Development of an automation system for single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping using bio-strand, a new three-dimensional microarray

Previously, we developed a novel three-dimensional microarray system called Bio-Strand, which may be used in various applications including single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping. In Bio-Strand, samples for detection are immobilized on a one-dimensional thread, which is wound around a cylinder-shaped core to form a three-dimensional thread-and-core structure. The thread-and-core structure is then inserted into a plastic pipette tip, where hybridization and detection are performed. In this study, we have developed an automation system, NIAGALA Bio-Station SDx, which enables automated hybridization and detection during the genotyping procedure using Bio-Strand. Using this system, we have performed the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of CYP2C, one of the important human cytochrome P450 genes and the results were completely consistent with the genotyping results determined by the TaqMan method.     

船用发动机有害排放气体的评价及处理研究--燃料性质和输出轴扭矩变化对发动机排放特性的影响

为了评价船用发动机有害气体的排放,本文从燃料的性质着手,较为详细地对不同性质的１３种燃 料进行了研究,并在一台中型四冲程船用柴油机上进行了试验,测定了各种有害排气的浓度、发动机的 性能和燃烧特性,对燃料的性质与排放之间的相关性进行了探讨。进一步调查研究了柴油机运转工况的 不同及输出轴扭矩的变化对ＮＯｘ排放的影响。由试验结果可知：对于周期性输出扭矩的变化,ＮＯｘ的排 放也发生周期性的变化。但是,柴油机在高输出区域运转时,随着扭矩增加所换算的ＮＯｘ浓度呈减小的 趋势;反之,在低输出区域运转时,呈增加的趋势;输出扭矩周期性变化时的ＮＯｘ。的浓度可以用与其相 对应的平均负荷状态的ＮＯｘ浓度处理。     

Testing basic performance of a very small wind turbine designed for multi-purposes

A very small wind turbine system for multi-purposes was developed and its performance was reported in this paper. The rotor diameter of the turbine is 500 mm. The tests of the energy output, turbine speed, power coefficient, and torque of turbine were carried out for a wide rage of free stream velocity. The flow around the wind turbine and the influence of the turbulence were investigated with a particle image velocimetry. Experimentally obtained power coefficient was 0.4 in maximum and 0.36 in the rated running condition, respectively. The tip speed ratio corresponding to the optimum driving condition was 2.7. Comparing with the other commercial turbines, the performance was excellent at a slow turbine speed. By the flow visualization and PIV measurement around the wind turbine, the approaching flow velocity and the accelerated flow field passing the blade tip was obtained. It was confirmed that the actual flow passed through the blades was about 20% slower than the ideal flow. Tip vortex shed from the blade tip was also visualized clearly.     

Creep damage evaluation of 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb steel welded joints showing Type IV fracture

By conducting long-term creep rupture tests for 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb (P91) steel welded joints, creep rupture properties and microstructures were examined. Creep rupture tests were conducted at three temperatures of 823, 873 and 923 K, under applied stresses of 160–230, 80–130, and 40–80 MPa, respectively. The rupture locations were found to shift from the weld metal at the higher stress condition to the fine-grained HAZ adjacent to the base metal at lower stress conditions at 873 and 923 K. The relationship between microstructural changes and crack nucleation site and propagation path was clarified. A remarkable decrease of dislocation density and growth of precipitates of M₂₃C₆ and Laves phase during creep was observed in the vicinity of the fine-grained HAZ adjacent to the base metal for the Type IV fractured welded joint specimen. The stress–strain distribution in the welded joint was investigated by the finite element method (FEM) using creep data of the simulated HAZ specimen. It was found that the observed crack initiation site and crack growth path coincided better with the distribution of the stress triaxiality factor than that of the equivalent creep strain.     

