Phase‐separation prevention and performance improvement of poly(vinyl acetate)/TEOS hybrid using modified sol‐gel process

The formation of covalent bonds between silanols in copolymer and those in silica prevents organic–inorganic phase separation. Two series of hybrid composite materials, poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐vinyl trimethoxysilane)/TEOS and poly[vinyl acetate‐co‐3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate]/TEOS, were fabricated using a modified sol‐gel process. The hybrids were transparent. Two kinds of silane coupling agents, vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTS) and 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (γ‐MPS), were used to prevent macrophase separation through formation of covalent bonds. Thermal analysis showed that γ‐MPS was more effective than VTS for the formation of covalent bonds. Enhancement of thermal stability of the hybrids was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Photomicrographs of scanning electron microscopy and images of atomic force microscopy indicated that inorganic silica particles were homogeneously dispersed in less than 50 nm in organic matrix. The morphological properties of hybrids were strongly dependent on the organic–inorganic composition. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2310–2318, 2001     

Effect of field enhancement on inorganic powder electroluminescence using short carbon nanotubes

Inorganic powder electroluminescence (IPEL) devices with the insertion of a carbon nanotube (CNT) layer were investigated to verify the effect of the increased local field produced by CNTs on electroluminescence (EL). To increase the field strength effectively, the CNTs were shortened using the cryogenic crushing method. IPEL devices with the insertion of a short CNT layer exhibited an increase in brightness and efficiency with increasing amount of CNTs. The local field enhancement by CNTs, further enlarged by the triple-junction, could increase the field strength applied to the phosphor, resulting in improved EL performance. In addition, short CNTs in an EL device can lead to field enhancement without an unintentional current flowing into the device.     

Experimental study on self-excitations in nitrogen-diluted laminar lifted butane flames

Laminar lifted butane flames diluted with nitrogen have been investigated experimentally to determine distinctive self-excitation regimes in the flame stability maps and also to elucidate the individual self-excitation characteristics. Self-excitations of lift-off height are classified into five regimes in laminar free-jet lift-off butane flames diluted with nitrogen: a stationary lifted regime (regime I), a heat-loss-induced self-excitation (regime II), a buoyancy-induced self-excitation due to flame flicker as well as a heat-loss-induced self-excitation (III), a combined form of an oscillation prior to blow-out and a heat-loss-induced oscillation (regime IV), and a combined form of an buoyancy-induced self-excitation and a heat-loss-induced oscillation as well as an additional buoyancy-driven self-excitation due to flame flicker (regime V). Extremely low-frequency (<0.1 Hz) self-excitation is caused by conductive heat loss from the premixed wings to the trailing diffusion flame and can be explained by a proposed mechanism. It is also found that the flame oscillation prior to flame blow-out is also caused by buoyancy and also significantly affected by the conductive heat loss from the premixed wings to the trailing diffusion flame, thereby showing that the frequency with nozzle exit velocity increases in the triple-flame propagation mode and then decreases in the flame-front propagation mode. Characterization of the individual self-excitation mode is presented and also discussed with Strouhal numbers and its relevant parameters through the analysis of power spectrum for temporal variation of lift-off height.     

Research on seasonal indoor thermal environment and residents' control behavior of cooling and heating systems in Korea

Indoor thermal environments and residents' control behavior of cooling and heating systems were investigated in Seoul, Korea and compared with the results of previous studies. Twenty-four houses in summer, six houses in autumn and 36 houses in winter were used in this study. The measurement of temperature, humidity and air conditioner usage behavior was carried out. The clo-value, thermal comfort, sensation and basic data of the houses were also investigated. The indoor thermal environment in the summer had a high temperature and a high humidity ratio compare to standard comfort zone. Most of the indoor thermal environments at the time of starting the air conditioner in the summer were out of the comfort zone. Some of the data recorded while the air conditioner was stopped were in the comfort zone, but in many cases the temperature was relatively higher than comfort zone. Most indoor climate distributions in the winter were in the comfort zone and the indoor climate in autumn coincided well with the criteria of the comfort zone. Compared with results of previous studies in these 25 years, indoor ambient average temperature in winter has increased and the comfort temperature has increased in the heating period and decreased in the cooling period. This result indicates that the development of an HVAC system has created an expectation of comfort for residents and has shifted their thermal comfort zone warmer in winter and cooler in summer.     

