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Future luxury car must satisfy the improvement of the luxury sound quality on the vehicle interior noise. Previously, we have analyzed vehicle interior noise by dB(A) based analysis. However, dB(A) has very little to do with the psychological satisfaction of the consumers. People want a sound that is characteristic and refined not a sound that is quiet and common. Subjective test were conducted to determine the relationship between subject` s responses and calculated metric values. People choose the most luxury sound among the various vehicle interior noise. And the purpose of this study is that we understand the metrics which constitute the luxury vehicle sound. We have analyzed vehicle interior noise by using the statistical analysis such as multiple regression method and correlation method. And we organized the index of the luxury sound quality.

Various microstructural changes take place simultaneously during the mechanical alloying process. Reduction in the crystalline size and the lattice strain cause a significant peak broadening, and dissolution of solute atoms results in peak shift in X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum. Therefore application of conventional XRD analysis routes is not straight forward, and could lead to incorrect information. When XRD method is used to analyze MA’ed powders, the spectrum needs to be carefully interpreted in order to extract the meaningful quantitative information. In this study, the possible sources of the error are addressed when MA’ed powders of Al–X (X = Ti, Nb) system are characterized by the XRD method, and proper XRD analysis methods are suggested to determine on lattice parameter, solubility of minor elements, crystallite size and strain variance in the MA’ed Al–X samples. The TEM observation is done to evaluate the formation of solid solution during MA.

A method allowing for the stable growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of a fibrous metal mesh substrate (SUS304) was developed with the assistance of the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process. The controlled addition of up to ∼13% of O2 to the CH4 plasma reacting gas flow was found to promote the growth of the CNTs by oxidizing the amorphous carbon and removing the active H2 radicals. However, excessive amounts of O2 (i.e., fraction of O2 > ∼13%) and H2 were found to play a negative role in the growth of the CNTs. The control of the density and length of the CNTs was also achieved by varying the H2 plasma reduction time and CH4 plasma reacting time, respectively. Longer H2 reduction pretreatment of the catalytic metal islands resulted in the formation of a less dense CNT forest with craters. When the growth time of the CNTs was increased to ∼20 min, their length was increased to ∼10 μm. However, when the growth time of the CNTs exceeded 20 min, their length was significantly decreased, indicating that the continuous presence of O2 in the CH4 plasma destroys the preformed CNTs due to the oxidation reaction.

This study was designed to test that dietary conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) used in a mixture of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 isomers (40% each in weight) coupled to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as PEGylated CLA (PCLA) act as mediators inducing or inhibiting specific metabolic pathways in high-fat (HF)-fed obese C57BL/6J (ob/ob) mice. After an acclimatization period of 7 days, animals were given a normal (control) or HF diet, the latter being added either alone (HF) or with CLA, PEG or PCLA for 6 weeks. Although the food intakes were not different among the dietary groups, final body weights were significantly lower in the HF-PCLA group than in the HF group. Also the HF-PCLA diet strongly prevented the dramatic increase in blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol observed with the HF diet, with no difference in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol between control, HF and HF-PCLA treatments. Furthermore, homeostasis model assessment levels showed a marked decrease in HF-PCLA-fed mice, preventing the increase found in mice fed the HF diet, and suggesting that PCLA lowered insulin resistance in HF-mice. The liver steatosis observed in mice fed the HF diet was also prevented by PCLA. Interestingly, the activity of mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase was increased by PCLA, which may enhance antioxidant defenses. Overall, PCLA exerted its beneficial effects through reduction of lipid accumulation and attenuation of insulin resistance induced by the HF diet in obese C57BL/6J (ob/ob) mice, which might confer to these products antiobesity properties in other species.

A new dual-band operation scheme is proposed for the branch-line coupler using two center-tapped branches. The proposed coupler has two branches with a stub line attached at the center. Only two stubs are required for the dual-band operation, which reduces the circuit complexity and minimizes the structural change from the conventional branch-line coupler. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 3136–3139, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23924

In this paper, a design of broadband detectors utilizing two ultra-wideband transitions is described for the first time, and the implementation method and measurement results of the detectors are provided. Two ultra-wideband transitions are used for input/output matching circuits for the diode detectors. Two detectors have been implemented using general Schottky diodes and zero-bias Schottky diodes. With general Schottky diodes, the fabricated detector provides less than 10 dB return loss from 11 GHz to 20 GHz, and the detector sensitivity is 30 mV/mW. The detector with zero-bias Schottky diodes shows significantly higher detection sensitivity(300 mV/mW).

Cultural consensus analysis is a statistical method that can be used to assess participant responses to survey questions. The technique concurrently estimates the knowledge of each survey participant and estimates the culturally correct answer to each question asked, based on the existence of consensus among survey participants. The main objectives of this paper are to present the cultural consensus methodology and apply it to a set of median design and safety survey data that were collected using the Delphi method. A total of 21 Delphi survey participants were asked to answer research questions related to cross-median crashes. It was found that the Delphi panel had agreeable opinions with respect to the association of average daily traffic (ADT) and heavy vehicle percentage combination on the risk of cross-median crashes; relative importance of additional factors, other than ADT, median width, and crash history that may contribute to cross-median crashes; and, the relative importance of geometric factors that may be associated with the likelihood of cross-median crashes. Therefore, the findings from the cultural consensus analysis indicate that the expert panel selected to participate in the Delphi survey shared a common knowledge pool relative to the association between median design and safety. There were, however, diverse opinions regarding median barrier type and its preferred placement location. The panel showed a higher level of knowledge on the relative importance regarding the association of geometric factors on cross-median crashes likelihood than on other issues considered. The results of the cultural consensus analysis of the present median design and safety survey data could be used to design a focused field study of median safety.

