Augmentation of boiling heat transfer from horizontal cylinder to liquid by movable particles

This paper presents a series of experimental results on a passive augmentation technique of boiling heat transfer by supplying solid particles in liquid. A cylindrical heater 0.88 mm in diameter is placed in saturated water, in which a lot of mobile particles exist, and the nucleate and film boiling heat transfer characteristics are measured. Particle materials used were alumina, glass, and porous alumina, and the diameter ranged from 0.3 mm to 2.5 mm. Particles are fluidized by the occurrence of boiling without any additive power, and the heat transfer is augmented. The maximum augmentation ratio obtained in this experiment reaches about ten times the heat transfer coefficient obtained in liquid alone. The augmentation ratio is mainly affected by the particle material, diameter, and the height of the particle bed set at no boiling condition. The augmentation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the experimental results. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(1): 28–41, 2002     

The significance of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase for predicting early stage diabetic nephropathy

We studied urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy in 27 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with a microalbumin level below 20 mg on 24-hour urine sample. Microalbumin and NAG excretion were measured in 24-hour urine samples collected on three separate occasions within seven days of admission. Creatinine clearance was determined simultaneously. There was a significant negative correlation between the creatinine clearance and 24-hour urinary NAG (r = -0.38, p < 0.05). Elevation of urinary NAG may indicate decreased renal function during early stage NIDDM nephropathy.     

An expert system for XPLE cable deterioration diagnosis and life forecasting

The recent increase in the demand for power in urban areas has caused changes in the way power is supplied. Underground distribution systems have been introduced for convenience in urban areas and to prevent injuries in case of a crisis. As a result, many new types of power cables are being used. One type, XPLE cables (also called CV cables) have been rapidly taking the place of conventional cables such as OF or SL cables since the 1960s because of their relatively easy installation and maintainability. However, distribution cables used under severe environmental conditions deteriorate rapidly (due mainly to water treeing), and some cables experience insulation breakdown. Therefore, many diagnostic methods have been developed, though they have not been very effective. By combining methods, a high reliability can be achieved in comparison to the use of a single method. However, processing the data is difficult for on-site personnel, so many experts are required. But there is a lack of qualified experts, hence we have turned to the development of expert systems.     

A study of suppression of vapor explosions by adding inversely soluble polymers

The mechanism of the suppression of vapor explosions by adding inversely soluble polymers in water is studied. Vapor explosion experiments and quench experiment are conducted using a silver test piece. Polymetric solution (polyethylene oxide), of concentrations from 0 to 500 wppm, whose normalized viscosity (by water) varies from 1.00 to 2.00, is used. No vapor explosion is observed in the aqueous polymer solution at a concentration higher than 200 wppm. Quench experiments using the silver test piece submerged in the polymer solution and water are performed in order to examine the stability of film boiling. The suppression of the vapor film collapse is attributed to the precipitation of polyethylene as a gel around the vapor film. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(4): 297–306, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10037     

Thermal Shock Behavior of Porous Silicon Carbide Ceramics

Using the water-quenching technique, the thermal shock behavior of porous silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics was evaluated as a function of quenching temperature, quenching cycles, and specimen thickness. It is shown that the residual strength of the quenched specimens decreases gradually with increases in the quenching temperature and specimen thickness. Moreover, it was found that the fracture strength of the quenched specimens was not affected by the increase of quenching cycles. This suggests a potential advantage of porous SiC ceramics for cyclic thermal-shock applications.     

Inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by cell growth-related molecules

Certain MHC class I molecules on target cells are known to inhibit the cytotoxic action of NK cells. By using monoclonal antibody (mAb) Cho-1, we have found inhibitory non-MHC class I cell surface molecules that are noncovalently-associated with 200 kDa and 40 kDa antigens. Poly I-C-induced rat NK cells were not cytotoxic to rat fetus-derived fibroblast WFB cell line. In contrast, NK cells were cytotoxic to H-ras oncogene-induced transformants of WFB, W14 and W31. FACS analysis indicated that mAb Cho-1 reacts with WFB, but not with W14 and W31 cells. Thus, this antigen may disappear concomitantly with cell growth and transformation. Cho-1 antigens were also expressed on other NK-resistant lines, such as mouse BALB3T3 fibroblast, EL-4 lymphoma and human fibroblast HEPM. However, they were not expressed on NK-sensitive mouse YAC-1 and H-ras transformant (Brash) of BALB3T3 cells. Furthermore, treatment of target cells with IFN-gamma clearly induced the cell surface expression of Cho-1 antigens, and conferred a resistance to NK cytolysis on target cells. These data strongly suggest that Cho-1 antigen expression may correlate with target cell susceptibility to NK cells. Indeed, treatment of NK-resistant WFB as well as HEPM cells with F(ab')2 fragments of mAb Cho-1 resulted in the acquisition of susceptibility to NK cytolysis. Cho-1 antigens may be novel molecules that regulate the NK resistance of cells.     

Preparation of heterotactic-rich poly(methyl methacrylate) with narrow molecular weight distribution bytert-butyllithium/bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxy)methylaluminum

Summary Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) withtert-butyllithium (t-C₄H₉Li) in toluene in the presence of aluminum alkoxides such as ethoxide,tert-butoxide and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide, were examined at various Al/Li ratios. In the cases of ethoxide andtert-butoxide, predominantly isotactic polymers with broad molecular weight distribution were obtained. Combinations oft-C₄H₉Li and bis(2,6-ditert-butylphenoxy)methylaluminum [MeAl(ODBP)₂] were found to be an efficient initiating system for heterotactic polymerization of MMA, which gives PMMA rich in heterotactic triads up to 68% with narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn=1.09–1.17). End group analysis by¹H NMR indicated thatt-C₄H₉Li initiates the polymerization and MeAl(ODBP)₂ works as a stereospecific modifier. From stereosequence analysis of the heterotactic PMMA by¹³C NMR, it was found that the calculated pentad fractions from the first-order Markovian statistics (Pm/r=0.742, Pr/m=0.627) fitted the observed ones better than those from Bernoullian statistics. The glass transition temperature of the heterotactic PMMA was 13°C lower than that of syndiotactic PMMA, and the intrinsic viscosity in tetrahydrofuran was close to that of isotactic PMMA with a similar molecular weight but higher than that of syndiotactic PMMA.     

Detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma by using spiral volumetric CT: comparison of US and MR imaging

BACKGROUND: Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are hypervascular and arise in the liver with chronicity. Spiral volumetric CT (SVCT) is a new rapid-scan technique that offers whole-liver scanning during the arterial-dominant phase. The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the detectability of hypervascular HCC with SVCT as compared with ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. METHODS: Forty-three hypervascular HCCs in 512 patients with chronic liver disease were examined with US, precontrast SVCT, postcontrast SVCT during the arterial-dominant phase (CT-ADP) and during the equivalent-phase (CT-EP) noncontrast MR imaging and angiography including SVCT during arteriography and arterial portography. Angiographic and follow-up findings were used as the gold standard if the lesion was not confirmed histologically. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 61% with precontrast CT, 84% with CT-ADP, 58% with CT-EP, 70% with US, 72% with MR, and 95% with the combination of these five modalities. Five HCCs (12%) were detected with only CT-ADP. The vascularity of HCC was correctly evaluated as hypervascular in 38 nodules (88%) with the combination of precontrast CT and CT-ADP. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the combination of precontrast SVCT and CT-ADP is an essential modality to screen for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease. CT-EP did not contribute to the detection of hypervascular HCC.     

Fracture Energies of Tape-Cast Silicon Nitride with β-Si3N4 Seed Addition

The fracture energies of the tape-cast silicon nitride with and without 3 wt% rod-like β-Si₃N₄ seed addition were investigated by a chevron-notched-beam technique. The material was doped with Lu₂O₃–SiO₂ as sintering additives for giving rigid grain boundaries and good heat resistance. The seeded and tape-cast silicon nitride has anisotropic microstructure, where the fibrous grains grown from seeds were preferentially aligned parallel to the casting direction. When a stress was applied parallel to the fibrous grain alignment direction, the strength measured at 1500°C was 738 MPa, which was almost the same as room temperature strength 739 MPa. The fracture energy of the tape-cast Si₃N₄ without seed addition was 109 and 454 J/m² at room temperature and 1500°C, respectively. On the contrary, the fracture energy of the seeded and tape-cast Si₃N₄ was 301 and 781 J/m² at room temperature and 1500°C, respectively, when a stress was applied parallel to the fibrous gain alignment. The large fracture energies were attributable primarily to the unidirectional alignment fibrous Si₃N₄ grains.     

Effect of Agglomeration on Mechanical Properties of Porous Zirconia Fabricated by Partial Sintering

Porous ZrO₂ ceramics were fabricated by compacting a fine ZrO₂ powder, followed by pressureless sintering. Two unidirectional pressures of 30 and 75 MPa were used to prepare the green compacts. The strength and the fracture toughness of porous ZrO₂ specimens sintered from the compacts prepared by 75 MPa were substantially higher than those by 30 MPa, especially for the specimens with low porosity. However, the corresponding Young's moduli were identical. This caused the strain to failure of these porous bodies to increase significantly with increasing compaction pressure. Microstructural analyses showed that a number of voids and small flaws existed in the green compacts prepared by the lower pressure, due to the agglomeration of fine ZrO₂ grains. It was revealed that the ZrO₂ agglomeration resulted in a localized nonuniform shrinkage and degraded the mechanical properties of porous ZrO₂ ceramics.