High heat flux test with HIP bonded Be/Cu/SS mock-ups for the ITER first wall

In order to verify the integrity of the first wall (FW) of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), especially for preparing its qualification program by ITER-O, Be/Cu/SS mock-ups, which were the same size as the qualification mock-ups, were fabricated and tested at the TSEFEY, an e-beam facility, in Efremov, Russia. These mock-ups were joined with a 316 L austenitic stainless steel (SS316L) block for a structural material, CuCrZr for a heat sink material and SS316L tubes for a coolant and then, joined with three Be tiles for an armor material. A hot isostatic pressing (HIP) was used as manufacturing methods at a 1050 °C, 100 MPa for 2 h for a Cu/SS joining and at a 580 °C, 100 MPa for 2 h for a Be/(Cu/SS) joining. Two mock-ups were fabricated by using 1 μmCr/10 μmCu of an interlayer between the Be tile and Cu block. The high heat flux (HHF) tests were performed at 1.5 and 2.0 MW/m² heat fluxes for each mock-up. The given conditions and the expected fatigue lifetime were evaluated from a preliminary analysis with ANSYS. Both mock-ups survived for up to 1000 and 268 cycles at 1.5 and 2.0 MW/m² heat fluxes, respectively. They are higher than the expected numbers of cycles to a failure.     

Therapeutic Effect of Melittin–dKLA Targeting Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Melanoma

Melanoma is an immunogenic tumor and a serious type of skin cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) express an M2-like phenotype and are involved in all stages of melanomagenesis; it is hence a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. We herein investigated whether melittin–dKLA inhibits the growth of melanoma by inducing apoptosis of M2-like macrophages. For the in vitro study, a conditioned medium of macrophages was prepared from M0, M1, or M2-differentiated THP-1 cells with and without melittin–dKLA. The affinity of melittin for M2 macrophages was studied with FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-conjugated melittin. For the in vivo study, murine melanoma cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the right flank of mice, melittin–dKLA was intraperitoneally injected at 200 nmol/kg every three days, and flow cytometry analysis of TAMs was performed. Since melittin binds preferentially to M2-like macrophages, melittin–dKLA induced more caspase 3 expression and cell death in M2 macrophages compared with M0 and M1 macrophages and melanoma cells. Melittin–dKLA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of M2 macrophages, resulting in a decrease in melanoma tumor growth in vivo. The CD206⁺ M2-like TAMs were reduced, while the CD86⁺ M1-like TAMs were not affected. Melittin–dKLA is therapeutically effective against melanoma by inducing the apoptosis of M2-like TAMs.     

A study on methane–air premixed flames interacting with syngas–air premixed flames

Numerical study on the interaction between methane–air and syngas–air premixed flames is conducted according to equivalence ratio and global strain rate in detailed chemistry. This study targets at understanding of an interacting combustion system as an alternative retrofit concept where one can modify the existing facilities minimally in industrial and power plant burners in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide. It is seen that methane premixed flame interacting with syngas premixed flame can be sustained even over the rich flammable limit of single methane premixed flame. The inspection of detailed flame structure such as the distributions of major species and chain carrier radicals, flame separation distance, spatial flow velocity, and spatial distribution of the rate of production and consumption of CH₄, H₂, and CO is also conducted to depict the flame interactions. The importance of global strain rate and thus the flame separation distance in the enhanced burning of methane premixed flame is also stressed through the inspection of the consumption rates of H₂, CO, and CH₄. Anomalous phenomena such as the migration of premixed flame cross the stagnation plane and the nearly constant flame separation distance are also discussed.     

Evaluation of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) fabricated at low temperature (∼1,000 °C) using wet chemical coating processes and a catalyst wet impregnation method

The objective of this study is to evaluate metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells fabricated at low temperatures (～1000 °C) in oxidizing environments using wet chemical coating processes and a catalyst impregnation method. Typically, applying general wet chemical coating processes and heat treatment at low temperature is desirable for fabricating metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells when considering manufacturing productivity and efficiency. However, in the case of conventional anodes, a well-organized structure for high performance is rarely formed by sintering at low temperatures when using general fabrication processes. For this reason, a catalyst-impregnated anode is designed and applied to overcome the above issue. First, to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the designed anode, the area-specific resistances of half-cells are investigated. Then, the newly designed anode is applied to a single cell, and microstructural analysis and electrochemical performance measurements are performed. These results confirm that the catalysts are well distributed, that the electrolyte is fully dense and that the electrochemical performances are reasonable. Additionally, the high durability is also verified through a long-term test over 1000 h. Finally, the metal-supported solid oxide fuel cell with a catalyst-impregnated anode fabricated at low temperature is completely validated through the evaluation of a large-size single cell.     

Physicochemical and retrogradation properties of modified chestnut starches

Food Science and Biotechnology - Physicochemical properties of acetylated (AC), cross-linked (CL), and hydroxypropylated (HP) chestnut starches were investigated. Modified chestnut starch showed...     

Infusion efficiency of sodium fluorescein into various starches

Food Science and Biotechnology - The objective of this study was to develop new drug delivery systems (DDS) and nutrient delivery systems (NDS), using starch as a carrier material for infusion...