Cubic boron nitride(c-BN) films were deposited on tungsten carbide insert tool by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition(MPECVD) from a gas mixture of triethyl borate, ammonia , hydrogen and argon(Ar). The qualities of deposited thin film were investigated by x-ray diffrac-tion(XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and micro Raman spectroscope. The surface morphologies of the synthesised BN as well as crystallinity appear to be highly dependent on the flow rate of and gases. The deposited film had more crystallized phases with 5 scem of and gases than with 2 sccm, and the phase was identified as c-BN by micro Raman spectroscope and XRD. The adhesion strength were also increased with increasing flow rates of and gases.

The static and dynamic properties on the hoist hook of a vessel are necessary since they are affected by the damages of a static and dynamic load. Al-Si-Mg casting alloy (AC4C-T6) is widely used due to its good mechanical properties as well as the light weight and good casting with complex geometries. This study accomplished a static tension test and an impact test. Based on the test results and fracture surface analysis, we found that there are great differences between the fracture strain and yield stress in the different extracted regions of specimen. In tensile test, yield stress were 205 MPa at a low strain rate of 5 mm/min and 220 MPa at a high strain rate of 25mm/min. In Charpy impact test, impact properties of AC4C aluminum alloy were analyzed by impacting loading versus displacement and impacting energy versus displacement. Compared the fracture strains in different strain rates, maximum fracture strain of low strain rate was mainly 10 % higher than that of high strain rate. There were more than 20 % differences in the strain rate. The ductile and brittle behaviors were showed in low strain rate and high strain rate in static tensile test, respectively. The impact energy reached high when they were extracted from a plane region in the mold. But impact energy reached low when they were extracted from a curved and edge region. It is demonstrated that mechanical properties and impact energy of the samples where were extracted from a curved and edge region was lower than that of the samples where were extracted from a plane region.

The effects of Cu and Fe additions on the thermal stability, microstructure and mechanical properties of Al 85 -Ni 8.5 -Mm 6.5 , Al 84 -Ni 8.5 -Mm 6.5 Cu 1 , Al 84 -Ni 8.5 -Mm 6.5 Fe 1 alloys, manufactured by gas atomization, degassing and hot-extrusion were investigated. All hot-extruded alloys consisted of homogeneously-distributed fine-grained fcc-Al matrix and intermetallic compounds. A substitution of 1 at% Al by Cu increased the thermal stability of the amorphous phase and produced alloy microstructure with smaller fcc-Al grains. On ther other hand, the same substitution of 1 at% Al by Fe decreased the stability of the amorphous phase and produced larger fcc-Al grains. The formation of intermetallic compounds such as Al 3 Ni, Al 11 Ce 3 and Al 11 La 3 was suppressed by the addition of Cu or Fe. Among the three alloys examined, the highest Vickers hardness and compressive strength were obtained for Al 84 -Ni 8.5 -Mm 6.5 Cu 1 alloy, and related to the finest fcc-Al grain size attained from increased thermal stability with Cu addition.

Rotational bending fatigue tests were carried out on a medium carbon steel with a thermally sprayed Co-based alloy coating. The effect of two different fusing treatments on the fatigue strength of fused specimens was investigated. Fusing treatment was performed using a vacuum furnace, and an induction heating system. When the specimens were treated in vacuum furnace at 1373 K for 4 h, the diffusion layer providing a strong adhesive force were formed at the interface between the coating and substrate. As a result, fatigue strength remarkably increased in comparison with the uncoated specimens. On the contrary, for the treated specimens with an induction heating system at 1373 K for 120 s, since these specimens had a lower adhesive force due to no formation of diffusion layer, leading to delamination of the entire coating.

The aim of this article was to determine whether mechanical forces combined with LLLT stimulate expression of OPG, RANKL, and RANK in animal model by immunohistochemistry. A total of 20 sprague-dawley rats at 15 weeks old were divided into two groups of 10 rats each, to form the laser irradiation and nonirradiation groups. Total of 20 mg of orthodontic force was applied to rat incisors. The duration of tooth movement was 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. A Ga-Al-As diode laser was used to irradiate the area around the moved teeth for 10 seconds once a day for 7 days. Proliferative activities of OPG, RANKL, and RANK were evaluated immunohistochemically. After the application of force, the induction of OPG, RANKL, and RANK was observed on both groups. In the laser irradiation group, however, the expression of OPG, RANKL, and RANK was significantly greater than that of the nonirradiation group at day 1 to day 21. This is the first study about immunohistological findings of RANK/RANKL/OPG triad under LLLT during tooth movement. These findings suggest that low level laser therapy can stimulate bone turnover during experimental orthodontic tooth movement.

