Simulation of membrane microreactor for fuel cell with methane feed

Microreactors are composed of channels with a dimension of 1–1000 μm in width and depth. Three types of membrane microreactors for production of electric power by fuel cells with methane feed, i.e. (1) Pd membrane microreactor (Pd-MMR) followed by polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), (2) oxide-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and (3) proton conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H⁺-SOFC) were simulated and compared.

The Pd-MMR followed by PEFC was the most effective system for electric power generation compared with the other two types of SOFC although the system was rather complex. However, the performances were dependent on the permeation properties of membranes (Pd, YSZ, perovskite) as well as kinetics of catalysts.     

Possibilities of perpendicular magnetic recording

The potential of perpendicular magnetic recording using a single-pole head and a double-layered medium has been investigated theoretically by computer analysis and compared with that of longitudinal magnetic recording. In conventional longitudinal recording, a recording demagnetizing loss due to the change of magnetization mode from semicircular to circular shapes occurs with increasing recording level at high bit density. In perpendicular magnetic recording, the perpendicular magnetization mode is maintained regardless of recording level even at an extremely high bit density of 571 kFRPI. This indicates that the perpendicular recording medium has a very high recording resolution, where a single bit size approaches several diameters of the microcrystalline particles of the Co-Cr layer. An ultrahigh density at which the recording area for 1 bit will reach 1 μ² at present and 500 Å₂ in future should be possible     

Antitumor response of genetically engineered IL-2 expression to human esophageal carcinoma cells in mature T cell-defective condition

We examined whether antitumor effect could be produced by retrovirally expressed human interleukin-2 (hIL-2) gene in human esophageal cancer cells (T.Tn) using immunocompromised nude mice. Loss of tumorigenicity of hIL-2-producing T.Tn (T.Tn/hIL-2) cells inoculated subcutaneously was observed in contrast to continuous tumor growth of wild-type cells, although in vitro proliferation of T.Tn/hIL-2 cells remained the same as that of wild-type cells. The antitumor effect was also evidenced by the injection of T.Tn/hIL-2 cells into established tumors of wild-type cells. The injection significantly retarded the subsequent growth of wild-type tumors. Histological examination of regressing T.Tn/hIL-2 cells revealed necrotic areas and infiltration of several types of inflammatory cells. Treatment of nude mice with anti-asialoGM1 antibody did not influence the IL-2-mediated tumor rejection. Vaccination of nude mice with irradiated T.Tn/hIL-2 cells whose secretion of hIL-2 in amount was comparable to that of unirradiated cells did not develop protective immunity. Taken together, the antitumor effect achieved in nude mice by the inoculation of T.Tn/hIL-2 cells is mediated by non-T non-natural killer cells.     

Hybrid lubricant film with high bonding ratio and high coverage

Microsystem Technologies - A hybrid lubricant film was prepared from the perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant (Moresco DDOH), with a single end group, and a PFPE film obtained by depositing the...     

A novel low‐power gate driver architecture for large 8 K 120 Hz liquid crystal display employing IGZO technology

A novel low‐power gate driver architecture was developed for large 8 K 120 Hz liquid crystal display panel. For this application, not only high‐speed driving but also low power consumption is required. We employed a high mobility In‐Ga‐Zn‐O, dual V_GL level driving method, and gate driver circuit driven by DC supply. The simulation results show that our proposals meet 8 K 120 Hz driving requirements. Also, we have fabricated a prototype panel and confirmed both high‐speed driving and low power consumption.     

Effects of pressure impulse and peak pressure of a shockwave on microjet velocity in a microchannel

We experimentally investigate the effect of a shockwave on the velocity of a microjet and underwater cavitation onset in a microchannel, focusing on the pressure impulse and peak pressure of the shockwave. The pressure impulse and peak pressure of the shockwave are separately varied by using non-spherical laser-induced shockwaves (Tagawa et al. in J Fluid Mech 808:5–18, 2016). We conduct two kinds of experiments. In one experiment, we install a narrow tube and a hydrophone in different configurations in large water-filled tank. We measure the shockwave pressure and the jet velocity simultaneously in order to elucidate the effects of pressure profile of shockwaves on the jet velocity. In the other experiment, we record the jet formation and cavitation onset to investigate the effect of cavitation onset on the jet velocity in an L-shaped microchannel. The experimental results suggest that the jet velocity depends only on the pressure impulse of the shockwave, while the probability of cavitation onset depends only on the peak pressure of the shockwave. The above findings provide new insights for advancing a control method for high-speed microjets.     

