Hydraulic performance and chemical compatibility of a powdered Na-bentonite geosynthetic clay liner permeated with mine drainage

The hydraulic and chemical compatibility of a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), containing powdered Na-bentonite, was evaluated against artificial acid rock drainage (ARD) in terms of the swell index, hydraulic conductivity and heavy metal retention. Six artificial ARDs with an approximate pH of 3 and different metal concentrations (electrical conductivity, EC, ranging between 75 and 1000 mS/m; ionic strength ranging between 8 and 400 mM) were used in the experiments. The results of free swelling tests showed that high metal concentrations (EC higher than 70 mS/m) negatively impact the swell volume by lowering it. The hydraulic conductivity of the GCL permeated with distilled water was 1.2 × 10^?11 m/s, falling in the range of 7.9 × 10^?12 to 1.1 × 10^?10 m/s when prehydrated with distilled water and permeated with ARDs. The ion exchange and metal precipitation appeared to be the main mechanisms controlling the metal attenuation on the bentonite. The ion exchange mechanism starts with the release of Na from the bentonite and the sorption of the bi- and tri-metals present in the ARDs onto the bentonite. After the depletion of Na, the ion exchange reaction proceeds with the desorption of Ca and Mg from the bentonite and the sorption of cations present in the ARDs onto the bentonite layers. The depletion of Na from the bentonite and the subsequent release of Ca and Mg correlate to the sudden drop in pH and a gradual increase or equilibration of the hydraulic conductivity. It is possible to say that, after this point, hydraulic and chemical equilibrium is reached. From the overall results, the tested GCL showed acceptably low hydraulic conductivity and the potential to attenuate heavy metals present in ARDs.     

Joint resistance measurements of pancake and terminal joints for JT-60SA EF coils

To evaluate the joint fabrication technology for the JT-60SA EF coils, joint resistance measurements were conducted using a sample consisting of pancake and terminal joints. Both joints are shake-hands lap joints composed of cable-in-conduit conductors and a pure copper saddle-shaped spacer. The measurements demonstrated that both joints fulfilled the design requirement. Considering these measurements, the characteristics of both joints were investigated using analytical models that represent the joints. The analyses indicated that the characteristics of the conductors used in the joints affect the characteristics of the joints.     

A comparison between β- and USY-zeolite-based hydrocracking catalysts

Two series of zeolite-based hydrocracking catalysts were prepared to study the effects of the support type, preparation method and metal loading on catalyst properties and hydrocracking activity for hydrotreated vacuum gas oil (HT-VGO). The support used was γ-Al₂O₃ and β-zeolite in the first series and γ-Al₂O₃ and USY-zeolite in the second series. Nickel and tungsten were loaded as active metals on these supports. The prepared catalysts were characterized as to their surface area, pore volume, thermal stability, reducibility and acidity characteristics. The characterization results revealed that catalysts displayed significant differences in properties dependent on the preparation method and the type of support used. Catalysts from both series showed promising results for HT-VGO hydrocracking in the batch reactor. A correlation exists between the reducibility of oxidic form and the hydrogenation activity of the sulfided form of the catalysts. The higher the reducibility, the higher the hydrogenation activity. Catalysts prepared on mixed supports gave higher amounts of saturates.     

Biomolecular Nano-Flow-Sensor to Measure Near-Surface Flow

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated that the measurement of the near-surface flow at the interface between a liquid and solid using a 10 nm-sized biomolecular motor of F₁-ATPase as a nano-flow-sensor. For this purpose, we developed a microfluidic test-bed chip to precisely control the liquid flow acting on the F₁-ATPase. In order to visualize the rotation of F₁-ATPase, several hundreds nanometer-sized particle was immobilized at the rotational axis of F₁-ATPase to enhance the rotation to be detected by optical microscopy. The rotational motion of F₁-ATPase, which was immobilized on an inner surface of the test-bed chip, was measured to obtain the correlation between the near-surface flow and the rotation speed of F₁-ATPase. As a result, we obtained the relationship that the rotation speed of F₁-ATPase was linearly decelerated with increasing flow velocity. The mechanism of the correlation between the rotation speed and the near-surface flow remains unclear, however the concept to use biomolecule as a nano-flow-sensor was proofed successfully.     