In this study, we investigated the fatigue characteristics of SMA40 materials as a potential application in connecting rod material for an automobile. Average fatigue life of 168,700 cycles and fatigue limit of 437 MPa was determined from SMA40 specimens. However, when tested under fretting condition, decrease in fatigue lifetime was 20% and fatigue limit was reduced to 350 MPa.

It has long been recognized that leptin, a hormone made by adipocytes, is an important circulating signal for the regulation of body weight. In addition, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), especially MMP-2, an adipocyte-secreted protein which promotes multi-cellular adipose clusters, is up-regulated in obesity. The present study is designed to evaluate whether trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t-CLA) can suppress leptin-induced MMP-2 secretion in 3T3-L1 cells. The result showed that expressions of adipocyte marker proteins were significantly reduced by t-CLA-treated cultures, but not by linoleic acid (LA)-treated ones. Interestingly, MMP-2 secretion was significantly increased by leptin-treated cultures, thereby leading to accelerate adipocyte differentiation, indicating that MMP-2 was a necessary mediator of adipogenesis. However, increasing concentration of t-CLA significantly reduced leptin-induced MMP-2 secretion and triglyceride (TG) content. These findings provide support for a role for t-CLA in the regulation of metabolism in leptin-induced adipose tissue development.

Concepts of transportation service quality are related to efforts to evaluate driving conditions and the level of satisfaction that transportation users perceive. However, few data have been gathered from actual users about perceived service quality. A new method is developed for the evaluation of transportation service quality using a fuzzy aggregation and a cultural consensus analysis technique. After a literature review was conducted, six analysis criteria that showed promise as relevant indicators were selected to apply the developed method to assess the service quality of signalized intersections. With the use of a fuzzy weighted-average technique on six criteria, individual perceptions regarding the service quality of signalized intersections were evaluated. Then, the weight of an individual's perceptions, measured with consensus analysis, was applied to estimate a more realistic, aggregated overall service quality rating of a signalized intersection. Through the consensus analysis, the competence scores–which indicate how “correct” and relatively important each individual's response is–were estimated and used for each participant. Experimental results indicate that user perceptions of transportation service quality fall in a narrow measurable range of the scale constructed to perform this measurement. In other words, users' perceptions are not easily distinguished and vary greatly by individual. Therefore, user-perceived service quality ratings do not correspond to the level of service evaluated using the Highway Capacity Manual method. Ratings of user-perceived service quality of signalized intersections evaluated by using the new fuzzy aggregation method are in better agreement with the actual perceptions that people hold than those obtained by using a more conventional method.

We previously reported that PEGylated conjugated linoleic acid (PCLA) as a pro-drug treatment of cultures of 3T3-L1 cells containing differentiated adipocytes caused de-differentiation by downregulation of PPARγ2-induced adipogenesis, and cell apoptosis induced by PCLA was lower than that induced by conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) owing to the biocompatible and hydrophilic properties of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). To further investigate our previous observations, the present study is designed to evaluate the lipolytic action of PCLA and its role in biochemical signaling pathways of 3T3-L1 cells when compared to the CLA itself. Although both CLA and PCLA stimulated lipolysis, our results indicated a sensitivity difference between CLA and PCLA treatment: a time-dependent effect on lipolysis and p-extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK) expression was observed for PCLA-treated, but not for CLA-treated cultures. Also, the induction by PCLA of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was linked to secretion of adipo-cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8), in time-dependent manners. Interestingly, adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, 2′, 5′-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), pre-treatment did not prevent PCLA-stimulated lipolysis. In fact, isoproterenol, but not PCLA, caused a significant increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, suggesting that the PCLA-induced lipolysis was not mediated in the conventional cAMP-dependent pathway and the cAMP was the intracellular mediator for isoproterenol-induced lipolysis. Overall, our findings provide support for a role for PCLA as a pro-drug in the regulation of metabolism in adipose tissue. J. Cell. Physiol. 214: 283–294, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In this work we present a miniaturized electronic nose (E-Nose) sensor platform made by integrating film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs) with arrays of CMOS oscillators. Each of the FBARs in the array is chemically activated to differing vapors (odors) after depositing a variety of polymers on the active areas of the resonators. To simulate the detection of primary indoor pollutants, we present the experimental results of polymer-gas interaction between 6 different coating polymers and various solvents. Chemical selectivity of the sensor arrays proved by highly distinctive real-time sensor graphs as well as apparent clusters in PCA graph confirms that this integrated FBAR-CMOS sensor arrays can be an essential platform for the miniaturized indoor air-quality monitoring device.