Transfer hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenolysis. X. Selective hydrogenation of methyl linoleate by indoline and isopropyl alcohol

The selective hydrogenation of methyl linoleate was studied using indoline and isopropyl alcohol as hydrogen sources. Many transition metal compounds and metallic palladium were examined as catalysts. High selectivity to monoenes and little formation oftrans isomers were realized under mild conditions in some reaction systems. For example, the system in which isopropyl alcohol and RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ were used as hydrogen donor and catalyst was excellent. Also in the hydrogen transfer from indoline to the linoleate catalyzed by PdCl₂ and (NH₄)₂PdCl₄, high selec-tivity was realized. In the RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃-isopropyl alcohol, (NH₄)₂PdCl₄-indoline and PdCl₂-indoline system, methylcis- trans conjugated octadecadienoate was reduced rapidly with complete selectivity, where-as the same hydrogen transfer systems resulted in little if any reaction with methyl oleate. High selec-tivity in the reduction of linoleate is presumed to be realized through prior conjugation of the substrate.     

The kinetics of hydrolytic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam

A method to determine the concentration of ?-aminocaproic acid (ACA) in poly-?-caprolactam by high-pressure liquid chromatography is established. The polymerizations for initial water concentrations of 0.42, 0.82, and 1.18 mol/kg and temperatures of 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280°C were performed and concentration-versus-time curves were obtained for ACA, ?-caprolactam (CL), and endgroups (EG). Each curve for ACA and EG has a maximum which increases monotonically in its value and shifts from right to left in position with increasing either the temperature or the initial water concentration. The reaction rates of CL, EG, and ACA were also evaluated numerically from the concentration data. The observed kinetic data were compared with those obtained by the numerical solution of the rate equations with Reimschuessel's kinetic constants. Good agreement is found in CL and EG concentrations but discrepancies in ACA concentration and rates are considerable, particularly in the early stage of the polymerization.     

Preparation and properties of double- or triple- chain surfactants with two sulfonate groups derived fromN- Acyldiethanolamines

Bis(sulfonate) types of amphipathic compounds with three long- chain alkyl groups were prepared by the reaction ofN- (long- chain acyl)diethanolamine diglycidyl ethers with long- chain fatty alcohols, followed by the reaction with propanesultone. The diglycidyl ethers were easily obtained from the correspondingN- acyldiethanolamines and epichlorohydrin in the presence of a phasetransfer catalyst. The same types of compounds with two longchain alkyl groups were also prepared from Nacetyldiethanolamine according to similar procedures. All these new double- or triple- chain surfactants were soluble in water and showed much better micelle forming and ability to lower surface tension than general types of single- chain surfactants with one sulfonate group. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and γ_CMC values of the triple- chain compounds were still much smaller than those of the corresponding double- chain compounds with two common alkyl groups. The efficiency of adsorption at the water/air interface (pC₂₀) of these surfactants was very high. Their foaming properties, wetting ability toward a felt chip, and lime- soap dispersing ability were measured. To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565, Japan.     

Tribological characteristics of novel branched perfluoropolyether lubricant films in hard disk drives

In this study, the basic tribological characteristics of novel branched perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant films such as TA-30 and QA-40 were examined. Their surface free energy characteristics and adhesive and friction forces were investigated using an atomic force microscope. The interactions between the lubricant molecules and the water molecules were also examined by monitoring the changes in the contact angle of distilled water on the test lubricant films. The interactive forces such as the adhesive and friction forces of a film that is approximately one monolayer thick were found to be strongly dependent on the conformation of the lubricant molecules on diamond-like carbon thin films. In addition, the TA-30 and QA-40 lubricant molecules appeared to interact with the water molecules more actively than conventional Ztetraol2000 molecules. These results afforded fundamental insight into the tribological performance of novel branched PFPE lubricants in the head-disk interface.