Internal modification in transparent hybrid germanium-silica plates using plasma formation induced by a femtosecond laser

The fabrication of an internal diffraction grating with photoinduced refractive index modification in planar hybrid germanium-silica plates was demonstrated using low-density plasma formation excited by a high-intensity femtosecond (150 fs) Ti:sapphire laser (λp=790 nm).The refractive index modifications with diameters ranging from 400 nm to 3 μm were photoinduced after plasma formation occurred upon irradiation with peak intensities of more than 2×1013 W/cm2.The graded refractive index profile was fabricated to be a symmetric around from the center of the point at which low-density plasma occurred.     

Adsorption properties of polycarboxylate ether-based superplasticizer on cement particles and their resultant dispersion

The cement dispersion performance of a polycarboxylate (PCE)-based superplasticizer is highly related to their adsorption behaviors as a function of time. This study evaluated effects of PCEs on rheological properties of cementitious materials. First, characteristics of PCEs were characterized via permeation chromatography (GPC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The adsorption behavior of single and blended PCEs on cementitious composites was identified using total organic carbon analyzer (TOC). Based on the measurement of PCE adsorption, the changes of rheological properties of cementitious materials as well as the number of dispersed cement particles were characterized using a rheometer and laser spectroscopy, respectively. The experimental results support the systematic mechanism of PCE adsorption, cement dispersion, and the decrease in viscosity of cementitious materials.     

多排基桩隧道排水系统的流阻试验研究

利用多排矩形基桩模型进行水力试验,并在改变纵向及侧向模型间距及水深等条件下,研究隧道排水系统的曼宁粗糙系数特性。曼宁粗糙系数则是由调整流量及底床坡度所获得的均匀流来进行计算的。试验结果表明,曼宁粗糙系数随水深深度的增加而增加。值得一提的是,当水深维持不变时,曼宁粗糙系数也会持续增加直至纵向基桩间距与其宽度相同为止。然而,如纵向基桩的间距超过其宽度,曼宁粗糙系数则会呈现衰减现象。当侧向基桩的间距增加时,曼宁粗糙系数则会递减。对于不同形状的多排基桩及其配置的水力试验,该试验结果仍然可用于计算隧道排水系统的排水能力,进而可总结出一条经验公式。     

Antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from commercial fish and seafood

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and to characterize the implicated genes in Escherichia coli isolated from commercial fish and seafood. Fish and seafood samples (n=2663) were collected from wholesale and retail markets in Seoul, Korea between 2005 and 2008. A total of 179 E. coli isolates (6.7%) from those samples were tested for resistance to a range of antimicrobial agents. High rates of resistance to the following drugs were observed: tetracycline (30.7%), streptomycin (12.8%), cephalothin (11.7%), ampicillin (6.7%) and ticarcillin (6.1%). No resistances to amikacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cefoxitin were observed. Seventy out of 179 isolates which were resistant to one or more drugs were investigated by PCR for the presence of 3 classes of antimicrobial resistance genes (tetracycline, aminoglycosides and beta-lactams), class 1, 2 and 3 integrons. Gene cassettes of classes 1 and 2 integrons were further characterized by amplicon sequencing. The tetracycline resistance genes tetB and tetD were found in 29 (41.4%) isolates and 14 (20%) isolates, respectively. The beta-lactam resistance gene, bla(TEM) was found in 15 (21.4%) isolates. The aminoglycoside resistance gene, aadA was found in 18 (25.7%) isolates. Class 1 integron was detected in 41.4% (n=29) of the isolates, while only 2.9% (n=2) of the isolates were positive for the presence of class 2 integron. Two different gene cassettes arrangements were identified in class 1 integron-positive isolates: dfrA12-aadA2 (1.8 kb, five isolates) and aadB-aadA2 (1.6 kb, four isolates). One isolate containing class 2 integron presented the dfrA1-sat-aadA1 gene cassette array. These data suggest that commercial fish and seafood may act as the reservoir for multi-resistant bacteria and facilitate the dissemination of the resistance genes.     

