Theoretical Estimation of Changes in Plane Elastic Waves due to Cylindrical Inclusions

Changes in amplitude and phase shifts in plane elastic waves were theoretically estimated when they propagated through an elastic body containing cylindrical inclusions. Based on the integral equation suggested by Lavrov et al., these changes were calculated in the case when only one cylindrical inclusion was located in the body and the propagating waves have a single frequency. These calculations were expanded to more practical case when multiple cylindrical inclusions aligned in the body and the waves have some frequency band. The changes in amplitude and phase shifts calculated were associated to the changes in apparent sonic velocity and attenuation coefficient due to a structural change in the material. This theoretical approach contributes to a quantitative damage evaluation based upon structural changes in various materials by measuring the acoustical parameters such as apparent sonic velocity and attenuation coefficient.     

Temperature distribution in Li2O pellets under neutron irradiation

The center temperature of Li₂O pellets under neutron irradiation was measured using an encapsuled pin. The surface temperatures of the pellets and the pellet/cladding heat transfer coefficients were estimated on the basis of the well-known conductivity integral.     

Intermolecular Interaction of [60]Fullerene with Tröger's Base Analogues

Tröger's base (TB, 1) and its analogues were synthesized and were subject to the titration experiments to evaluate their ability of supramolecular complexation with C₆₀. Results demonstrate clearly that the fluorene-based TB analogue (2) and the bioctylfluorene-based TB analogue (3) show 1:1 binding with C₆₀ to form the corresponding complexes while TB 1 does not. Titration experiments exhibited that the association constant (K_ass) of 3/C₆₀ (48.1 ± 7.9 M ^?1) was larger than that of 2/C₆₀ (13.7 ± 1.4 M ^?1)_. The formation of the 1:1 binding complexes 2/C₆₀ and 3/C₆₀ was also confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Theoretical calculations suggest that 2 and 3 have appropriate cavities to embrace C₆₀. These findings indicate that not only the π/π interaction between the fluorene moieties and the C₆₀ surface but also the CH/π interaction between the octyl groups and the C₆₀ surface serve efficiently in the supramolecular complexation with C₆₀.     

Precision dilatometer analysis of neutron-irradiated nuclear graphite recovery process up to 1673 K

Specimens of two kinds of isotropic nuclear graphite, IG-110U and ETP-10, were neutron-irradiated at fluence of 1.92 × 10²⁴ n/m² (E > 1.0 MeV) at 473 K. The recoveries of the macroscopic lengths of these specimens during isothermal and isochronal annealing at temperatures of up to 1673 K were investigated in a step-wise manner by using a precision dilatometer. The macroscopic lengths after isochronal annealing for 6 h at each temperature decreased gradually as the temperature was increased to 1673 K. The recovery trends of the c-axis and a-axis lattice parameters differed from one another, and from the macroscopic length recovery trends. For the IG-110U specimen, the activation energies (E_a) of macroscopic volume recovery corresponding to annealing at 523–773, 773–923, 923–1073, and 1073–1173 K were found to be 0.15, 0.34, 0.73, and 2.59 eV, respectively. For the ETP-10 specimen, the E_a corresponding to 523–923, 923–1223, and 1223–1373 K were determined to be 0.15, 0.46, and 2.19 eV, respectively. These results indicate that both graphite specimens underwent three or four stages of macroscopic length recovery between 523 K and the annealing temperatures at which their initial lengths were recovered. It is suggested that during the first stage recovery proceeded via the migration of single interstitials along the basal plane and the resulting V-I recombination. In the middle stages, recovery occurred due to the migration of interstitial groups such as C₂ along the basal plane, while in the last stage, it proceeded via through-layer migration of interstitials or migration of single vacancies.     

