634 research outputs found
REVAMPING OF THE NO. 2-3 SLAB CASTER AT POSCO GWANGYANG: DESIGN, START-UP AND INITIAL OPERATION RESULTS
One of the purposes of revamping the No. 2-3 caster was to have annual production capacity of 3.5 milliontonnes per year for automotive application. Under a given caster length of 47m, the basic requirement underthis value is to achieve 2.7 m/min casting speed for 250mm x 1600mm in slab section. In order to ensurestable operation for this high casting speed, many technologies were newly developed and implementedduring the revamping process. The roller geometry was designed to minimize mould level huntingdue to unsteady bulging. The concept of Intensive secondary cooling was applied to shorten crater endposition as well as to decrease corner transverse cracking by applying the concepts of surface structurecontrol [1]. A movable multi-mode electromagnetic system was designed to control mould flow tomeet diverse operation conditions. An Automatic Ar control system was applied at the caster nozzleto minimize nozzle clogging. This caster was started in Nov. 2007 and went up to 2.7m/min incasting speed very quickly. This paper discusses the behaviour of mould level, mould surface flow andsecondary cooling temperature to the directions of slab width and thickness experienced during casting speedincrease and in particular at 2.7m/min maximum casting speed. Initial productivity and slab-quality resultsare also presented
Two methods for assessment of choline status in a randomized crossover study with varying dietary choline intake in people: Isotope dilution MS of plasma and in vivo single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liver
Background: Choline deficiency has numerous negative health consequences; although the preponderance of the US population consumes less than the recommended Adequate Intake (AI), clinical assessment of choline status is difficult. Further, several pathways involved in primary metabolism of choline are estrogen-sensitive and the AI for premenopausal women is lower than that for men. Objectives: We sought to determine whether in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of liver and/or isotope-dilution MS of plasma could identify biomarkers reflective of choline intake (preregistered primary outcomes 1 and 2, secondary outcome 1). Determination of whether biomarker concentrations showed sex dependence was a post hoc outcome. This substudy is a component of a larger project to identify a clinically useful biomarker panel for assessment of choline status. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, crossover trial, people consumed 3 diets, representative of ∼100%, ∼50%, and ∼25% of the choline AI, for 2-wk periods. We measured the concentrations of choline and several metabolites using 1H single-voxel MRS of liver in vivo and using 2H-labeled isotope dilution MS of several choline metabolites in extracted plasma. Results: Plasma concentrations of 2H9-choline, unlabeled betaine, and 2H9-betaine, and the isotopic enrichment ratio (IER) of betaine showed highly significant between-diet effects (q < 0.0001), with unlabeled betaine concentration decreasing 32% from highest to lowest choline intake. Phosphatidylcholine IER was marginally significant (q = 0.03). Unlabeled phosphatidylcholine plasma concentrations did not show between-diet effects (q = 0.34). 2H9 (trimethyl)-phosphatidylcholine plasma concentrations (q = 0.07) and MRS-measured total soluble choline species liver concentrations (q = 0.07) showed evidence of between-diet effects but this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although MRS is a more direct measure of choline status, variable spectral quality limited interpretation. MS analysis of plasma showed clear correlation of plasma betaine concentration, but not plasma phosphatidylcholine concentration, with dietary choline intake. Plasma betaine concentrations also correlate with sex status (premenopausal women, postmenopausal women, men)
Time and Amplitude of Afterpulse Measured with a Large Size Photomultiplier Tube
We have studied the afterpulse of a hemispherical photomultiplier tube for an
upcoming reactor neutrino experiment. The timing, the amplitude, and the rate
of the afterpulse for a 10 inch photomultiplier tube were measured with a 400
MHz FADC up to 16 \ms time window after the initial signal generated by an LED
light pulse. The time and amplitude correlation of the afterpulse shows several
distinctive groups. We describe the dependencies of the afterpulse on the
applied high voltage and the amplitude of the main light pulse. The present
data could shed light upon the general mechanism of the afterpulse.Comment: 11 figure
Neutron beam test of CsI crystal for dark matter search
We have studied the response of Tl-doped and Na-doped CsI crystals to nuclear
recoils and 's below 10 keV. The response of CsI crystals to nuclear
recoil was studied with mono-energetic neutrons produced by the
H(p,n)He reaction. This was compared to the response to Compton
electrons scattered by 662 keV -ray. Pulse shape discrimination between
the response to these 's and nuclear recoils was studied, and quality
factors were estimated. The quenching factors for nuclear recoils were derived
for both CsI(Na) and CsI(Tl) crystals.Comment: 21pages, 14figures, submitted to NIM
Apolipoprotein J is a hepatokine regulating muscle glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity
Crosstalk between liver and skeletal muscle is vital for glucose homeostasis. Hepatokines, liver-derived proteins that play an important role in regulating muscle metabolism, are important to this communication. Here we identify apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) as a novel hepatokine targeting muscle glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity through a low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-2 (LRP2)-dependent mechanism, coupled with the insulin receptor (IR) signaling cascade. In muscle, LRP2 is necessary for insulin-dependent IR internalization, an initial trigger for insulin signaling, that is crucial in regulating downstream signaling and glucose uptake. Of physiologic significance, deletion of hepatic ApoJ or muscle LRP2 causes insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance, pioglitazone-induced improvement of insulin action is associated with an increase in muscle ApoJ and LRP2 expression. Thus, the ApoJ-LRP2 axis is a novel endocrine circuit that is central to the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity
Single-Band Model for Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors: Dynamical and Transport Properties and Relevance of Clustered States
Dynamical and transport properties of a simple single-band spin-fermion
lattice model for (III,Mn)V diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) is here
discussed using Monte Carlo simulations. This effort is a continuation of
previous work (G. Alvarez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 277202 (2002)) where the static
properties of the model were studied. The present results support the view that
the relevant regime of J/t (standard notation) is that of intermediate
coupling, where carriers are only partially trapped near Mn spins, and locally
ordered regions (clusters) are present above the Curie temperature T_C. This
conclusion is based on the calculation of the resistivity vs. temperature, that
shows a soft metal to insulator transition near T_C, as well on the analysis of
the density-of-states and optical conductivity. In addition, in the clustered
regime a large magnetoresistance is observed in simulations. Formal analogies
between DMS and manganites are also discussed.Comment: Revtex4, 20 figures. References updated, minor changes to figures and
tex
Acetogenin and Prenylated Flavonoids from Helminthostachys zeylanica with Inhibitory Activity on Superoxide Generation and Elastase Release by Neutrophils
One new acetogenin, 6-hydroxy-8-pentadecyloxocane-2,7-dione (1), and four new prenylated flavonoids, 4 '' a,5 '',6 '',7 '',8 '',8 '' a-hexahydro-5,3',4'-trihydroxy-5 '',5 '',8 '' a-trimethyl-4H-chromeno[2 '',3 '': 7,6] flavone (2), 4 '' a,5 '',6 '',7 '',8 '',8 '' a-hexahydro5,3', 4',-trihydroxy-5 '',5 '',8 '' a-trimethyl-4Hchromeno[2 '', 3 '': 7,8] flavone (3), 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)6-((2,2-dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexyl) methyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-chroman-4-one (4), and 2-(3,4-dihydroxy-2-[(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-enyl) methyl] phenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one (5), together with six known compounds, were isolated and purified from the rhizomes of Helminthostachys zeylanica by column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) via bioactivity-guided fractionation isolation. The structures of the new isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1, 3, and 5 showed inhibitory activities on either superoxide anion generation or elastase release by human neutrophils in response to formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (FMLP/CB)
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