Enhancement of the punch pin durability induced by the PVD coating in production process of the automotive inner pipe

This experimental studies were carried out in order to understand the effects of the PVD coating and the UNSM treatment of HSS55 (high speed steel 55) during the production of the automotive inner pipe by the plastic deformation of S45C. The field test and the SEM images revealed that the PVD coating is necessary in spite of the high compressive residual stresses which were formed at the head of a punch pin. Upon the application of the AlCrN coating with the UNSM treatment the productivity and reliability of a punch pin had improved more than about 2.6 times compared to that of the TiN coating without the UNSM treatment. It is likely that the improvement is caused by the decreased stress concentration factor by the ‘wrapped in oxides’ inside of an abrasion pit. The abrasion pits were mostly generated within range of 5% ∼ 50% of the diameter ratio from the end of a pin and reached the maximum value about 17% from the end of a pin.     

Preparation of UV-curable emulsions using PEG-modified urethane acrylates: The effect of nonionic and anionic groups

To prepare self-emulsificable urethane acrylate resin, PEG-modified urethane acrylates (PMUA), containing polyoxyethylene chains as a terminal hydrophilic group and urethane acrylate anionomers (UAA) incorporated dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) as a pendant hydrophilic one were synthesized. For PMUA emulsions, the reaction molar ratio of PEG to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) significantly influenced the viscosity and droplet size of the emulsion and tensile strength of cured films. These emulsions were stable to pH change and the addition of electrolyte, but coagulated around 60°C. In the case of UAA, emulsions, however, were very stable to elevated temperatures and coagulated in adding even a little bit of electrolyte. For soap-free emulsions of the mixture of PMUA and UAA, emulsion stabilities of these mixtures against temperature, pH change, the addition of electrolyte, and the rate of shear and freeze–thaw increased synergetically. Additionally, the tensile strength of cured films was also improved. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An extrusion system for the processing of microcellular polymer sheets: Shaping and cell growth control

A new processing system for the extrusion of microcellular polymer sheets is presented. Specifically, the detailed design of a shaping and cell growth control system is discussed in the context of an overall extrusion system design with particular emphasis on the system level functional requirements of cell nucleation, cell growth, and shaping. The principle of the basic extrusion system design is to shape a nucleated polymer/gas solution flow under pressure and accurate temperature control. In this way, the initial cell growth is controlled so as to prevent degradation of the nucleated cell density during shaping. Two foaming die designs for satisfying the initial shaping and cell growth requirements are presented. Critical experiments are then presented which verified the concept of shaping a nucleated polymer/gas solution. Moreover, these experiments demonstrated the feasibility of the overall microcellular polymer sheet extrusion system design.     

Biotransformation of monosodium glutamate to gamma-aminobutyric acid by isolated strain Lactobacillus brevis L-32 for potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice

In the current study, we investigated the biotransformation of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the growing and resting cells from an isolated bacterial strain, Lactobacillus brevis. This strain is a high GABA-producing strain that was identified and isolated from natural kimchi. We gathered the experiment results by design of response surface methodology (RSM) for optimum condition for GABA production and results indicated the optimum culture temperature (35°C) and culture time (58 h). Using resting cells from the same culture batch in the substrate-containing buffer, approximately 3.98 g/l of GABA was produced at a conversion rate of 65.6%. GABA-treated mice showed significantly increased sleep duration compared to that of a control group (p < 0.05) in the pentobarbital-induced sleep test using a hypnotic dose. These results suggest that biotransformed GABA could potentially be used a novel nutraceutical supplement for sleep.     

Anti-obesity effects of the stem bark of Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinate) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

The inhibitory effects of lipid accumulation on ethanol extract from stem bark of Japanese horse chestnut (JHC) were evaluated. Exposure to JHC extract (10–100 μg/mL) for a 72 h incubation period did not alter cell viability compared to the untreated control. JHC extract, with concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL, inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose dependent manner. The expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, important adpogenic key markers was significantly reduced when JHC extract was added to cells for 8 days compared with the untreated control group. These results suggest that JHC extract might be a potential therapeutic agent as a natural anti-obesity material.     

应用覆膜支架介入救治颈动脉破裂并假性动脉瘤

目的探讨应用覆膜支架介入治疗颈动脉破裂并假性动脉瘤.方法4例肿瘤所致颈动脉破裂并假性动脉瘤形成的患者,均出现颈部或口腔危及生命的出血,采用Seldinger方法,选用自膨式聚四氟乙烯覆膜支架治疗.结果4例成功施行血管内介入治疗,其中颈总动脉中段1例,颈动脉球2例,颈总动脉远段1例.共置入覆膜支架6枚.术后假性动脉瘤腔被隔绝,颈动脉通畅,患者的临床症状明显改善,无神经功能障碍.1例患者11 d后支架下缘颈总动脉与原瘤腔相通,再次置入覆膜支架,2个月的随访无再出血.1例患者经钢圈栓塞、放置覆膜支架及裸支架瘤腔     

Effect of substrate on the phase transformation of TiO2 in pearlescent pigment

The TiO₂/substrate pearlescent pigments were prepared by the hydrolysis of TiOCl₂ on the substrate followed by a calcinations process. The natural mica (muscovite), synthetic mica (fluorophlogopite) and -alumina flake were selected as the substrates for pearlescent pigments. The effect of substrate on the anatase to rutile (A–R) phase transformation of TiO₂ was studied. The A–R phase transformation of TiO₂ during the preparation of pearlescent pigments and their proportion in the TiO₂ layer have been analyzed by XRD measurements. The phase compositions of TiO₂ layer in each pearlescent pigment are quite different depending on the substrates. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina has higher rutile fraction than those on the natural and synthetic mica. The XPS analysis showed that the cations originally present in the substrates diffused into the TiO₂ layer. The TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina contains Al, while those on the natural and synthetic mica substrates contain Si and K in addition to Al. The metal cations diffusing from the substrate into TiO₂ layer might retard the A–R phase transformation of TiO₂. The suppressing effect on the A–R transformation of TiO₂ by mixed cations seems to be much stronger than that of single cation, resulting in relatively higher rutile fraction in the case of TiO₂ layer deposited on -alumina.     

Correction to: Comparative study on anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of hydroponic ginseng and soil-cultured ginseng

Food Science and Biotechnology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The presentation of the row “Total (μg/g)” in Table&nbsp;2 was incorrect.     

Active object search in an unknown large-scale environment using commonsense knowledge and spatial relations

Intelligent Service Robotics - In this study, the goal is to efficiently and actively search for a target object in a previously unknown large-scale environment. To this end, we develop a...