Comparison Measurements for the Development of High-Temperature Platinum Resistance Scale

This paper describes measurements aimed to develop the high-temperature scale for high-temperature standard platinum resistance thermometers (HT-SPRTs). A furnace designed to facilitate comparison of a radiation thermometer with a HT-SPRT was developed for this work. The measurement uncertainty of the comparison is first reported, and then the comparison results for eight HT-SPRTs for temperatures from 660 °C up to 1040 °C are presented. Two different methods were adopted to analyze the comparison results. Upon discussion of the comparison results and adopting the second method to analyze the data, a correction term to the reference function of HT-SPRTs for temperatures above the current high-temperature limit, the Ag freezing point (961.78 °C), is suggested, as a preliminary result upon seeking the possibility to propose the extension of the platinum resistance thermometer scale. The two irregular cases for discussion of the criteria for interpolating HT-SPRTs of the current International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) are also discussed.     

Noninvasive near-infrared blood glucose monitoring using a calibration model built by a numerical simulation method: Trial application to patients in an intensive care unit

We have applied a new methodology for noninvasive continuous blood glucose monitoring, proposed in our previous paper, to patients in ICU (intensive care unit), where strict controls of blood glucose levels are required. The new methodology can build calibration models essentially from numerical simulation, while the conventional methodology requires pre-experiments such as sugar tolerance tests, which are impossible to perform on ICU patients in most cases. The in vivo experiments in this study consisted of two stages, the first stage conducted on healthy subjects as preliminary experiments, and the second stage on ICU patients. The prediction performance of the first stage was obtained as a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.71 and standard error of prediction (SEP) of 28.7 mg/dL. Of the 323 total data, 71.5% were in the A zone, 28.5% were in the B zone, and none were in the C, D, and E zones for the Clarke error-grid analysis. The prediction performance of the second stage was obtained as an r of 0.97 and SEP of 27.2 mg/dL. Of the 304 total data, 80.3% were in the A zone, 19.7% were in the B zone, and none were in the C, D, and E zones. These prediction results suggest that the new methodology has the potential to realize a noninvasive blood glucose monitoring system using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in ICUs. Although the total performance of the present monitoring system has not yet reached a satisfactory level as a stand-alone system, it can be developed as a complementary system to the conventional one used in ICUs for routine blood glucose management, which checks the blood glucose levels of patients every few hours.     

The effects of air pollution and climatic factors on atmospheric corrosion of marble under field exposure

The atmospheric corrosion of marble was evaluated in terms of SO₂ concentration as air pollution and climatic factors such as rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and so on under the field exposure. Marble of calcite type (CaCO₃) was exposed to outdoor atmospheric environment with and without a rain shelter at four test sites in the southern part of Vietnam for 3-month, 1- and 2-year periods from July 2001 to September 2003. The thickness loss of marble was investigated gravimetrically. X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescent methods were applied to study corrosion products on marble. The corrosion product of marble was only gypsum (CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) and was washed out by rain under the unsheltered exposure condition. It was found that the most substantial factors influencing the corrosion of marble were rainfall, SO₂ concentration in the air and relative humidity. Based on the results obtained, we estimated the dose-response functions for the atmospheric corrosion of marble in the southern part of Vietnam.     

Dyeing properties of oxygen low-temperature plasma-treated wool and nylon 6 fibres with acid and basic dyes

Wool and nylon 6 fibres treated with oxygen low-temperature plasma were dyed with acid and basic dyes. Despite the increase of electronegativity of the fibre surface caused by the plasma treatment, the rate of dyeing of wool was increased with both dyes, while that of nylon 6 was decreased with the acid dye and increased with the basic dye.     

Photosensitive polyimides developable with basic aqueous solutions (II)

Positive and negative photosensitive polyimides developable with basic aqueous solutions are reported. The results consist of poly amic acids and naphthoquinone diazides in which sulfonate groups have to be substituted at 4-position. It depends on the naphthoquinone structures whether positive or negative patterns are obtained. In order to fabricate resist patterns, High-Temperature-Post-Exposure-Process (HIT-PEB) must be utilized. The reaction mechanisms are also discussed. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.