Measuring method of three thermophysical parameters of solids by a thermal probe with instantaneous point contact: Measuring principle

A new method for instantaneous measurement of three thermophysical parameters of solids in situ is proposed. The measurement principle is based on a transient heat conduction model of a thermal probe point contacting a testing body. The measurement of temperature response has been made using the probe of a sheathed K‐type thermocouple in this experiment. Ratios of both thermal conductivity and thermal effusivity between the probe and the testing body are determined from curve‐fitting with the theoretical response to the measured one. As a result, it is shown that the measurement is reproducible and the accuracies of measured thermophysical parameters are good enough to apply this method to many kinds of solids. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(3): 191–201, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10084     

D-allose protects against endotoxemic acute renal injury

D-allose is a monosaccharide. We previously reported that D-allose attenuated renal injury by inhibiting the activation of neutrophils after renal ischemia/reperfusion. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers sepsis syndrome by activating monocytes to produce proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, which potently stimulates the activation of neutrophils. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of D-allose on renal injury in the systemic inflammatory response induced by LPS administration, with emphasis on systemic TNF-alpha and the activation of neutrophils in the rat kidney. Serum and renal TNF-alpha, renal cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations, and renal function after LPS administration were evaluated. D-allose (400 mg/kg body weight) inhibited LPS-induced increases in serum and renal TNF-alpha concentrations and renal CINC-1 and MPO concentrations after LPS administration, as well as the subsequent neutrophil-mediated renal injury. These findings may have important implications in understanding the biologic functions of D-allose. D-allose may prove useful in protecting against acute renal injury in systemic inflammatory responses to LPS.     

Heat transfer on a horizontal rotating cylinder near a flat plate in a cross‐flow

An experimental study of heat transfer on a horizontal rotating cylinder near a flat plate was performed. The cylinder and plate were set in a cross‐flow. Temperature distribution and coefficients of local heat transfer were measured by a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. Flow visualization was made using smoke. Rotating Reynolds numbers (Re_r) and cross‐flow Reynolds numbers (Re_d) were varied from 0 to 2000. The spaces between cylinder and plate were varied from 1 × 10^?3 m to 5 × 10^?3 m. The rotating direction of cylinder was changed clockwise or counterclockwise. The following results are obtained: When the space between the rotating cylinder and flat plate is the same as the displacement thickness on the plate, the heat transfer on the cylinder near the plate has the best performance. We have procured the empirical equation of heat transfer from a rotating cylinder near the flat plate in the cross‐flow. 8 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20329     

Evaluation of anaerobic biodegradability of forage rice straw fertilized with livestock waste

Fertilizing livestock waste for forage rice production can remove nitrogen and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, rice straw can be used for biogas production. Here, the growth characteristics of different forage rice varieties in Japanese paddy fields fertilized with liquid cattle waste were investigated. Six experimental plots were established in a paddy field planted with three varieties of forage rice developed for livestock feed. Methane production potential assays were then conducted to investigate the anaerobic digestion characteristics of the stems and leaves of these three varieties. The total methane production potential of the Leafstar variety was higher than that of other varieties, while its lag phase was significantly shorter. Co-digestion of ethanol fermentation residue with Leafstar straw revealed that the NH(4)(+)-N concentration decreased as the C/N ratio increased. Additionally, the methane production potential of the mixed substrate was higher than that of ethanol fermentation residue or forage rice straw applied alone. Hence, Leafstar forage rice is a promising variety for establishment of agricultural resource recycling systems in which higher straw biomass can be achieved by applying liquid cattle waste and more biogas can be produced due to the potential for increased methane production.     

UPGRADING OF COAL-DERIVFD LIQUIDS. 2. CHARACTERIZATION OF UPGRADED LIQUIDS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC DISTILLATION

ABSTRACT

Gas chromatographic distillation (GCD) based ors ASTM 02887 has been applied to characterizing the boiling range distribution of upgraded coal-derived liquids. It has beer demonstrated that the GCD method based on ASTM D2887 can be used as a substitute for ASTM D2892. A variety of coal-derived liquids can be characterized and the procedure may be effective for estimating the degree of conversion as a means of screening for hydroconversion catalysts.