Flash-point prediction for binary partially miscible mixtures of flammable solvents

Flash point is the most important variable used to characterize fire and explosion hazard of liquids. Herein, partially miscible mixtures are presented within the context of liquid-liquid extraction processes. This paper describes development of a model for predicting the flash point of binary partially miscible mixtures of flammable solvents. To confirm the predictive efficacy of the derived flash points, the model was verified by comparing the predicted values with the experimental data for the studied mixtures: methanol + octane; methanol + decane; acetone + decane; methanol + 2,2,4-trimethylpentane; and, ethanol + tetradecane. Our results reveal that immiscibility in the two liquid phases should not be ignored in the prediction of flash point. Overall, the predictive results of this proposed model describe the experimental data well. Based on this evidence, therefore, it appears reasonable to suggest potential application for our model in assessment of fire and explosion hazards, and development of inherently safer designs for chemical processes containing binary partially miscible mixtures of flammable solvents

Personality and the happiness of others : a study among 13- to 15-year-old adolescents

This study was designed to assess the level of concern for the happiness of others among a sample of 13- to 15-year-old adolescents in England (N=3,095) and to test the theory that concern for the happiness of others occupies a different psychological space (within Eysenck’s three dimensional model of personality) from the space occupied by personal happiness. The data demonstrated a high level of concern for the happiness of others, with 84% of the adolescents saying that, ‘It is important to me to make other people happy’. While high levels of personal happiness are generally shown to be associated with low neuroticism and high extraversion (stable extraversion), these data demonstrated high levels of concern for the happiness of others tend to be associated with high neuroticism, high extraversion, high social conformity, and low psychoticism

Development of a commercial induction cooker

Author name used in this publication: Y. LuAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. E. ChengAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. ChanAuthor name used in this publication: S. W. ZhaoRefereed conference paper2008-2009 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Leakage field modeling of spiral winding transformer for contactless power converters

Author name used in this publication: K. W. E. ChengAuthor name used in this publication: Y. LuAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. ChanAuthor name used in this publication: Y. L. KwokAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. KwokAuthor name used in this publication: X. D. XueRefereed conference paper2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

Lactobacillus acidophilus ameliorates H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation by inactivating the Smad7 and NFκB pathways

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>H. pylori </it>infection may trigger Smad7 and NFκB expression in the stomach, whereas probiotics promote gastrointestinal health and improve intestinal inflammation caused by pathogens. This study examines if probiotics can improve <it>H. pylori</it>-induced gastric inflammation by inactivating the Smad7 and NFκB pathways.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Challenge with <it>H. pylori </it>increased IL-8 and TNF-α expressions but not TGF-β1 in MKN45 cells. The RNA levels of Smad7 in AGS cells increased after <it>H. pylori </it>infection in a dose-dependent manner. A higher dose (MOI 100) of <it>L. acidophilus </it>pre-treatment attenuated the <it>H. pylori</it>-induced IL-8 expressions, but not TGF-β1. Such anti-inflammatory effect was mediated via increased cytoplasmic IκBα and depletion of nuclear NFκB. <it>L. acidophilus </it>also inhibited <it>H. pylori</it>-induced Smad7 transcription by inactivating the Jak1 and Stat1 pathways, which might activate the TGF-β1/Smad pathway. <it>L. acidophilus </it>pre-treatment ameliorated IFN-γ-induced Smad7 translation level and subsequently reduced nuclear NF-κB production, as detected by western blotting.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>H. pylori </it>infection induces Smad7, NFκB, IL-8, and TNF-α production <it>in vitro</it>. Higher doses of <it>L. acidophilus </it>pre-treatment reduce <it>H. pylori</it>-induced inflammation through the inactivation of the Smad7 and NFκB pathways.</p

Extending the wavelength range of multi-spectral microscope systems with Fourier ptychography

Due to the chromatic dispersion properties inherent in all optical materials, even the best designed multi-spectral objective will exhibit residual chromatic aberration effect. Here we show that the aberration correction ability of Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy (FPM) is well matched and well suited for post-image acquisition correction of these effects to render in-focus images. We show that an objective with significant spectral focal shift (up to 0.02 μm/nm) and spectral field curvature (up to 0.05 μm/nm drift at off-axis position of 800μm) can be computationally corrected to render images with effectively null spectral defocus and field curvature. This approach of combining optical objective design and computational microscopy provides a good strategy for high quality multi-spectral imaging over a broad spectral range, and eliminating the need for mechanical actuation solutions

Sensor Fabrication Method for in Situ Temperature and Humidity Monitoring of Light Emitting Diodes

In this work micro temperature and humidity sensors are fabricated to measure the junction temperature and humidity of light emitting diodes (LED). The junction temperature is frequently measured using thermal resistance measurement technology. The weakness of this method is that the timing of data capture is not regulated by any standard. This investigation develops a device that can stably and continually measure temperature and humidity. The device is light-weight and can monitor junction temperature and humidity in real time. Using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), this study minimizes the size of the micro temperature and humidity sensors, which are constructed on a stainless steel foil substrate (40 μm-thick SS-304). The micro temperature and humidity sensors can be fixed between the LED chip and frame. The sensitivities of the micro temperature and humidity sensors are 0.06 ± 0.005 (Ω/°C) and 0.033 pF/%RH, respectively

Confinement effects on flows past an in-duct rectangular bluff body with semi-circular leading edge

2011-2012 > Academic research: refereed > Chapter in an edited book (author)Version of RecordPublishe

Life expectancies and incidence rates of patients under prolonged mechanical ventilation: a population-based study during 1998 to 2007 in Taiwan

[[abstract]]Introduction: The present study examined the median survival, life expectancies, and cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) stratified by different underlying diseases.Methods: According to the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, there were 8,906,406 individuals who obtained respiratory care during the period from 1997 to 2007. A random sample of this population was performed, and subjects who had continuously undergone mechanical ventilation for longer than 21 days were enrolled in the current study. Annual incidence rates and the CIR were calculated. After stratifying the patients according to their specific diagnoses, latent class analysis was performed to categorise PMV patients with multiple co-morbidities into several groups. The life expectancies of different groups were estimated using a semiparametric method with a hazard function based on the vital statistics of Taiwan.Results: The analysis of 50,481 PMV patients revealed that incidence rates increased as patients grew older and that the CIR (17 to 85 years old) increased from 0.103 in 1998 to 0.183 in 2004 before stabilising thereafter. The life expectancies of PMV patients suffering from degenerative neurological diseases, stroke, or injuries tended to be longer than those with chronic renal failure or cancer. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease survived longer than did those co-morbid with other underlying diseases, especially septicaemia/shock.Conclusions: PMV provides a direct means to treat respiratory tract diseases and to sustain respiration in individuals suffering from degenerative neurological diseases, and individuals with either of these types of conditions respond better to PMV than do those with other co-morbidities. Future research is required to determine the cost-effectiveness of this treatment paradigm