H纯铜和C2801P-1／4H黄铜的S-N曲线。结果表明,实验铜合金没有疲劳极限。随外加交变应力增大,疲劳寿命缩短。在相同外加应力条件下,轧制态合金的疲劳寿命高于退火态合金的疲劳寿命。利用Manson—Coffin法则和塑性应变幅与疲劳循环次数的理论关系,通过计算得到了铜合金的理论S-N关系曲线,与实验结果吻合较好,表明该理论S-N关系曲线可用来预测铜合金的疲劳寿命。     

An 18-μA standby current 1.8-V, 200-MHz microprocessor withself-substrate-biased data-retention mode

A low-standby-current 1.8-V, 200-MHz microprocessor has been fabricated with a 0.2-μm, five-metal, dual-oxide-thickness, CMOS technology and two power down modes (i.e., a standby mode and a data-retention mode). The microprocessor uses a switched substrate-impedance scheme to bias substrates in the standby mode while maintaining a 200-MHz operating speed. Data-retention capability during the standby mode is also maintained. This mode achieves 46.5-μA standby current. The microprocessor also offers a battery-backup capability in a self-substrate-biased data-retention mode. This makes it possible to apply a deep substrate bias without increasing the gate-induced drain leakage current or p-n junction current. The current consumption is only 17.8 μA when operating off a 1-V supply in the data-retention mode     

Remote laser welding applications for car bodies

The fundamental objective of this study is to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors. A few accidents involving leaks from welded zones at the pipe penetration part of reactor vessels or at coolant pipes have been reported at home and abroad. One of the main causes is welding residual stress. Therefore, it is very important to know the welding residual stress in order to maintain the high safety of the plant, estimate the plant life cycle and design an effective maintenance plan. Welded joints of nuclear reactor vessels have complex shapes, and the welding residual stresses also have three-dimensional (3D) complex distributions. In this study, inherent strain-based theory and method are applied to measure the welding residual stresses. The inherent strain method is an analytical method as an inverse problem, using the least squares method, based on the finite element method. So the method gives the most probable value and deviation of residual stress. The reliability of the estimated result is discussed. In this method, inherent strains are unknowns. When residual stresses are distributed complexly in a 3D stress-state, the number of unknowns becomes very large. So, the inherent strain distribution is expressed with an appropriate function to decrease largely the number. A mock-up is idealized for a welded joint at the pipe penetration part of an actual reactor vessel. The inherent strain method is applied to the measure the residual stress of the joint. In this paper, the applicability of the inherent strain distribution function is diagnosed. Ten kinds of functions are applied to estimate the residual stress, and the accuracy and reliability of the analysed results are judged from three points of view, i.e. residuals, unbiased estimate of variance of errors and welding mechanics. The most suitable function is selected, which brings the most reliable result.     

Urinary trypsin inhibitor reduces inflammatory response in kidney induced by lipopolysaccharide

Human urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, has been widely used in Japan as a drug for patients with acute inflammatory disorders such as septic shock and pancreatitis. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers the sepsis syndrome by activating monocytes to produce proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), which potently stimulate the activation of neutrophils. The inhibitory mechanism of UTI on the systemic inflammatory response induced by the intraperitoneal injection of LPS in the kidney is unclear. This study was undertaken to examine the inhibitory effects of UTI on renal injury associated with the systemic inflammatory response induced by LPS stimulation, with emphasis on systemic TNFalpha and the activation of neutrophils in rat kidney. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome was induced by LPS treatment. Serum and renal TNFalpha, renal cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, as well as renal function after LPS stimulation, were evaluated. UTI (50,000 U/kg) inhibited LPS-induced increases in the serum and renal tissue levels of TNFalpha, as well as the renal tissue levels of CINC-1 and MPO after LPS stimulation. UTI (50,000 U/kg) also inhibited the production of serum TNFalpha associated with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome induced by LPS stimulation, thereby attenuating neutrophil infiltration into renal tissues and subsequent neutrophil-mediated renal injury. These findings may have important implications in understanding the biologic functions of UTI. UTI may prove useful in protecting against acute renal injury associated with a systemic inflammatory response.     

Characterization of Particle Packing in an Injected Molded Green Body

The particle packing structure of alumina green bodies made by injection molding has been examined with the liquid immersion technique coupled with a polarized light microscope. In this method, the specimen is made transparent by an immersion liquid and is examined in the transmission mode. Fine particles of near-equiaxed alumina powder are found to be aligned, with their slightly elongated axis parallel to the flow direction of the molding process. The presence of very large alumina particles was also noted. Their concentraton was extremely low and can be detected only by the present method. The origins and significance of particle orientaton and large particles in ceramic processing are discussed.     

Properties of a few aromatic poly(thioether ketones) as sulfur‐containing high‐performance polymers

Several basic physical properties of poly(thioether ketones) (PTEKs) were studied in comparison with corresponding ether analogs, poly(ether ketones) (PEKs), and various typical engineering plastics. The water absorption of PTEK (0.13%) was lower than that of the corresponding PEK (0.16%), probably because of the hydrophobic nature of the sulfide group. The dielectric breakdown strengths of PTEK and PEK were much greater than that of commercially available polymers. PTEK had higher dielectric breakdown strength than PEK. Although the volume resistivity of PEK considerably decreased after water absorption, that of PTEK remained high even after water absorption. PTEK exhibited a remarkably high refractive index (n_D²³ 1.66). α‐Transition corresponding to T_g was observed at a high temperature (PTEK‐1, 235°C; PTEK‐2, 269°C) in the dynamic mechanical analysis. Young's modulus and tensile strength of PTEK were comparable to those of commercial high‐performance polymers. PTEK also exhibited excellent flame resistance. Although the linear thermal expansion coefficient of PTEK was greater than that of PEEK, it was still within a practically acceptable level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1869–1874, 2004     

Preparation of liposomes modified with lipopeptides using a supercritical carbon dioxide reverse-phase evaporation method

Although liposomes are considered to be one of the most promising carriers for drug delivery systems (DDS), they have drawbacks such as insufficient drug-entrapment efficiency and long-term stability. The objectives of this study are to improve the trapping efficiency by addition of lipopeptides (LPs), and using a supercritical CO(2) reverse-phase evaporation (SCRPE) process, along with incorporation of PEG-modified phospholipids to improve long-term stability. In this study, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model drug substance for entrapment by liposomes. Improvements in the entrapment efficiency and stability of liposomes were achieved by modification with LPs and use of a SCRPE preparation process. The BSA-entrapment efficiency of liposomes modified with cationic LPs with arginine residues, as a result of their ionic interactions, was six times that of liposomes prepared by the Bangham method. Use of a SCRPE method along with LP modification further enhanced entrapment and enabled spontaneous formation of unilamellar liposomes with long-term stability. Liposomes consisting of DPPC/Chol/C(16)-Arg2/DSPE-PEG2000 (60/30/5/5), with up to 70% entrapment efficiency for BSA and a stability level of 90% for over 40 h, were obtained. DSC and SAXS analyses indicated that certain amounts of LP in the DPPC induced phase-transitional and structural changes in the lamellar membrane, and these changes improved the DDS carrier properties.The SCRPE method provides organic-solvent-free liposomes, and the LPs for the liposome modification are derivatives of amino acids and fatty acids, which are sustainable and biocompatible materials. This study therefore suggests that there are opportunities for the development of novel DDS carriers with excellent performance and which address environmental concerns.