Aims To investigate the efficacy and prognosis associated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced mucinous rectal cancer (MRC). Methods Our analysis included 412 patients who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer. Among these patients, 30 had MRC and 382 had nonmucinous rectal cancer (NMRC). Tumor downstaging, defined as a lower pathologic stage than clinical stage, and survival were compared between MRC and NMRC. Results Increased frequency of cT4 disease was seen in MRC compared to NMRC (23.3% vs 8.9%, p = 0.021). Complete pathologic response rate and tumor downstaging rate were 0% and 23.3% in MRC and 15.4% and 52.4% in NMRC, respectively (p = 0.025 and p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in disease-free survival between the 2 groups (62.1% vs 75.0% at 5 years, p = 0.170), while there was a significantly lower overall survival in MRC vs NMRC (67.4% vs 88.0% at 5 years, respectively; p = 0.012). When analyzed by stage, the overall survival difference between MRC and NMRC was significant in the cT3 group (71.1% vs 89.1% at 5 years, p = 0.047) and marginally significant in the cT4 group (51.4% vs 74.5% at 5 years, p = 0.053), but not significant in subgroups with the same pathologic stage. Conclusions Mucinous rectal cancer is related to a lower response rate to chemoradiotherapy and poorer prognosis compared to NMRC, even when corrected for clinical stage. The poor prognosis in MRC might be associated with poor responsiveness to preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose To investigate the outcomes of patients with spinal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who were treated by stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Materials and methods This retrospective study evaluated 23 patients who underwent SBRT from October 2008 to August 2012 for 36 spinal metastases from HCC. SBRT consisted of approximately 2 fractionation schedules, which were 18 to 40 Gy in 1 to 4 fractions for group A lesions (n = 15) and 50 Gy in 10 fractions for group B lesions (n = 21). Results The median follow-up period was 7 months (range, 2 to 16 months). Seven patients developed grade 1 or 2 gastrointestinal toxicity, and one developed grade 2 leucopenia. Compression fractures occurred in association with 25% of the lesions, with a median time to fracture of 2 months. Pain relief occurred in 92.3% and 68.4% of group A and B lesions, respectively. Radiologic response (complete and partial response) occurred in 80.0% and 61.9% of group A and B lesions, respectively. The estimated 1-year spinal-tumor progression-free survival rate was 78.5%. The median overall survival period and 1-year overall survival rate were 9 months (range, 2 to 16 months) and 25.7%, respectively. Conclusion SBRT for spinal metastases from HCC is well tolerated and effective at providing pain relief and radiologic response. Because compression fractures develop at a high rate following SBRT for spinal metastases from primary HCC, careful follow up of the patient is required.

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a molecular chaperone, plays important roles in cellular protection against various stressful stimuli and in the regulation of cellular growth and apoptosis. HSP90 has 4 different types of human isoforms; HSP90α, HSP90β, glucose related protein 94 (GRP94) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1). We assessed the differential expression of these HSP90 isoforms in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and the correlation of their expression levels with clinicopathological factors and patient survival rates. This study included 117 SCLCs, comprised of 108 primary and 9 metastatic tumor tissues. We performed immunohistochemical staining for HSP90α, HSP90β, GRP94 and TRAP1 in 117 tumors and found that HSP90α and HSP90β were positive in 11 (9%) and 61 tumors (52%), respectively, most of which showed weak expression, whereas GRP94 and TRAP1 were positive in 115 (98%) and 117 tumors (100%), respectively, the majority of which showed moderate or strong expression. None of the HSP90 isoforms showed significant associations with clinicopathological factors or survival status in patients with SCLC. Our results indicate that GRP94 and TRAP1 might contribute more to the carcinogenesis or biology of SCLC than HSP90α and HSP90β, and that isoform selectivity should be considered when HSP90 inhibitors are studied or utilized for the treatment of SCLC.

The microstructure and characteristics of silicon-incorporated diamond-like carbon film, fabricated using a radio-frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process with hexamethyldisilane [(CH3)3,Si x Si(CH3)3:HMDS] gas as a silicon source, were investigated. Diamond-like carbon films with silicon compositions from 0 to 5 atomic percent were deposited onto ultra-fine grained AZ31 magnesium alloy substrate as buffer layers or multilayers. Si doping led not only to an increase in the bonding ratio (sp3/sp2), but improvements in hardness, critical adhesion, and corrosion resistance. Out of the investigated samples, the multi-deposited silicon diamond-like carbon thin film on magnesium substrate showed the best combination of adhesive, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance properties.

Zirconia matrix ZrO2/CNT composite materials reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes were fabricated using a spark plasma sintering technique. The effects of the amount of CNTs addition, sintering temperature and sintering pressure on the properties of the resulting ZrO2/CNT composites were examined. 0 to 9 vol. % CNTs were dispersed in zirconia powder, and the resulting mixture was sintered. The electrical conductivity, hardness, flexural strength, and density were measured to characterize the composites. The friction and wear properties of the composites were also tested. The flexural strength and friction coefficient of the composites were improved with up to 6 vol.% of CNT addition and the flexural strength showed a close relationship with the relative density of the composite. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing proportion of the CNTs, but the efficiency was reduced at more than 6 vol.% CNTs.

Graphene has recently been attracting increasing attention due to its unique electronic and chemical properties and many potential applications in such fields as semiconductors, energy storage, flexible electronics, biosensors and medical imaging. However, the toxicity of graphene in the case of human exposure has not yet been clarified. Thus, a 5-day repeated inhalation toxicity study of graphene was conducted using a nose-only inhalation system for male Sprague-Dawley rats. A total of three groups (20 rats per group) were compared: (1) control (ambient air), (2) low concentration (0.68 ± 0.14 mg/m3 graphene) and (3) high concentration (3.86 ± 0.94 mg/m3 graphene). The rats were exposed to graphene for 6 h/day for 5 days, followed by recovery for 1, 3, 7 or 28 days. The bioaccumulation and macrophage ingestion of the graphene were evaluated in the rat lungs. The exposure to graphene did not change the body weights or organ weights of the rats after the 5-day exposure and during the recovery period. No statistically significant difference was observed in the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, protein and albumin between the exposed and control groups. However, graphene ingestion by alveolar macrophages was observed in the exposed groups. Therefore, these results suggest that the 5-day repeated exposure to graphene only had a minimal toxic effect at the concentrations and time points used in this study.

