Computer modeling of the continuous annealing furnace

A computer program to calculate the strip temperature heated in the continuous annealing furnace was developed, using the zone method for radiative heat transfer analysis with the measured gas temperature in the furnace. Using theF _E Operator, the present study considered the effects of soot and transient species, in addition to the H₂O−CO₂ gas mixture on the gas radiative heat transfer. The predicted strip temperature distribution forF _E=1.05 represented well the measured data. The maximum difference in the heat flux transfered to the strip from the combustion gas forF _E=1.0 (without soot and transient species gas radiation) and 1.05 (with soot and transient species gas radiation) was about 15%. The present study also investigated the effects of line speed and thickness variations on the strip temperature, establishing the bases for the on-line computer model.     

Double melting behavior of cyclic tris(ethylene terephthalate)

Summary Cyclic tris(ethylene terephthalate) (CTET) was separated from oligomeric extract of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by the conventional solvent separation method. The structure of CTET was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that the double melting behavior of meltcrystallized CTET is attributed to the morphological change created by heat-treatment. The effect of the morphological change on the crystal structure of CTET was also examined.     

Crystalline and viscoelastic properties of branched polyethylenes synthesized using bidentate nickel (II) catalyst

In this work, five branched polyethylenes with different branching units were synthesized using bidentate nickel (II) catalyst containing -diimine ligands. For comparison, one linear polyethylene was also prepared using tridentate iron (II) catalyst containing -diimine ligand. The crystalline structure of the polyethylenes was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized optical microscope. The crystalline properties were also measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Viscoelastic properties of the polyethylenes were investigated using rheometric dynamic analyzer. The DSC and XRD results showed that highly branched polyethylenes exhibit no melting points and no predominating crystalline forms, while the linear polyethylene exhibits clear orthorhombic (110) and (200) reflections on XRD pattern and a clear melting point at 118 °C. The viscoelastic properties of the branched polyethylenes were very complicated due to the combined effect of the molecular weight difference and the degree of chain branching as well as the branching structure.     

Antioxidant activity of anacardic acids

Anacardic acids, 6-pentadec(en)ylsalicylic acids isolated from the cashew Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) nut and apple, were found to possess preventive antioxidant activity while salicylic acid did not show this activity. These anacardic acids prevent generation of superoxide radicals by inhibiting xanthine oxidase (EC 1.1.3.22, Grade IV) without radical-scavenging activity. Notably, the inhibition kinetics of anacardic acids do not follow hyperbolic dependence of enzyme inhibition on inhibitor contents (Michaelis–Menten equation) but follow the Hill equation instead. Anacardic acid (C_15:1) inhibited the soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.12, Type 1) catalyzed oxidation of linoleic acid with an IC₅₀ of 6.8 μM. The inhibition is a slow and reversible reaction without residual enzyme activity. The inhibition kinetics indicate that anacardic acid (C_15:1) is a competitive inhibitor and the inhibition constant, K_I, was 2.8 μM. Anacardic acids act as antioxidants in a variety ways, including inhibition of various prooxidant enzymes involved in the production of the reactive oxygen species and chelate divalent metal ions such as Fe²⁺ or Cu²⁺, but do not quench reactive oxygen species. The C₁₅-alkenyl side chain is largely associated with the activity.     

A localized surface plasmon resonance based immunosensor for the detection of casein in milk

In this research, a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) immunosensor based on gold-capped nanoparticle substrate for detecting casein, one of the most potent allergens in milk, was developed. The fabrication of the gold-capped nanoparticle substrate involved a surface-modified silica nanoparticle layer (core) on the slide glass substrate between bottom and top gold layers (shell). The absorbance peak of the gold-capped nanoparticle substrate was observed at ∼520 nm. In addition, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) images demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed a monolayer on the slide glass. After immobilizing anti-casein antibody on the surface, our device, casein immunosensor, could be applied easily for the detection of casein in the raw milk sample without a difficult pretreatment. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limit of the casein immunosensor was determined as 10 ng/mL. Our device brings several advantages to the existing LSPR-based biosensors with its easy fabrication, simple handling, low-cost, and high sensitivity.     

Extrahepatic metabolism of 4-methylumbelliferone and lidocaine in the anhepatic rabbit

OBJECTIVE: The initially well-fixed implants of total hip replacement (THR) are in the long-term subject to aseptic loosening. Many cytokines can contribute to osteolysis due to osteoclast recruitment and/or activation. However, in this respect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a pivotal role, because it upregulates interleukin-1 and 6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. The aim of this study was to assess the eventual presence, cellular localization and extent of expression of TNF-alpha in the synovial-like membrane at the implant or at the cement to bone interface compared to control synovial membrane. METHODS: Twenty samples from the synovial-like membrane of the periprosthetic tissues were compared to control samples. TNF-alpha containing cells were visualized using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method and analyzed by light microscopy, double labelling and image analysis. RESULTS: TNF-alpha was found in the periprosthetic tissues in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, but mainly in the macrophages was it found to coincide with areas containing implant-derived debris. TNF-alpha containing cells were more numerous in the synovial-like membrane in the interface tissue from the proximal stem area (2816 +/- 318 cells) than in the control synovial membrane (565 +/- 93 cells, p < 0.01). Interestingly, similarly high TNF-alpha expression (3452 +/- 582 cells) was also seen in the synovial-like membrane of the pseudocapsule. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the foreign body-type host reaction caused by THR is characterized by the high expression of TNF-alpha. Because such expression occurred in the interface tissue between the implant and surrounding bone, TNF-alpha, due to its pivotal direct and indirect role in the activation and recruitment of osteoclasts, may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and to the loosening of THR.     