Novel reworkable resins: thermo‐ and photo‐curable di(meth)acrylates

The aim of the study reported in this paper was to develop new di(meth)acrylates having aromatic units and thermally degradable units in their molecules. It was also the aim to clarify the photo‐curing and degradation properties of the new monomers. Di(meth)acrylates having aromatic units and thermally degradable units were synthesized. As thermally cleavable linkages, tertiary ester moieties were incorporated into the di(meth)acrylates. Three types of processes for curing and degradation of the cured resins were studied: thermal curing and thermal degradation; thermal curing and photodegradation; and photo‐curing and thermal degradation. In the thermal curing and photodegradation process, di(meth)acrylate films containing a thermally induced radical initiator and a photoacid generator (PAG) became insoluble in solvents on heating. The cured films became soluble in solvents after ultraviolet irradiation followed by baking. The re‐dissolution behaviors were strongly affected by the structures of the PAGs. A mechanism for the photo‐ or thermo‐curing and photoassisted thermal degradation was studied using Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, thermogravimetric, mass spectrometric and size exclusion chromatographic analyses. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

层片状双相TiAl合金拉伸与压缩变形行为差异

本文研究了层片状双相TiAl合金的室温拉伸压缩变形行为与断裂行为,发现在拉压变形条件下,其室温塑性有显著差异.并且这种差异与裂纹扩展路径有关.在室温拉伸与压缩变形时,该合金的拉压屈服应力随外载与层片界面间的夹角φ的变化趋势一致,而拉压断裂应变εf随夹角φ的变化趋势正好相反.外载与层片界面垂直时(φ=90°),拉伸断裂应变最小(εf≈0);压缩断裂应变最大(εf≈38%).夹角φ减小时,拉伸断裂应变增加,压缩断裂应变减小.在拉、压变形时裂纹的扩展路径不同.     

Pharmacokinetic properties and oral bioavailabilities of difloxacin in pig and chicken

1. Pharmacokinetic properties of difloxacin have been studied in pig and chicken after intravenous and oral administration. 2. The serum concentrations of difloxacin in pig and chicken after intravenous administration were best described by a two-compartment open model, giving distribution half-lives of 0.50 and 0.66 h and elimination half-lives of 7.92 and 4.10 h for pig and chicken respectively. The steady-state distribution volumes were 1.70 and 3.06 l/kg for pig and chicken respectively. 3. After oral administration of 5 mg/kg to pig and chicken, the serum concentrations reached maximal levels of 3.61 and 0.96 microg/ml respectively at 1.25 and 1.40 h. The elimination half-lives were 11.8 and 7.35 h for pig and chicken respectively. 4. The bioavailabilities of difloxacin were calculated as 93.7 (pig) and 86.9% (chicken).     

A case of adult intussusception due to the inverted Meckel''s diverticulum with ectopic pancreas which showed characteristic findings of MRI

Power spectrum analysis of heart-rate variability was made in seven men [mean age 22 (SEM 1) years] in head-out water immersion (W) and in air (A, control) at rest and during steady-state cycling to maximal intensity (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2max). At rest W resulted in a trebled increase in the total power (P < 0.05), coupled with minimal changes in the power (as a percentage of the total) of the high frequency peak (HF, centred at 0.26 Hz; 18% vs 28%) and of the low frequency peak (LF, 0.1 Hz; 24% vs 32%). A third peak at about 0.03 Hz (very low frequency, VLF) represented the remaining power both in W and A. These changes as a whole indicated that immersion caused a vagal dominance in cardiac autonomic interaction, due to the central pooling of blood and/or the pressure of water on the trunk. Exercise caused a decrease in the total power in W and A. The LF% did not change up to about 50% V02max, thereafter decreasing towards nil in both conditions. The HF% decreased in similar ways in W and A to about half at 55%-60% VO2max and then increased to reach 1.5 times the resting values at VO2max. The central frequency of HF increased linearly with oxygen uptake, showing a tendency to be higher in W than in A at medium to high intensities. The VLF% remained unchanged. The lack of differences in the LF peak between W and A during exercise would suggest that blood distribution had no effect on the readjustments in control mechanisms of arterial pressure. On the other hand, the findings of similar HF powers and the very similar values for ventilation in W and A confirmed the direct effect of the respiratory activity in heart rate modulation during exercise.     

Numerical errors resulting from finite-difference approximation in computations of a one-dimensional Schrödinger equation with the Trotter formula

The parallel algorithm for solving time-dependent Schrödinger equations devised by De Raedt and based on the Trotter formula is not only simple but also unconditionally stable, explicit, and local. We consider the numerical errors resulting from the finite-difference approximation of De Raedt's algorithm by comparing an exact solution of a free particle with the approximate solution calculated by using the Trotter formula, which depends on the size of the spatial-temporal lattice.