To better understand the potential ecotoxicological impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) released into freshwater environments, the toxicities of these nanomaterials were assessed and compared using Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines, including a “Daphniasp., acute immobilization test,” “Fish, acute toxicity test,” and “freshwater alga and cyanobacteria, growth inhibition test.” Based on the estimated median lethal/effective concentrations of AgNPs and AgNWs, the susceptibility to the nanomaterials was different among test organisms (daphnia > algae > fish), suggesting that the AgNPs are classified as “category acute 1” forDaphnia magna, “category acute 2” forOryzias latipes, and “category acute 1” forRaphidocelis subcapitata, while the AgNWs are classified as “category acute 1” forDaphnia magna, “category acute 2” forOryzias latipes, and “category acute 2” forRaphidocelis subcapitata, according to the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals). In conclusion, the present results suggest that more attention should be paid to prevent the accidental or intentional release of silver nanomaterials into freshwater aquatic environments.

Graphene is receiving increased attention due to its potential widespread applications in future. However, the health effects of graphene have not yet been well studied. Therefore, this study examined the pulmonary effects of graphene oxide using male Sprague-Dawley rats and a single 6-hour nose-only inhalation technique. Following the exposure, the rats were allowed to recover for 1 day, 7 days, or 14 days. A total of three groups were compared: control (fresh air), low concentration (0.46±0.06 mg/m3), and high concentration (3.76±0.24 mg/m3). The exposure to graphene oxide did not induce significant changes in the body weights, organ weights, and food consumption during the 14 days of recovery time. The microalbumin and lactate dehydrogenase levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were not significantly changed due to the exposure. Similarly, total cell count, macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and lymphocytes were not significantly altered in the BAL fluid. Plus, the histopathological examination of the rat lungs only showed an uptake of graphene oxide in the alveolar macrophages of the high-concentration group. Therefore, these results demonstrate that the single inhalation exposure to graphene oxide induce minimal toxic responses in rat lungs at the concentrations and time points used in the present study.

While the commercialization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is rapidly expanding, the environmental impact of this nanomaterial is not well understood. Therefore, the present study evaluates the acute aquatic toxicity of SWCNTs towards two freshwater microalgae (Raphidocelis subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris), a microcrustacean (Daphnia magna), and a fish (Oryzias latipes) based on OECD test guidelines (201, 202, and 203). According to the results, the SWCNTs inhibited the growth of the algae R. subcapitata and C. vulgaris with a median effective concentration (EC50) of 29.99 and 30.96 mg/L, respectively, representing “acute category 3” in the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals. Meanwhile, the acute toxicity test using O. latipes and D. magna did not show any mortality/immobilizing effects up to a concentration of 100.00 mg/L SWCNTs, indicating no hazard category in the GHS classification. In conclusion, SWCNTs were found to induce acute ecotoxicity in freshwater microalgae, yet not in D. magna and medaka fish.

The effect of Ca and Mn additions on cast ability, ignition temperature, and electrochemical properties has been investigated in the as-cast magnesium alloys. Not only the remarkable improvement of electrochemical properties but also the ignition prevention of magnesium alloys during melting and casting is achieved by small addition of Ca and Mn into Mg. Flow length of the specimens decrease with an increase of Ca content. Serious decrease of flow ability in Mg melt is observed in Mg-1.31wt%Ca alloy. However, flow length of Mg-Ca alloys is negligibly influenced by small amounts of Mn addition. The improved performance of Mg-Ca alloys is attributed to the homogeneous and refined microstructures with extremely electronegative potential of Ca. It is considered from that serious reduction in flow length of Mg-1.31wt%Ca alloy is due to cast from large solidification interval.

A MEMS methanol reformer was fabricated and its performance was evaluated in the present study. Catalytic steam reforming of methanol was selected because the process had been widely applied in macro scale reformers. Conventional Cu/ZnO catalyst that was prepared by co-precipitation method to give the highest coating quality was used. The reactor structure was made by bonding three layers of glass wafers. The internal structure of the wafer was fabricated by the wet-etching process that resulted in a high aspect ratio. The internal surface of the reactor was coated by catalyst and individual wafers were fusion-bonded to form the reactor structure. The internal volume of the microfabricated reactor was and the reactor produced exhaust gas with hydrogen concentration at 73%. The production rate of hydrogen was 4.16 ml/hr that could generate power of 350 mW in a typical PEM fuel cell.

The increased use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) raises issues regarding the quality of cryopreserved UCB. This study investigated whether early apoptosis of CD34+ cells is part of the functional heterogeneity of cryopreserved UCB. Annexin V binding of CD34+ PI(-) cells showed wide variations in both fresh and cryopreserved UCBs, with greater variation among units frozen for > 5 years. Xenotransplantation of sorted cells into non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficient mice demonstrated that the Annexin V assay identified most repopulating activities in UCB units. Thus, early apoptosis of CD34+ cells could influence the outcome of transplantation using cryopreserved UCB.

