Minimum void ratio characteristic of soils containing non-plastic fines

The minimum void ratio is an index widely used to indicate the contraction characteristics and the densest state of soils. The minimum void ratio obtained by the traditional test method has been utilized to represent the density of soils irrespective of their fines content despite the restriction (FC ≤ 5%). By considering the effect of the blow count, pore water, and their primary properties, the applicability of the minimum void ratio to soils containing fines was examined with an automatic tapping machine. It was confirmed that the blow count of the traditional method is not sufficient for soils with a high fines content. Furthermore, the presence of pore water had a significant effect on the minimum void ratio of soils containing fines. The characteristics of the cyclic minimum void ratio, which indicates the minimum void ratio obtained throughout the repetition of liquefaction and drainage, were also examined.     

Aerosol Particle Collection Efficiency of Holey Carbon Film-Coated TEM Grids

A simple sampling method to collect aerosol particles for transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis was developed by R’mili and others in 2013. The method involves passing air through a holey carbon film-coated copper mesh TEM grid (holey carbon grid) and sampling particles by filtration. In this study, we proposed a modified calculation method to represent the collection efficiencies of holey carbon grids, taking into consideration the porosity of the copper mesh. We then evaluated the particle collection efficiencies of holey carbon grids both theoretically and experimentally. We tested the collection efficiency of two types of holey carbon grids, with nominal pore sizes of 1.2 and 0.6 μm, using particles of monodispersed polystyrene latex (PSL) and potassium chloride. The overall collection efficiency of each grid (E_grid) was determined by the downstream/upstream concentration ratio measured by condensation particle counters (CPCs). In addition, for PSL particles, the collection efficiency of the holey carbon film (E_film) was determined by the ratio of the number of particles on the film (counted on a scanning electron microscope) to the number of inflow particles (counted by a CPC). We compared model calculations against the experimental results obtained in this study and those reported by R’mili and others in 2013. These data showed that the calculated E_grid values were in reasonably good agreement with the experimental E_grid values. However, although the model calculation indicated that E_film ≈ E_grid, there was an inconsistency between the experimental E_film and E_grid, which requires further investigation in order to determine its cause.

Copyright 2014 American Association for Aerosol Research     

High-melt-strength polypropylene with electron beam irradiation in the presence of polyfunctional monomers

High-melt-strength polypropylene (PP) was achieved with irradiation by an electron beam generated from an accelerator in the presence of polyfunctional monomers (PFM). Among 16 PFMs, the relatively shorter molecular chain bifunctional monomers such as 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) were the most effective for enhancing the melt strength of PP. The concentration and dose of the HDDA to obtain the high melt strength PP in irradiation under nitrogen gas atmosphere were 1.5 mmol/100 g PP and 1 kGy, respectively. DSC measurement and dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the thermal behavior of the high-melt-strength PP was different from that of the original PP. Crystallinity and crystallization temperature during cooling after heating were lower and higher in high melt strength PP than original PP, respectively. Elongational viscosity at 180°C of the high-melt-strength PP showed a remarkable increase at a certain elongational time with constant strain rate, demonstrating the typical property of high-melt-strength samples. This implies that a few higher molecular chains of PP, formed by intermolecular combination of its chain by HDDA in irradiation, give higher melt strength to induce entanglement of molecular chains. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of Storage Conditions on 2–Acetyl-1–pyrroline Content in Aromatic Rice Variety, Khao Dawk Mali 105

ABSTRACT: The effect of package and temperature on 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content in milled aromatic rice during storage was investigated. 2 -Acetyl-1 -pyrroline content was decreased faster at higher storage temperature. However, fat acidity of rice was increased during storage and inversely correlated with 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline content at an early stage of storage. The difference in 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline recovery from the samples, which were extracted with ethanol at 40 °C and 75 °C, revealed that the starch bound and free forms of 2–acetyl-1–pyrroline may occur in aromatic rice. These results suggested that the biosynthesis of 2–acetyl-1 -pyrroline before starch structure formation in rice kernel could play a key role in the aroma quality of aromatic rice.     

Contrasting effects of water-soluble and water-insoluble dietary fibers on bile acid conjugation and taurine metabolism in the rat