Thermal properties and crystalline structure of liquid crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐2(3)‐chloro‐1,4‐phenylene terephthalate)

Thermal properties and crystalline structure of liquid crystalline (LC) poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐2(3)‐chloro‐1,4‐phenylene terephthalate) [copoly(ET/CPT)] were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurement, electron dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), X‐ray diffractometry, and infrared spectrometry (IR). The thermal transition temperatures of copoly(ET/CPT) were changed with the composition. Copoly(ET/CPT) showed two thermal decomposition steps and the residues at 700°C and LOI values of copoly(ET/CPT) were almost proportional to its chlorine content. The activation energy of thermal decomposition of LC units was very low compared to that of poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) units. Crystal structure of copoly(ET/CPT) (20/80) was of triclinic system with the lattice constants of a = 9.98 A?, b = 8.78 A?, c = 12.93 A?, α = 97.4°, β = 96.1°, and γ = 90.8°, which is very close to that of poly(chloro‐p‐phenylene terephthlate) (PCPT) with the lattice constants of a = 9.51 A?, b = 8.61 A?, c = 12.73 A?, α = 96.8°, β = 95.4°, and γ = 90.8°. When copoly(ET/CPT)(50/50) was annealed at 220°C in vacuum, crystallization induced sequential reordering (CISR) was not observed but the heat of fusion was slightly increased due to the increase of the trans isomer content in PET units. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1286–1294, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10451     

Long-wavelength GaInNAs(Sb) lasers on GaAs

The boom in fiber-optic communications has caused a high demand for GaAs-based lasers in the 1.3-1.6-μm range. This has led to the introduction of small amounts of nitrogen into InGaAs to reduce the bandgap sufficiently, resulting in a new material that is lattice matched to GaAs. More recently, the addition of Sb has allowed further reduction of the bandgap, leading to the first demonstration of 1.5-μm GaAs-based lasers by the authors. Additional work has focused on the use of GaAs, GaNAs, and now GaNAsSb barriers as cladding for GaInNAsSb quantum wells. We present the results of photoluminescence, as well as in-plane lasers studies, made with these combinations of materials. With GaNAs or GaNAsSb barriers, the blue shift due to post-growth annealing is suppressed, and longer wavelength laser emission is achieved. Long wavelength luminescence out to 1.6 μm from GaInNAsSb quantum wells, with GaNAsSb barriers, was observed. In-plane lasers from these samples yielded lasers operating out to 1.49 μm, a minimum threshold current density of 500 A/cm² per quantum well, a maximum differential quantum efficiency of 75%, and pulsed power up to 350 mW at room temperature     

Comparisons between antimicrobial pharmacodynamic indices and bacterial killing as described by using the Zhi model

Various suggestions have been made for empirical pharmacodynamic indices of antibiotic effectiveness, such as areas under the drug concentration-time curve in serum (AUC), AUC > MIC, AUC/MIC, area under the inhibitory curve (AUIC), AUC above MIC, and time above MIC (T > MIC). In addition, bacterial growth and killing models, such as the Zhi model, have been developed. The goal of the present study was to compare the empirical behavior of the Zhi model of bacterial growth and killing with the other empirical pharmacodynamic indices described above by using simulated clinical data analyzed with the USC*PACK PC clinical programs for adaptive control of drug therapy, with one model describing a concentration-dependent antibiotic (tobramycin) and another describing a concentration-independent antibiotic (ticarcillin). The computed relative number of CFU was plotted against each pharmacodynamic index, with each axis parameterized over time. We assumed that a good pharmacodynamic index should present a clear and continuous relationship between the time course of its values and the time course of the bacterial killing as seen with the Zhi model. Preliminary work showed that some pharmacodynamic indices were very similar. A good sensitivity to the change in the values of the MIC was shown for AUC/MIC and also for T > MIC. In addition, the time courses of some other pharmacodynamic indices were very similar. Since AUC/MIC is easily calculated and shows more sensitivity, it appeared to be the best of the indices mentioned above for the concentration-dependent drug, because it incorporated and used the MIC the best. T > MIC appeared to be the best index for a concentration-independent drug. We also propose a new composite index, weighted AUC (WAUC), which appears to be useful for both concentration-dependent and concentration-independent drugs.