Accuracy assessment of a noninvasive device for monitoring beat-by-beat blood pressure in the radial artery using the volume-compensation method

For the noninvasive and accurate measurement of instantaneous blood pressure (BP) in the radial artery, the performance of a device based on the principle of volume-compensation was assessed by comparison with simultaneous measurement of direct (invasive) radial artery pressure in nine healthy subjects. Bias and precision of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) derived from Bland-Altman plots of data from the present system and the direct method averaged -0.5 +/- 2.1 mmHg and 0.6 +/- 1.8 mmHg respectively, over a wide range of SBP and DBP. These results clearly indicate that, using this system, instantaneous radial artery pressure can be measured noninvasively with high accuracy.     

Fluidity and Tableting Characteristics of a Powder Solid Dispersion of the Low Melting Drugs Ketoprofen and Ibuprofen with Crospovidone

ABSTRACT

A powder solid dispersion system (SD) of ketoprofen (KP) or ibuprofen (IP), which possess low melting points, plus crospovidone (CrosPVP), have good fluidity characteristics and can be used to formulate tablets. Tablets of KP or IP in the SD of adequate hardness within a narrow weight range can be prepared by direct compression. Addition of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) resulted in greater hardness characteristics and less variation in tablet weight. Forces during the tableting process were measured with a tableting process analyzer (TabAll) equipped with a single-punch for determining capping and sticking properties during the tableting process. Pressure transmission ratio from the upper to the lower punch and die wall force were increased by adding 1% magnesium stearate (MS) to the SD. Ejection force decreased when MS was added to the SD. When tablets of the IP SD were prepared without excipient, scraper pressure (SP) was large, resulting in sticking. However, addition of 1% MS, lowered the SP value and eliminated sticking. Thus, an SD of compounds with a low melting point such as KP or IP is suitable for tablet manufacture by direct compression with the addition of 1% MS.     

Seismic response analysis of full-scale boiling water reactor using three-dimensional finite element method

This paper presents the three-dimensional finite element seismic response analysis of full-scale boiling water reactor BWR5 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station subjected to the Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake that occurred on 16 July 2007. During the earthquake, the automatic shutdown system of the reactors was activated successfully. Although the monitored seismic acceleration significantly exceeded the design level, it was found that there were no significant damages of the reactor cores or other important systems, structures and components through in-depth investigation. In the seismic design commonly used in Japan, a lumped mass model is employed to evaluate the seismic response of structures and components. Although the lumped mass model has worked well so far for a seismic proof design, it is still needed to develop more precise methods for the visual understanding of response behaviors. In the present study, we propose the three-dimensional finite element seismic response analysis of the full-scale and precise BWR model in order to directly visualize its dynamic behaviors. Through the comparison between both analysis results, we discuss the characteristics of both models. The stress values were also found to be generally under the design value.     

Effect of the extrusion conditions on microstructure evolution of the extruded Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy rods

Hot extrusion experiment was conducted using an Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy and the effect of the extrusion conditions on microstructure and texture changes through the radial direction was investigated by using SEM/EBSP analysis method. In the surface layer where severe frictional shear deformation is predominant, the recrystallized 1 1 0//ED grains surrounded by high angle grain boundaries are formed in spite of the existence of some peripheral overcoarse grains. Strong 1 0 0//ED and 1 1 1//ED fiber textures evolve in the center where axisymmetric deformation along the extrusion direction is intensive. As the extrusion ratio increases, number of 1 1 1//ED grains remarkably decreases while the number of 1 0 0//ED grains apparently increases. It is also found that the 1 0 0//ED grains surrounded by low angle grain boundaries form orientation colonies in the center of the extruded rods.     

Realization of anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control for electric commuter train based on disturbance observer

Recently, disturbance observer has been used in many system and industry applications. This paper focus on the fine motion control technology based on disturbance observer for electric commuter train. The improvement of adhesion characteristics is important in electric commuter train. We propose the anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control system based on disturbance observer and sensor-less vector control. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by the experiment based on the actual electric commuter train, which is Series 205-5000 of East Japan Railway Company. Moreover, in order to extend the anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control considering the bogie vibration phenomenon, we propose a new anti-slip re-adhesion control based on the high order disturbance observer considering the resonant frequency of bogie system. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Numerical investigation on detonation wave through U-bend

Pulse detonation engine （PDE） is expected for a next-generation propulsion system. PDE is a promising engine that can generates power and thrust by using intermittent detonation. Promotion of deflagration to detonation transition （below DDT） is a key issue to realize this system. PDE has experimentally been investigated, and it was confirmed that detonation tubes with U-shaped bends are useful for fast DDT. However, the mechanism of DDT promotion due to U-bends has not been well clarified. In the present study, the influence of a U-bend on detonation wave propagation is researched with computational fluid dynamics （CFD）. The numerical results show that detonation wave disappears once near the U-bend inlet and restarts after passing through it. In addition, it was found that the use of the U-bend with small channel width and curvature radius can induce fast DDT.     

Characterization of porous alumina bodies fabricated by high-temperature evaporation of boric acid with sodium impurity

For steel-making refractories, porous alumina bodies fabricated by the evaporation of chemical impurities at high temperatures was studied. Boron hydroxide and sodium carbonate were added in different proportions as impurities into the starting aluminum hydroxide powder compacts, which were heated at various temperatures for 1 h to form porous alumina bodies. During heating, the borate compounds that reacted with sodium seems to be formed in the liquid phase, so that all alumina particles were able to grow into platelets. Although the sodium inside the compacts was completely evaporated by 1400 °C, the boron melt was maintained above 1400 °C. Hence, alumina platelets grew with a card-house structure, which preserved the high porosity of the alumina body. After heating at 1600 °C for 1 h, the remaining boron oxide was completely evaporated and sintering between the alumina particles began to decrease the porosity. The compressive strength and porosity of the alumina bodies obtained by heating at 1700 °C for 1 h were 0.8 MPa and 64%, respectively. It is expected that the resulting porous alumina bodies can be used as castable porous clinkers.     

Initiator‐free photopolymerization of common acrylate monomers with 254 nm light

Using an available light source at a wavelength of 254 nm, common acrylate monomers were polymerized without any photoinitiators, which was confirmed using Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric measurements. It was found that phenyl acrylate shows higher conversion than n‐ and t‐butyl acrylates. A trifunctional acrylate was also used for UV curing. The cured films were fabricated successfully on different kinds of substrates by using a batch‐ or conveyor‐type irradiation apparatus. It is indicated from FTIR spectral measurements that ca 40%–50% of acryloyl groups are consumed by the photopolymerization. Oxygen concentration in the sample chamber influences the photopolymerization, indicating that the polymerization proceeds via a radical process. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

DISTRIBUTION OF NITROUS ACID BETWEEN TRI-N-BUTYL PHOSPHATE/ N-DODECANE AND NITRIC ACID

ABSTRACT

The distribution of nitrous add between tri-n-butyl phosphate ( TBP) n-dodecane ( nDD) and nitric add has been measured as functions of nitrous and nitric add concentrations in the aqueous phase and functions of TBP and uranium concentrations in the organic phase

The extraction of nitrous add by TBP can be described by the following reaction: