Oxidation of doped europium in BaMgAl10O17 by annealing studied by x‐ray‐absorption fine‐structure measurements

Abstract— We studied the influence of annealing in air on doped europium in BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇ by performing x‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements. We determined the oxidation of doped divalent europium by annealing in air at over 500°C. The interatomic distance between the europium and the surrounding oxygen atoms was compressed by oxidation. It also appears that the oxidation process of europium is determined by the diffusion of oxygen into BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇.     

A flow simulation for the epoxy casting process using a 3D finite‐element method

A three‐dimensional flow simulation for epoxy casting has been developed. A control‐volume‐based finite‐element method is employed, containing a conservative upwind formulation for the advection terms and equal order interpolations for all variables. This simulation predicts the non‐isothermal and reactive flow behavior under the gravity. The viscosity and reaction‐rate parameters were estimated by using a dynamic rheometer and a differential scanning calorimeter. The predicted flow front advancement and temperature profiles in the calculation domain similar to the mold cavity were in close agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The variation of epoxy surface configuration with flow rate also showed the same tendency between the prediction and the experiment. This simulation seems to be applicable not only to the epoxy casting, but also to other molding processes of various thermoset resins. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:364–374, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Treatment of essential arterial hypertension with hypercholesterolemia. Effects of an alpha-adrenergic blocker and an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are frequently associated with this leading to considerable cardiovascular risk. METHODS: An open parallel randomized study was performed in which the effects of doxazosin, an alpha-adrenergic blocker and enalapril, an inhibitor of the angiotensin converting enzyme were compared in 70 patients with essential high blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels greater than 240 mg/dl. Following 2-4 weeks of placebo administration the patients were randomly treated with one of the two drugs. When required doses were increased and hydrochlorothiazide added until blood pressure lower than 160/95 mmHg was achieved. After this period the patients were observed for a minimum of 8 weeks. The mean length of the study was of 22 weeks. RESULTS: Both drugs significantly reduced blood pressure without modifying cardiac frequency. Doxazosin tended to favorably modify the lipid profile of the plasma while enalapril significantly reduced the levels of cholesterol, lipids and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Upon termination of the study the total HDL/cholesterol index increased 8.6% in those treated with doxazosin and decreased 5.5% in those receiving enalapril (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although doxazosin and enalapril are potent antihypertensive drugs, the effects on plasma lipid obtained with doxazosin indicate that a reduction in cardiovascular risk was achieved with this drug in the patients included in this study.     

Two geometrical isomers of linoleic acid: Improved total syntheses

The total syntheses of 9(Z),12(E)- and 9(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acids have been carried out. A useful intermediate in both syntheses, 8-bromo-octanoic acid, recently has become available from commercial sources. This compound has been used to expedite the preparation of these isomers. The remaining carbon atoms were derived from propargyl alcohol along with either 1-heptyne or acetylene and 1-bromopentane. Because the overall yield for each sequence was roughly 15% and there were no extraordinary reaction conditions in any of the synthetic steps, the compounds could be prepared readily in multiple gram quantities. The syntheses of the two compounds were supported by data from a variety of spectroscopic techniques.     

Distribution of higher-order structures in injection-molded polypropylenes

Flexural test specimens were injection-molded from six homoisotactic polypropylenes with MFI = 0.49-25.1 dg/min under cylinder temperatures of 200-320°C. Distributions in the flow direction of higher-order structures such as crystallinity X_c, thickness of skin layer, a*-axis-oriented component fraction [A*], and crystalline orientation functions and distributions in the thickness direction of higher-order structures such as X_c, β-crystal contents, [A*], and crystalline orientation functions were studied. These higher-order structures are inhomogeneous in the flow and thickness directions, which strongly influences the product properties such as mechanical and thermal properties. Molecular orientation process in injection molding was theoretically analyzed from a viewpoint of growth of recoverable shear strain at the gate and its relaxation in the cavity, which could considerably well explain the variations in the flow and thickness directions of the quantities such as thickness of the skin layer and crystalline orientation functions which express the degree of molecular orientation.     

Continuous formation of slurry ice by cooling water–oil emulsion in a tube

Water-silicone oil emulsion with an additive, (C₂H₅O)₃SiC₃H₆NH₂, was examined as a heat storage material. A spiral tube used as a heat exchanger was immersed in a low temperature bath and the emulsion was circulated in the tube to make ice continuously. Ice was separated from the ice–liquid suspension in an outlet tank. The amount of formed ice, the temperatures of the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanger, and the temperatures in the tube wall were measured and the overall heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux through the tube were calculated. Experiments were carried out, varying the flow rate, the temperature of cooling brine, and the thickness of tube wall. The condition under which slurry ice was formed continuously without adhesion of ice to the cooling wall was clarified. Though decrease in the thermal resistance of the tube increased the rate of ice formation or raised the brine temperature, it narrowed the range of the flow rate and of the brine temperature in which slurry ice was formed continuously.     

66/77-kV C-GIS using composite insulation in SF6 gas

A second-generation model of cubicletype gas-insulated switchgear (C-GIS) with composite insulation incorporating SF₆ gas has been developed. The design does not require a gas process in field assembly; it has high reliability and its installation is more rapid; and a further reduction in size is achieved. The design principles are described in detail.     

Electrophoretic Deposition Behavior of Aqueous Nanosized Zinc Oxide Suspensions

The rheological behavior and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of ZnO nanopowder (nano-ZnO) in aqueous media have been described. A cationic polyelectrolyte (polyethylenimine, PEI) was used to disperse and modify the surfaces of the ZnO nanoparticles. The rheological properties of the ZnO aqueous suspension were investigated by measuring the viscosity versus the pH and amount of dispersant. The EPD processing was conducted via cathodic electrodeposition, using stable suspensions with low viscosity, and the depositional behavior was investigated. Bubble-free nano-ZnO deposits with uniform microstructures were successfully obtained, which was an indication of good sintering behavior.     

Micro-computerized tomographic observation of the spinning apparatus in Bombyx mori silkworms

Silkworms and spiders have evolved complex spinning apparatus thought to use highly controlled conditions to optimize protein folding and crystallization to provide a tough fiber. Accordingly, the structure and function of the natural spinning apparatus has been studied with great attention as an interesting piece of biological engineering with potential for mimicry in an industrial process. However it is still not well understood. Here we used Micro-Computerized Tomographic equipment (mCT) to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the spinning apparatus in Bombyx mori silkworms. Multidirectional tomograms obtained by X-ray radioscopy provided valuable information on the detailed arrangement of each muscle of the silk press. It is suggested that the duct in the silk press part plays a part as an extrusion die whose cross-sectional area can be controlled by muscles to optimize applied stresses in the partially gelled silk within its lumen.