The interfacial reaction between 42Sn-58Bi solder (in wt.% unless specified otherwise) and electroless Ni-P/immersion Au was investigated before and after thermal aging, with a focus on the formation and growth of an intermetallic compound layer, consumption of under bump metallurgy (UBM), and bump shear strength. The immersion Au layer with thicknesses of 0 µm (bare Ni), 0.1 µm, and 1 µm was plated on a 5-µm-thick layer of electroless Ni-P (with 14–15 at.% P). The 42Sn-58Bi solder balls were then fabricated on three different UBM structures by using screen printing and pre-reflow. A Ni3Sn4 layer formed at the joint interface after the pre-reflow for all three UBM structures. On aging at 125°C, a quaternary phase, identified as Sn77Ni15Bi6Au2, was observed above the Ni3Sn4 layer in the UBM structures that contain Au. The thick Sn77Ni15Bi6Au2 layer degraded the integrity of the solder joint, and the shear strength of the solder bump was about 40% less than the nonaged joints.

DIN CK35 (JIS S35CK) steels have been used as a material in fuel pump blocks for marine engines. Failures in the inner surface of a drilling hole, due to the initiation of fatigue cracks have been frequently reported. However, the mechanism initiating these cracks and growths has not been clearly diagnosed yet. This study was conducted using a scraped fuel pump block, containing an initiated fatigue crack in the inner surface of a drilling hole. Initially, the cracks and fractured surfaces inside the block were investigated using an optical microscope and a SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). In addition, microstructure observation, fatigue life test and fatigue crack growth test were performed using a specimen, which was taken from the same block. Results from these tests are summarized as follows; (1) The early crack in the block was supposed to occur inside the inner surface of the drilling hole. (2) The fatigue endurance of this material was about 330 Mpa. (3) The early crack was generated in the cavitations created by the breakdown of a big inclusion, or separation between the big inclusion and the base metal, in which the fundamental ingredients of the inclusion were C, 5, and Mn. (4) In order to prevent these types of failures, the suppression of inclusions inflow by improving the casting process, formation of fine inclusions by applying a heat treatment process, and coating of the surface of the drilling hole were required.

Novel (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors were successfully prepared by a solid-state reaction method. The prepared (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors showed a single intense broadband emission in a range from 502 to 510 nm. The effects of the Eu2+ doping concentration on the optical properties were discussed under consideration of concentration quenching. The experimental results clearly indicates that the prepared (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors have great potentials as a down-conversion green phosphor for white light emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing blue LEDs as the primary light source.

The effect of deformation temperature and extrusion ratio on microstructure and superplastic flow in Al composite reinforced by Si 3 N 4p or Si 3 N 4w was investigated. TEM micrographs and EDS analysis of the composites prepared with various reduction ratio and deformation temperature after tensile-test shows that concentration of the additive elements occurs at the interfaces and the analytical values depend on the sampling points. Out of Al composites tensile-tested at various deformation temperatures, the largest elongation is obtained at temperatures close the onset temperature for partial melting determined by DTA. Also, it can be seen average grain sizes of the matrix are reduced as increasing extrusion ratio and finally become 1-2 μm, and that a distribution of the Si 3 N 4 crystals becomes uniformly by the extrusion with high reduction ratio (≤44:1). In particular, interfacial reaction become strongly with increasing the reduction ratio.

The nucleation density of diamond films produced by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition was enhanced up to four times using a cyclic methane flow modulation technique. In this technique, the plasma composition is alternated for short periods between a combination of methane and hydrogen and hydrogen only. This results in alternate periods of deposition and etching for the nucleation run. The highest nucleation density, 1.8×108 cm−2, was obtained for the highest methane:hydrogen ratio of 8:200 sccm at a growing/etching time ratio of 180/30 s for 10.5 min over 3 h total time on the glass substrates. The grain size likewise increased up to 0.85 μm with a higher growing/etching time ratio. In contrast, the diamond quality, as measured by the relative intensity of Raman peaks corresponding to diamond and amorphous carbon was inversely related with the growing/etching time ratio.

An analytic approach has been employed to study condensate film thickness distribution inside cave-shaped cavity of a flat plate heat pipe. The results indicate that the condensate film thickness largely depends on mass flow rate and local velocity of condensate. The increasing rate of condensate film for circular region reveals about 50% higher value than that of vertical region. The physical properties of working fluid affect significantly the condensate film thickness, such as the condensate film thickness for the case of FC-40 are 5 times larger than that of water. In comparison with condensation on a vertical wall, the average heat transfer coefficient in the cave-shaped cavity presented 10-15% lower values due to the fact that the average film thickness formed inside the cave-shaped cavity was larger than that of the vertical wall with an equivalent flow length. A correlation formula which is based on the condensate film analysis for the cave-shaped cavity to predict average heat transfer coefficient is presented. Also, the critical minimum fill charge ratio of working fluid based on condensate film analysis has been predicted, and the minimum fill charge ratios for FC-40 and water are about ??? = 3~7%, ???/=0.5-1.3%, respectively, in the range of heat flux ?"=5~90kW/㎡