Innate Immune Response Analysis in Meniscus Xenotransplantation Using Normal and Triple Knockout Jeju Native Pigs

Although allogenic meniscus grafting can be immunologically safe, it causes immune rejection due to an imbalanced tissue supply between donor and recipient. Pigs are anatomically and physiologically similar to adult humans and are, therefore, considered to be advantageous xenotransplantation models. However, immune rejection caused by genetic difference damages the donor tissue and can sometimes cause sudden death. Immune rejection is caused by genes; porcine GGTA1, CMAH, and B4GLANT2 are the most common. In this study, we evaluated immune cells infiltrating the pig meniscus transplanted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice bred for three weeks. We compared the biocompatibility of normal Jeju native black pig (JNP) meniscus with that of triple knockout (TKO) JNP meniscus (α-gal epitope, N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), and Sd (a) epitope knockout using CRISPR-Cas 9). Mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages were found to have infiltrated the transplant boundary in the sham (without transplantation), normal (normal JNP), and test (TKO JNP) samples after immunohistochemical analysis. When compared to normal and sham groups, TKO was lower. Cytokine levels did not differ significantly between normal and test groups. Because chronic rejection can occur after meniscus transplantation associated with immune cell infiltration, we propose studies with multiple genetic editing to prevent immune rejection.     

Physical,chemical and electrical analysis of dust generated from cement plants for dust removal with an electrostatic precipitator

The physical, chemical and electrical characteristics of cement dust generated from a cement plant have been investigated by using a dust analyzer and a high voltage conductivity cell based on JIS B 9915. Major constituents of raw material cement dust generated from the first grinding process are CaO (41.77%), SiO₂ (11.72%), Al₂O₃ (3.45%), and Fe₂O₃ (1.47%), while the cement clinker dust generated from the second grinding process consists of mainly CaO (48.09-65.50%), SiO₂ (14.02-21.56%), Al₂O₃ (2.86-3.76%), and Fe₂O₃ (1.77-2.66%). Size distribution of the raw material cement dust is bi-modal in shape and the mass median diameter (MMD) is 3.68 μm, whereas the cement clinker dust also displays bi-modal distribution and the MMD of the cement clinker dust is in the range of 7.89-58.78 μm. The resistivity of raw material cement dust is so high as 10¹⁴ ohm·cm at 300 °C, that cement dust would not precipitate well by the electrostatic precipitator.     

Optimization fluidization characteristics conditions of nickel oxide for hydrogen reduction by fluidized bed reactor

We evaluated the optimal conditions for fluidization of nickel oxide (NiO) and its reduction into high-purity Ni during hydrogen reduction in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor. A comparative study was performed through structural shape analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); variance in pressure drop, minimum fluidization velocity, terminal velocity, reduction rate, and mass loss were assessed at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 °C and at 20, 40, and 60 min in reaction time. We estimated the sample weight with most active fluidization to be 200 g based on the bed diameter of the fluidized bed reactor and height of the stocked material. The optimal conditions for NiO hydrogen reduction were found to be height of sample H to the internal fluidized bed reactor diameter D was H/D=1, reaction temperature of 550 °C, reaction time of 60 min, superficial gas velocity of 0.011 m/s, and pressure drop of 77 Pa during fluidization. We determined the best operating conditions for the NiO hydrogen reduction process based on these findings.     

Influence of Ramberg–Osgood fitting on the determination of plastic displacement rates in creep crack growth testing

This paper investigates the effect of the Ramberg–Osgood (R‐O) fitting procedures on plastic displacement rate estimates in creep crack growth testing, via detailed two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional finite‐element analyses of the standard compact tension specimen. Four different R‐O fitting procedures are considered: (i) fitting the entire true stress–strain data up to the ultimate tensile strength, (ii) fitting the true stress–strain data from 0.1% strain to 0.8 of the true ultimate strain, (iii) fitting the true stress–strain data only up to 5% strain and (iv) fitting the engineering stress–strain data. It is found that the first two fitting procedures can produce significant errors in plastic displacement rate estimates. The last two procedures, on the other hand, provide reasonably accurate plastic displacement rates and thus should be recommended in creep crack growth testing. Several advantages of fitting the engineering stress–strain data over fitting the true stress–strain data only up to 5% strain are discussed.