Fibroblast interaction with carboxymethylchitosan-based hydrogels

The interaction between L929 cells and carboxymethylchitosan (CM-chitosan)-based hydrogels, hydrogels from pure CM-chitosan and its blends, was examined in this study. Cytotoxicity of all materials was also assessed. The cellular morphology and behavior on the surfaces of the hydrogels were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of various parameters, e.g., type and content of blended polymers, surface structure of hydrogels, and steaming condition used for the preparation of the hydrogels, on the cell-material response were investigated. The results of the cytotoxicity test revealed that all hydrogels were non-cytotoxic. The SEM micrographs demonstrated that the cells proliferated and spread onto a porous CM-chitosan sample. Better cell spreading was found on a flat surface of a CM-chitosan film. Rounded cells were observed when poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was incorporated into CM-chitosan. Fewer cells were found when the content of PVA increased. Spherical clusters of the aggregated cells existed in the blends with ultra high viscosity carboxymethylcellulose (CM-cellulose). In contrast, with the use of low viscosity CM-cellulose, the cells appeared more spreading. The attached cells on the CM-chitosan film steamed at the highest temperature and longest period appeared to spread the most among all tested steaming conditions.     

In vitro comparative hemostatic studies of chitin,chitosan, and their derivatives

The effects of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives on in vitro human blood coagulation and platelet activation were comparatively studied. The coagulation was assessed by the measure of the whole blood clotting time (WHBCT) and plasma recalcification time (PRT). The tested materials were chitin, chitosan, partially N‐acetylated chitosan (PNAC), N,O‐carboxymethylchitosan (NOCC), N‐sulfated chitosan, N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride, and SPONGOSTAN® standard (a positive control). The results revealed that the WHBCTs of whole blood mixed with chitin, chitosan, NOCC, or SPONGOSTAN® standard were significantly decreased with respect to that of the pure whole blood (a blank control) (P < 0.05), while the WHBCT value of whole blood mixed with PNAC was not significantly reduced. However, the presence of PNAC significantly lowered the PRT value, similar to the addition of chitin, NOCC, or SPONGOSTAN® standard. Chitosan was found to reduce PRT, but not significantly. In the platelet adhesion and activation studies, the morphology of platelets adherent to the film surfaces of tested materials was examined using a scanning electron microscopic technique. Because of their effective coagulation activites, chitosan, PNAC, and NOCC were further evaluated to determine how platelets behaved when in contact with these film samples for given periods. It was found that NOCC activated platelets most effectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 445–451, 2006     

Design of modified electromagnetic main-flux for steel wire rope inspection

This paper presents the design and construction of modified main-flux equipment for wire rope inspection which has advantages over the in-service inspection and indirect axial-flux measurement used by ordinary main-flux and return-flux methods. The equipment can be adjusted high electromagnetic field strength to produce leakage filed from flaws of various large-diameter ropes. Unique coil sensors connected in series were employed and performed well when sensing leakage fields of the radial, axial and tangential directions. In addition, a standalone system has a simple setup for service inspection. Due to the complicated structure of the wire rope, electromagnetic field theory for anisotropic structures with high electromagnetization was used to design the equipment. The characteristics of the leakage field, in terms of localized fault and loss of metallic cross-sectional area, were distinguished mathematically. The sensor orientation to detect leakage fields was also determined. Performance of the system was then verified experimentally and shown good resolution and repeatability. Furthermore, the equipment is sufficiently sensitive to detect a smallest surface flaw of 1×2 mm at 5 mm equipment lift off. The inspection signals were processed and shown locations, levels and deterioration quantities.     

Study on source location using an acoustic emission system for various corrosion types

In this paper, four main types of corrosion: uniform, pitting, crevice and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) found in the petrochemical industry, were characterized and identified by Acoustic Emission (AE) analysis using their locations and extracted AE parameters. A novel low-cost AE location system based on a Field Programmable Gate Array PC (FPGA-PC) and a LOCAN 320 AE analyzer were utilized in this study. Specimens used in experiments were austenitic stainless-steel SS304. The pattern of AE signals from each type of corrosion was plotted using their location and correlation. Experimental results show the ability of our FPGA-PC system to determine corrosion locations. The correlations of AE parameters including amplitude, counts, hits and time were used to identify different types of corrosion. In addition, the characteristics of the corrosion process for each type are explained using the AE signals obtained corresponding to the source locations, together with experimental observation.     

Smart portable noninvasive instrument for detection of internal air leakage of a valve using acoustic emission signals

Acoustic emission (AE) can be used to detect and determine the internal leakage rate through a valve in many applications. However, a general AE data acquisition system is expensive and bulky. This paper presents a novel low-cost instrument based on microcontroller and a novel theoretical model based on AE technique to predict the leakage rate. The system is an embedded system instead of a general PC-based data acquisition. AE_RMS parameter is used to infer the leakage rate, and the effects of various process variables on the model are also studied. The experimental results have shown that the instrument is capable of detecting possible valve leakage encountered in online operation. With its portability, ease of use and compactness, the proposed system provides faster and low cost valve leakage detection.     

A relative calibration method for a valve leakage rate measurement system

This paper presents a relative calibration method for an internal valve leakage rate measurement system using both microcontroller and acoustic emission (AE) methods. An air jet was selected to calibrate because it provides a frequency spectrum similar to the AE spectrum obtained from the valve leak, especially in the frequency range of 100-300 kHz. Three AE sensors mounted on a valve were used to validate the system calibration. Ratios between the average energy (AErms) were obtained from each pair of sensors, and these ratios were used to transfer the leakage AErms value. Subsequence, its performance to predict the leakage rate in the laboratory and in the field was tested. The error is less than 5% in almost cases. Its benefit is to reduce the recalibration time when a part of measurement system is changed. Accordingly, inexpensive equipment including an AE sensor was built, and its system performance was revealed.     

Investigation of the relationship between internal fluid leakage through a valve and the acoustic emission generated from the leakage

The detection of acoustic emission (AE) signals produced by liquid and gas leakage through valves can be related directly to the qualitative leakage rate. This allows for cost estimation of losses in processes for several industries. However, to find out the relationship between qualitative leakage rate and AE signal large amounts of experimental data is needed. This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the acoustic emission to detect the internal leakage rate through a valve and experimental validation. The AE signals generated by internal liquid and gas leakage through valves were characterised. The effect of the influenced factors of leakage rates, inlet pressure levels, valve sizes and valve types, on AE parameter, AE_RMS, were studied and explained. The results of theoretical and experimental showed that AE signal power computed from the power spectral density (PSD) correlated well with influenced factors of leakage rates. Finally, a novel and inexpensive AE instrument has been invented for predicting qualitative leakage rate using a micro processor and derived relationship.