Wave diffraction due to trenches and rubble

Two types of boundary element models are developed for the interaction of waves with trenches. The first type is for a two-dimensional domain in the horizontal plane and employs the linear long wave approximations. It is shown that appropriate selection of pit geometries leads to a significant reduction in wave height behind the pits. Wave heights in the lee can be reduced to 10% of the incident wave height by two similar pits that have approximate geometries of one or more wave lengths in the shore parallel direction, one-half a wave length in the cross-shore, a depth three times that of the adjacent water, and spaced approximately one-half wave length apart. Examples are presented which show how to select pit geometries to provide shoreline protection or a harbor area. An example is also presented showing how a properly placed pit can significantly reduce wave heights in a navigation channel. The second type of boundary element models is developed for a two-dimensional domain in the vertical plane and are valid for all water depths. These models are for an infinitely long trench, which can contain rubble. Energy dissipation due to rubble in the trench is estimated using a linearized friction coefficient. Results indicate that highly permeable material in the pit does not significantly degrade (and some specific cases actually improves) the performance of the trench as a breakwater. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove all of the coarse aggregate from the trench. This would significantly reduce the construction cost

Application of a Microreactor in the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane to Propylene on Calcium Hydroxyapatite and Magnesium ortho-Vanadate Doped and Undoped with Palladium

A microreactor was employed for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene in order to suppress a deep oxidation of the resultant propylene to CO and CO2. Magnesium ortho-vanadate, doped and undoped with palladium, and calcium hydroxyapatite, were used as catalysts while the reaction temperature was controlled by steady- and unsteady-state conditions. The enhancement of the selectivity to propylene was the most advantageous effect from using the microreactor, and it occurred when calcium hydroxyapatite was used under an unsteady-state. For example, the selectivity to propylene was 0 and 73.0% using a fixed-bed continuous-flow reactor and the microreactor, respectively, under almost identical propane conversion of 3.1 and 3.2%, respectively. The advantageous effect was also achieved, although to a lesser degree, when magnesium ortho-vanadate was used undoped with palladium under both steady- and unsteady-state conditions. However these advantageous effects of the microreactor were not observed with magnesium ortho-vanadate doped with palladium. With regard to the selectivity to propylene, the redox nature of the catalysts seemed to influence the performance of the microreactor

Randomized controlled trial of daily teriparatide, weekly high-dose teriparatide, or bisphosphonate in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis: The TERABIT study

Purpose: The effects of daily teriparatide (20 μg) (D-PTH), weekly high-dose teriparatide (56.5 μg) (W-PTH), or bisphosphonates (BPs) on areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone turnover markers (BTMs), volumetric BMD (vBMD), microarchitecture, and estimated strength were investigated in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients.Methods: The study participants were 131 women with a history of fragility fractures. They were randomized to receive D-PTH, W-PTH, or BPs (alendronate or risedronate) for 18 months. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), BTMs, and high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 6 and 18 months of treatment. The primary endpoint was the change (%) in cortical thickness (Ct.Th) after 18 months\u27 treatment compared with baseline.Results: DXA showed that D-PTH, W-PTH, and BPs increased lumbar spine aBMD (+12.0%, +8.5%, and +6.8%) and total hip aBMD (+3.0%, +2.1%, and +3.0%), but D-PTH and W-PTH decreased 1/3 radius aBMD (− 4.1%, − 3.0%, − 1.4%) after 18 months. On HR-pQCT, D-PTH increased trabecular vBMD (Tb.vBMD) at the distal radius and tibia after 18 months (+6.4%, +3.7%) compared with the BPs group, decreased cortical volumetric tissue mineral density (Ct.vTMD) (− 1.8%, − 0.9%) compared with the other groups, increased Ct.Th (+1.3%, +3.9%), and increased failure load (FL) (+4.7%, +4.4%). W-PTH increased Tb.vBMD (+5.3%, +1.9%), maintained Ct.vTMD (− 0.7%, +0.2%) compared with D-PTH, increased Ct.Th (+0.6%, +3.6%), and increased FL (+4.9%, +4.5%). The BPs increased Tb.vBMD only in the radius (+2.0%, +0.2%), maintained Ct.vTMD (− 0.6%, +0.3%), increased Ct.Th (+0.5%, +3.4%), and increased FL (+3.9%, +2.8%).Conclusions: D-PTH and W-PTH comparably increased Ct.Th, the primary endpoint. D-PTH had a strong effect on trabecular bone. Although D-PTH decreased Ct.vTMD, it increased Ct.Th and total bone strength. W-PTH had a moderate effect on trabecular bone, maintained Ct.vTMD, and increased Ct.Th and total bone strength to the same extent as D-PTH

STUDIES ON THE SOILS OF MANCHUKUO I. : THE COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE SOILS IN THREE DISTRICTS

Thirty four soils were collected from three districts in Manchukuo and their physical, chemical and biological properties were studied ; and the results were compared with those of Japanese soils. As will be seen in the fore going results, that the marked differences are found among the three soils in three districts of Manchukuo. The soils in the second and third districts are superior to Japanese soil in several points and good for agriculture. But the soils in the first district are all alkaline and too high in its reaction pH and total soluble matter for plant vegetation.是等三地帯の土壌中第一地帯はアルカリ土壌にして反応高く全固形物量又多く養分劣り現在のままにては最劣等たるをまぬかれず。第二地帯・第三地帯土壌は上記の結果より見れば土性土質敦れに於ても毫も日本土壌におとらず。むしろ多くの点に於ては優秀を示せり。只, 概しての欠点は可給態燐酸に於て著しく劣れる点なり。此点に留意するならば將來此地帯の開獲は期待すべきもの多かるべし。已に第二地帯は北満黒土帯として肥沃を唱へられたるものにて無肥料に近き耕作にて今日に及べるものなるが, 第三地帯に關しては農耕地帯としては餘り顧みられざりし地域なるもかかる結果より見れば地味豊沃の所多く特に北部三河地方に於ては北満黒土帯にも劣らざるものと見らる。從來の牧畜に適當に適地を選び農耕を併用せば呼倫貝爾地域は愈ゝ又將來に期待しうるもの多かるべしと思惟さる

Unusual Stability of Acetonitrile-Based Superconcentrated Electrolytes for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries

The development of a stable, functional electrolyte is urgently required for fast-charging and high-voltage lithium-ion batteries as well as next-generation advanced batteries (e.g., Li–O₂ systems). Acetonitrile (AN) solutions are one of the most promising electrolytes with remarkably high chemical and oxidative stability as well as high ionic conductivity, but its low stability against reduction is a critical problem that hinders its extensive applications. Herein, we report enhanced reductive stability of a superconcentrated AN solution (>4 mol dm^–3). Applying it to a battery electrolyte, we demonstrate, for the first time, reversible lithium intercalation into a graphite electrode in a reduction-vulnerable AN solvent. Moreover, the reaction kinetics is much faster than in a currently used commercial electrolyte. First-principle calculations combined with spectroscopic analyses reveal that the peculiar reductive stability arises from modified frontier orbital characters unique to such superconcentrated solutions, in which all solvents and anions coordinate to Li⁺ cations to form a fluid polymeric network of anions and Li⁺ cations