Particle and polymer chain orientation development in thermoformed talc-filled thermoplastics

Neat and talc particle-filled thermoplastic cones have been fabricated by thermoforming of compression molded sheets. The orientation of talc particles and polymer chains of thermoformed talc-filled thermoplastics are investigated using the wide angle X-ray diffraction pole figure technique. The levels of orientation of both talc particles and polymer chains are represented in terms of orientation factors. The talc particles were highly oriented by the compression molding and the subsequent thermoforming, and the orientation factors of talc particles of thermoformed talc-filled thermoplastics are of order −0.9. The c-axis of the talc particles orients perpendicular to the surface of the thermoformed parts, which means that the surface of the talc particles is parallel to the surface of the thermoformed parts.     

Error modelling and measurement for the rotary table of five-axis machine tools

Rotary tables are widely used with multi-axis machine tools as a means for providing rotational motions for the cutting tools on the three-axis machine tools used for five-axis machining operations. In this paper, we present a comprehensive procedure for the calibration of the rotary table including: geometric error model; error compensation method for the CNC controller; error measurement method; and verification of the error model and compensation algorithm with experimental apparatus. The methods developed were verified by various experiments, showing the validity and effectiveness of the presented methods, indicating they can be used for multi-axis machine tools as a means of calibration and precision enhancement of the rotary table.     

Preparation of Polymer Composite Membrane Reinforced by Natural Fibers (Fiber and Stem of Date Palm) for Treatment of Industrial Waste Water Residue

Theoretical Foundations of Chemical Engineering - The developed industries are utilized natural waste fibers as a clean criteria device. This work utilized natural composite membranes in the...     

Improved compatibility of high‐density polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) blend by the use of blocked isocyanate group

The blocked isocyanate group (BHI) was synthesized to improve the storage stability of HI (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate combined with isophorone diisocyanate) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). High‐density polyethylene grafted with the blocked isocyanate group (HDPE‐g‐BHI) was used as a reactive compatibilizer for an immiscible high‐density polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (HDPE/PET) blend. A possible reactive compatibilization mechanism is that regenerated isocyanate groups of HDPE functionalized by BHI react with the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of PET during melt blending. The HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blend showed the smaller size of a dispersed phase compared to the HDPE/PET blend, indicating improved compatibility between HDPE and PET. This increased compatibility was due to the formation of an in situ graft copolymer, which was confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis represented that there were few changes in the crystallinity for the continuous PET phase of the HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blends, compared with those of the HDPE/PET blends at the same composition. Tensile strengths and elongations at the break of the HDPE‐g‐BHI/PET blends were greater than those of the HDPE/PET blends. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1017–1024, 2000     

Improved Probes for Scanning Near‐Field Optical Microscopy

Vastly improved fiber probes for SNOM microscopy are the result of a new chemical etching method. The optical fiber's protective polymer coating is left on during the etching process, which gives rise to greatly improved tip surfaces (see Figure, right). The tips have a much higher damage threshold, allowing brighter transmission and opening the door to Raman imaging (e.g. of DNA) and laser ablation.     

Optimum RCS depressurization strategy for effective severe accident management of station black out accident

Plant specific severe accident management guidelines (SAMG) for operating plants are developed and implemented in Korea as was required by government policy on severe accident. Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) has recently reviewed feasibility of the developed SAMG for Ulchin unit 1 plant. Among the strategies referred in SAMG, we have intensively analyzed the reactor coolant system (RCS) depressurization strategy during station black out (SBO) accident scenario, which has a high probability of occurrence according to Ulchin unit 1 Probabilistic Safety Analysis (PSA). In depressurization strategy of the current SAMG, operators need to depressurize rapidly RCS pressure below 2.75 MPa using pressurizer (PZR) pilot operated safety relief valves (POSRVs) for high pressure accident like SBO. The rapid depressurization is effective in allowing the water of safety injection tank (SIT) to be injected into the core, but an excessive discharge of the SIT water is not desirable for an economical use of SIT inventory. Lack of SIT water accelerates the core damage in case the failed electric power do not recover in due to time. The SIT inventory economy means here that we should not waste the water inventory of SIT and use it in the most efficient way to cool the core. In case we do not use it in an economical way, the SIT might be depleted too rapidly, thus leaving an insufficient reservoir for post-depressurization cooling. The quantification of this SIT inventory economy for plant specific situation is of interest to develop an optimum depressurization strategy. In this study we have analyzed an effectiveness of current depressurization strategy for SBO accident with the severe accident analysis code MELCOR 1.8.5 which has been used for regulatory purpose in KINS. The entry time of severe accident management, a grace time gained by the current strategy, and the economy of the discharge mass flow rate for Ulchin plant were evaluated. Moreover, through a simple energy balance equation we could find an optimum strategy for RCS depressurization. The proposed strategy is based on finding an optimum discharge rate for an efficient use of the SIT inventory and it allows us to handle an SBO accident with higher confidence. The proposed strategy is yet a theoretical one, but possibilities of how to incorporate this strategy into engineered safety features are also discussed.     

Effects of Ruxolitinib and Calcitriol Combination Treatment on Various Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer

The anticancer effects of ruxolitinib and calcitriol against breast cancer were reported previously. However, the effect of ruxolitinib and calcitriol combination treatment on various molecular subtypes of breast cancer remains unexplored. In this study, we used MCF-7, SKBR3, and MDA-MB-468 cells to investigate the effect of ruxolitinib and calcitriol combination treatment on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell signaling markers, in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed the synergistic anticancer effect of ruxolitinib and calcitriol combination treatment in SKBR3 and MDA-MB-468 cells, but not in MCF-7 cells in vitro, via cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and the alteration of cell signaling protein expression, including cell cycle-related (cyclin D1, CDK1, CDK4, p21, and p27), apoptosis-related (c-caspase and c-PARP), and cell proliferation-related (c-Myc, p-p53, and p-JAK2) proteins. Furthermore, in the MDA-MB-468 xenograft mouse model, we demonstrated the synergistic antitumor effect of ruxolitinib and calcitriol combination treatment, including the alteration of c-PARP, cyclin D1, and c-Myc expression, without significant drug toxicity. The combination exhibited a synergistic effect in HER2-enriched and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. In conclusion, our results suggest different effects of the combination treatment of ruxolitinib and calcitriol depending on the molecular subtype of breast cancer.