Measurement of the isotopic abundance of boron-10 by inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry

This article describes the method for measuring the isotopic abundance of ¹⁰B in nuclear grade boron carbide using inductively coupled plasma-quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS). The results of investigation revealed that both the integration time and the dwell time have a major influence on the reproducibility of ICP-QMS measurements. As a result of optimization of the measurement conditions, reproducibility below 0.2% relative standard deviation (RSD) (0.17% RSD maximum) was achieved. In addition, the measured value of the isotopic abundance of ¹⁰B for each sample well agreed with the values measured by the TIMS. Thus, the method described in the present investigation was very effective in the analysis of isotopic abundance of ¹⁰B in B₄C or H₃BO₃. The results of this study suggest that ICP-QMS could be applied to the precise analysis of the isotopic abundance of ¹⁰B required in the field of nuclear applications.     

Development of sustained-release tablets containing sodium valproate: in vitro and in vivo correlation

We have developed a 200 mg and 400 mg sustained-release sodium valproate tablet that allows effective blood concentration of the active drug with once-a-day dosing. The controlled dissolution or sustained release of the drug was attained by a membrane-controlled system. A single-coating system did not adequately control the dissolution rate, and therefore double-coated tablets were prepared and a human pharmacokinetic study was conducted. With the 200 mg VPA-Na tablets, the nonfasting C_max was only 20% higher than the fasting C_max. An in vitro dissolution test was conducted to predict the effects of food on drug dissolution after administration of this tablet. A relatively good correlation was observed between the absorption profiles and the dissolution profiles of the drug.     

Hydrogen entry into Fe and high strength steels under simulated atmospheric corrosion

Electrochemical hydrogen permeation tests of Fe sheets under two cyclic corrosion test (CCT) conditions were performed to understand hydrogen entry behavior under atmospheric corrosions. Hydrogen entry into 1300 MPa-class high strength steels under two CCT conditions was also investigated using thermal desorption analysis. One CCT consisted of salt spray, dry and wet stages (Salt Spray CCT; SSCCT), and the other consisted of dry and wet stages after NaCl deposition (Dry–Wet CCT; DWCCT). The corrosion rates of Fe and the steels were almost constant under SSCCT and they decreased under DWCCT with time. Nevertheless, both CCTs resulted in increases in hydrogen permeation current and diffusible hydrogen content with time indicating enhancement of hydrogen entry. Corrosion current monitored by means of an atmospheric corrosion monitoring sensor consisting of Fe anode and Ag cathode decreased obviously under dry stage of the CCTs, whereas hydrogen permeation was high at the beginning of the dry stage. The discrepancy between hydrogen entry and corrosion rate indicates that the hydrogen entry is not directly controlled by corrosion rate. Increase in acidity of underlying rust layer with growth of rust layer monitored using a W/WO₃ electrode is considered to be one of the factors affecting the hydrogen entry efficiency.     

Suitable parameters of single-mode optical fibre

A new method for determining suitable single-mode fibre parameters is examined. Suitable fibre parameters are determinable by minimising cabling- and splicing-loss increases. An eight-fibre cable was manufactured and the loss increases were measured. ? = 0.2% and V = 2.2 are the values selected using this method and for the experimental results.     

Effects of nickel(II) addition on the activity of activated sludge microorganisms and activated sludge process

The effects of Ni(II) in a synthetic wastewater on the activity of activated sludge microorganisms and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treatment process were investigated. Two parallel lab-scale SBR systems were operated. One was used as a control unit, while the other received Ni(II) concentrations equal to 5 and 10 mg/l. The SBR systems were operated with FILL, REACT, SETTLE, DRAW and IDLE modes in the time ratio of 0.5:3.5:1.0:0.75:0.25 for a cycle time of 6 h. The addition of Ni(II) into SBR system caused drastically dropped in TOC removal rate (k) and specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) by activated sludge microorganisms due to the inhibitory effects of Ni(II) on the bioactivity of microorganisms. The addition of 5 mg/l Ni(II) caused a slight reduction in TOC removal efficiency, whereas 10 mg/l Ni(II) addition significantly affected the SBR performance in terms of suspended solids and TOC removal efficiency. Termination of Ni(II) addition led to almost full recovery of the bioactivity in microorganisms as shown in the increase of specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) and SBR treatment performance.