To test the hypothesis that the availability of glucose or its precursors can influence the response of milk protein concentration to the intravenous infusion of amino acids, five cows were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design with period lengths of 7 d. The five treatments were the basal diet of grass silage ad lib. plus 5 kg/d of a cereal-based supplement containing feather meal (Basal); Basal plus 4 g/d histidine, 8 g/d methionine and 26 g/d lysine (4H); Basal plus 8 g/d histidine, 8 g/d methionine and 26 g/d lysine (8H); and these two amino acid mixtures together with 600 g/d of glucose (4HG and 8HG respectively). Earlier experiments with this basal diet had shown that histidine was first-limiting for secretion of milk protein, followed by methionine and lysine. The yield of milk protein was increased progressively with the amount of histidine infused. The efficiency of transfer of histidine into milk protein was 0·42 for the 4H and 4HG and 0·35 for the 8H and 8HG treatments, and the concentration of milk protein was increased over Basal by all infusion treatments. However, milk protein concentrations were higher, and lactose concentrations in the milk were lower, in the absence of added glucose. Concentrations of insulin in blood plasma were not affected by treatment. It is concluded that, with the treatments without added glucose, a shortage of glucose prevented an increase in lactose secretion, and hence limited the increase in milk yield, leading to an increased concentration of protein in the milk.

The sulfide capacity and the activity of MnO in the MnO-TiO 2 system were measured at 1 723 K. Also, the phase equilibria of the MnO-TiO 2 -MnS system were estimated by measuring the solubility of MnS in the melts. The thermodynamic behavior of MnO and TiO 2 in the MnO-TiO 2 system exhibits a negative deviation from ideality at 1 723 K. The sulfide capacity increases and the activity coefficient of MnS decreases with increasing MnO content in the MnO-TiO 2 system. The solubility of MnS in the MnO-TiO 2 system increases with increasing MnO content up to about 50 mol%, followed by nearly constant value of about 80 mass% MnS. The solubility of MnS equilibrated with MnO is in good correspondence with the value obtained from the phase diagram of the MnO-MnS binary system. Compared with the phase diagram of the MnO-SiO 2 -MnS system, a homogeneous liquid region in the MnO-TiO 2 -MnS system is found to be wider at the same temperature. The activity of MnS increases with increasing MnS content at a fixed MnO/TiO 2 ratio in the MnO-TiO 2 -MnS system. Also, the activity slightly decreases with increasing TiO 2 content at a fixed MnS/MnO ratio, whilst MnS activity rapidly decreases by increasing the content of MnO at a constant TiO 2 /MnS ratio.

As part of the public involvement initiative undertaken for Pennsylvania’s new long-range transportation plan (PennPlan), an attitudinal survey was administered to a sample of residents in the state. A few survey issues and an in-depth analysis of the survey questions are summarized. Information is provided on ( a) the purpose of the survey, its components, and underlying themes; ( b) the administration of the survey, its advantages and disadvantages, and possible solutions to improve the survey administration process; and ( c) an in-depth analysis of the grades and importance ratings assigned to various aspects of the existing transportation system. The last issue receives particular emphasis. To compensate for the large number of nonresponses and the systematic response for the grades and importance ratings, the analysis was done in two steps. The first step uses sample selectivity to determine if systematic patterns existed between the residents who did and the residents who did not assign grades and importance ratings to certain aspects of the existing transportation system as functions of personal and residence characteristics. The results of this step were then used to “adjust” the coefficients in an ordered probit regression model that explains resident grades and importance ratings for the valid responses. By doing this, the models can account for the systematic nonresponse and yield models of responses on the basis of which unbiased inferences can be made.

Activity and travel demand analysis can be greatly improved by a more realistic description of the relationship between activity engagement and trip-making behavior when person and household variation are accounted for jointly. Four activity pattern groups and four travel pattern groups, obtained in the past using cluster analysis and applied to behavioral indicators (e.g., activity frequency and duration), are analyzed using multinomial logit and multilevel multinomial logit (multi-MNL) models. All models include temporal, spatial (residence and workplace), household, and person effects. The multilevel models, designed for hierarchical data structures, also include correlated random components among the pattern options at the household and person levels. First, past research results are confirmed that contextual variables (e.g., household, neighborhood, time) are important explanatory variables for these activity and travel patterns and that temporal effects are much stronger for activity pattern groups than for travel pattern groups. Then, using the multi-MNL models, a complex structure in unobserved heterogeneity is identified in which choices are correlated among some patterns at the household level and among other patterns at the person level. Both travel and activity pattern analyses, however, indicate that unobserved heterogeneity should be accounted for at both levels when regression models are estimated.

The effects of intra-abomasal infusion of a mixture of -casomorphins on circulating concentrations of insulin and glucose prestimulated by either abomasal (experiment 1) or intravenous (experiment 2) glucose were studied using non-lactating dairy cows. In both experiments, bolus infusion of 240 mg of a mixture of three beta-casomorphins (beta-casomorphin-4-amide, -5 and -7) was given via an abomasal infusion line. The beta-casomorphins significantly lowered the responses of serum insulin to both abomasal and intravenous glucose infusions (P

The air gap formation process at the casting/mold interface of a hollow cylinder casting was investigated for alloys solidifying in a mushy type by measuring the displacements of the casting and the mold surfaces during solidification. The formation process of the air gap between the convex casting surface and the outer mold and the heat-transfer coefficient through the gap have been well documented by previous publications. However, the air gap between the concave casting surface and the inner mold, or the core, was found to form differently during mushy solidification, in which the air gap formed during solidification, reached a maximum gap distance, and then decreased due to the contraction of the solidified casting on the expanding inner mold. The gap formation was caused by an inward collapse of the coherent dendrite networks at the concave interface because of low pressure inside of the casting due to solidification shrinkage. The coherent dendrite networks at the convex interface did not collapse inward. The heat-transfer coefficients estimated by measuring the air gap thickness showed a similar tendency to the calculated values obtained by the inverse heat-conduction analysis.