The effect of the type of dietary fiber on the bile acid and taurine metabolism was examined in rats. Diets containing 10% of various water-soluble fibers (citrus pectin, konjak mannan, guar gum) as compared to a fiber-free diet increased biliary excretion of total bile acids. In contrast, water-insoluble dietary fibers (cellulose, corn bran, chitin; 10% in the diets) as well as cholestyramine (5% in the diet) considerably, decreased bile acid excretion. Water-soluble dietary fibermediated increases in bile acid excretion were totally attributable to increases in glycine-conjugates. Thus, these fibers greatly increased by the bile acid glycine-to-taurine ratio (G/T). Excretio of glycine conjugates decreased more than that of taurine conjugates in rats fed various water-insoluble dietary fibers. As a results, G/T in rats fed water-insoluble fibers was significantly lowered as compared to G/T in animals fed a fiber-free diet. Cholestyramine did not affect the G/T ratio of bile acids. Fecal bile acid excretion and the activities of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.17) in rats fed various water-soluble dietary fibers approximately doubled as compared to the respective values for rats fed a fiber-free diet. Whereas cholestyramine greatly increased these parameters, water-insoluble fibers did not significantly affect them. Various water-soluble fibers decreased hepatic concentration and urinary excretion of taurine as well as the activity of hepatic cysteine dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.20). In contrast, water-insoluble fibers considerably increased hepatic taurine concentrations and enzyme activities. The parameters for taurine metabolism were unaffected by cholestyramine. It was suggested that the types of dietary fiber affected hepatic taurine synthesis and thus modified bile acid glycine/taurine ratios.     

Oxidation kinetics for <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-9,<Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-11 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-10,<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-12 isomers of CLA

The autoxidation processes of the cis-9,trans-11 (c9,t11) and trans-10,cis-12 (t10,c12) isomers of CLA were separately observed at ca. 0% RH and different temperatures. The t10,c12 CLA oxidized faster than the c9,t11 isomer at all tested temperatures. The first half of the oxidation process of t10,c12 CLA obeyed an autocatalytic-type rate expression, but the latter half followed first-order kinetics. On the other hand, the entire oxidation process of c9,t11 CLA could be expressed by the autocatalytic-type rate expression. The apparent activation energies and frequency factors for the autoxidation of the isomers were estimated from the rate constants obtained at various temperatures based on the Arrhenius equation. The apparent activation energies for the CLA isomers were greater than those for the nonconjugated n−6 and n−3 PUFA or their esters. However, the enthalpyentropy compensation held during the autoxidation of both the CLA and PUFA. This suggested that the autoxidation mechanisms for the CLA and PUFA were essentially the same.     

深基坑工程动态施工反演分析与变形预报

提出了动态施工反演分析的思想，即在常规的反分析过程中引入逐步开挖和逐道支撑的动态施工因素，以求仿真模拟工程实际情况，进而为相继施工阶段的变形预报提供可靠保证。文中基于任意施工阶段间围护墙体变形与内支撑梁轴力的增量测值和施工ＦＥＭ优化反演分析法，反推了各土层的弹性模量系数，给出了作用在墙体两侧的土压力分布，并预报各相继施工阶段的墙体和土体变形、内力及内支撑梁轴力。     

Thermal performance of a packed bed reactor for a high‐temperature chemical heat pump

The thermal performance of a chemical heat pump that uses the reaction system of calcium oxide/lead oxide/carbon dioxide, which is developed for utilization of high‐temperature heat above 800°C, is studied experimentally. The thermal performance of a packed‐bed reactor of a calcium oxide/carbon dioxide reaction system, which stores and transforms a high‐temperature heat source in the heat pump operation, is examined under various heat pump operation conditions. The energy analysis based on the experiment shows that it is possible to utilize high‐temperature heat with this heat pump. This heat pump can store heat above 850°C and then transform it into a heat above 900°C under an approximate atmospheric pressure. An applied system that combines the heat pump and a high‐temperature process is proposed for high‐efficiency heat utilization. The scale of the heat pump in the combined system is estimated from the experimental results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermodynamics on the Bi-Fe-Ti System and the Gibbs Energy of Bi<Subscript>9</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>8</Subscript>

Partial isothermal sections of the Bi-Fe-Ti system at 700 °C and 900 °C were constructed to investigate the reactivity of Fe with Bi-Ti liquid alloy. In the ternary system, three-phase equilibria such as liquid-Fe-Fe₂Ti, liquid-Fe₂Ti-Bi₂FeTi₄, and liquid-Bi₉Ti₈-Bi₂FeTi₄ were confirmed at both temperatures. The solubility of Fe in liquid Bi at these temperatures is negligibly small. On the other hand, it is notable that the solubility of Fe in liquid Bi containing Ti at 900 °C is much larger and reaches 2.3 mol pct. Then, we measured the electromotive force (emf) between Bi-20 mol pct Ti alloy and pure Ti at 700 °C in equimolar NaCl-KCl where 1 mol pct TiCl₂ was added. From the result, the interaction parameter of the liquid phase in the Bi-Ti system and the standard molar Gibbs energies of formation of Bi₉Ti₈ and Bi₂FeTi₄ at 700 °C were estimated.     

Effect of friction stir processing on microstructure of laser clad cobalt-based alloy

(The microstructural refinement of cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) by laser cladding and friction stir processing (FSP) was studied. A nanometer-sized microstructure consisting of fine carbide (particle size: 100–200 nm) and a grain (grain size: 150–250 nm) was successfully fabricated by the FSP on the laser clad cobalt-based alloy. The nanostructured cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) had an extremely high hardness of about 750 HV.