This study aims to determine the risk factors for lateral pelvic recurrence (LPR) in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and curative surgery. Four hundred forty-three patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT and curative surgery from October 1999 through June 2009 were analyzed. All patients underwent total mesorectal resection without lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) dissection. Recurrence patterns and lateral pelvic recurrence-free survival (LPFS) were evaluated relative to clinicopathologic parameters including pelvic LN status. Median follow-up was 52 months, with locoregional recurrence in 53 patients (11.9 %). Of the 53 patients, 28 (52.8 %) developed LPR, of which eight had both central and lateral PR. Multivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between LPFS and the number of lateral pelvic LN (p = 0.010) as well as the ratio of the number of positive LN/number of dissected LN (p = 0.038). The relationship between LPFS and LPLN size had a marginal trend (p = 0.085). Logistic regression analysis showed positive relationships between LPR probability and the number of LPLN (odds ratio [OR] 1.507; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.177–1.929; p = 0.001) as well as LPLN size (OR 1.124; CI 1.029–1.227, p = 0.009). LPLN ≥ 2 and a ratio of the number of positive LN/number of dissected LN > 0.3 were prognostic of poor LPFS. The prediction curve of LPR according to the number and size of LPLN could be useful for determining the benefit of additional lateral pelvic treatment.

Novel (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors were successfully prepared by a solid-state reaction method. The prepared (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors showed a single intense broadband emission in a range from 502 to 510 nm. The effects of the Eu2+ doping concentration on the optical properties were discussed under consideration of concentration quenching. The experimental results clearly indicates that the prepared (Ba1_xEu(x))9Y2Si6O24 green phosphors have great potentials as a down-conversion green phosphor for white light emitting diodes (LEDs) utilizing blue LEDs as the primary light source.

Failures in IT electronics are often caused by falling or external shocks during transportation. These failures cause customers to mistrust the reliability of the products. Many manufacturers of IT electronics have not only used cushioning materials but also increased the shock resistance of their products for failure prevention. Especially in case of printer products, the design of the packaging and the product robustness are extremely important because of their substantial weight and the fragility of the internal modules. For product design, it is essential to understand the impact failure mechanism of the products. In this study, a compression test, a drop impact test, and a finite element analysis (FEA) were performed to analyze the dynamic behaviors of a packaged multifunction printer (MFP). The mechanical properties of a cushioning material were measured by compression tests. The FE models of the cushion packaging and the MFP included the physical characteristics of the internal modules, and their dynamic behaviors were obtained using the commercial software ls-dyna3d. Simulation results were also compared with drop test results to verify the proposed FE models. The shock resistance of the MFP was assessed by stress analysis and strength evaluation. We also expect our FE models will be useful for evaluating the fragility of the internal modules because the models can numerically estimate the shock acceleration profiles of the internal modules, which are difficult to measure experimentally.

Aim The study aimed to determine the adequacy of the distal margin in patients having preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by restorative surgery for rectal cancer. Method A total of 368 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated for cure at our institution between July 1999 and March 2009 were included in the study. All underwent preoperative CRT and sphincter-sparing surgery. The distal margin and other factors were examined for their effect on recurrence and survival. The median duration of follow-up was 48 months. Results The length of distal margin ranged from 0 to 9.0 cm (median 1.5 cm). The pelvic control and disease-free survival rates at 5 years for patients with a margin of ≤ 3 mm were no different from those in whom it was > 3 mm (P = 0.6 and 0.8). The 5-year pelvic control rates between the ≤ 3 mm and > 3 mm groups were 66.7 and 86.2% in patients with a ypT3–4 tumour (P = 0.049) and 70.0 and 89.1% in patients who showed no response to CRT (P = 0.039). Conclusion The results suggest that a distal margin of

We conducted retrospective analyses to investigate the clinical outcome of thoracic esophageal cancer patients who were treated with high-dose radiation therapy (RT) alone by moderate hypofractionation due to medical unfitness or refusal to receive either surgery or chemo-radiotherapy. Between May 2003 and April 2013, 70 patients were treated with high-dose RT alone with curative aim. The planned total RT dose was 60 Gy in daily 3.0 Gy per fraction. We evaluated the survival outcome, toxicities, and prognostic factors affecting patients’ survival. At the time of analysis, 32 patients experienced disease progression. The 2-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and local control (LC) rates were 52.1%, 57.8%, and 68.2%, respectively. Among them, 25 patients had superficial (cT1a-b) esophageal cancers, and the 2-year OS, CSS, and LC rates were 80.0%, 87.3%, and 81.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that cT disease (P