Experimental research on the Stirling engine

Experiments on Stirling engines of the 50 KW class were conducted to clarify the characteristics of the engine and its problems. The problems involve durability of the high temperature heat exchanger which is exposed to high flame temperatures above 1600 C, thermal distortion and high temperature corrosion of the devices near combustion, and of the preheater

Baryon stopping and saturation physics in relativistic collisions

We investigate baryon transport in relativistic heavy-ion collisions at energies reached at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron, BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC), and CERN LHC in the model of saturation. An analytical scaling law is derived within the color glass condensate framework based on small-coupling QCD. Transverse momentum spectra, net-baryon rapidity distributions and their energy, mass and centrality dependences are well described. In a comparison with RHIC data in Au + Au collisions at sqrt (s_NN) = 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV, the gradual approach to the gluon saturation regime is investigated, and limits for the saturation-scale exponent are determined. Predictions for net-baryon rapidity spectra and the mean rapidity loss in central Pb + Pb collisions at LHC energies of sqrt (s_NN) = 5.52 TeV are made.Comment: 11 pages, 10 Figures; improved figure inscriptions, corrected typos, minor changes in text/titl

Baryon Stopping as a new Probe of Geometric Scaling

We suggest to use net-baryon rapidity distributions in central relativistic heavy-ion collisions at SPS, RHIC and LHC energies in order to probe saturation physics. Within the color glass condensate framework based on small-coupling QCD, net-baryon rapidity distributions are shown to exhibit geometric scaling. In a comparison with RHIC data in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV the gradual approach to the gluon saturation regime is investigated. Predictions for net-baryon rapidity spectra and the mean rapidity loss in central Pb + Pb collisions at LHC energies of sqrt (s_NN) = 5.5 TeV are made.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures; calculation and figures now for net baryons instead of net protons; modified conclusion

Development and validation of new cryogenic cavitation model for rocket turbopump inducer

A rocket propellant is often used cryogenic fluid such as liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen, and it is known that a suction performance of turbopump inducer (Fig.1) in cryogenic fluid is improved due to Thermodynamic effect . Thermodynamic effect can be explained by temperature decrease inside a cavity region arising from the latent heat absorption. Although this effect is also to be observed in water cavitation, it becomes more accentuated in cryogenic fluid. In order to properly understand the cavitation performance of the inducer, this thermodynamic effect should not be overlooked. In the present study, cryogenic cavitation model without energy equation was established. During the design phase of an inducer, wall clock time of CFD simulation becomes an important point, therefore, equation number should be small. The present model considers that temperature decrease due to latent heat absorption is analytically estimated. Validation calculations were carried out for blunt head form and hydrofoil for water cavitation and two-dimensional blunt body, Laval nozzle and inducer for cryogenic fluids.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/84260/1/CAV2009-final63.pd

Characterization of organosulfur monolayer formation at gold electrodes

Among the many types of organic films, covalently-attached organosulfur monolayers have attracted a great deal of attention. The authors have focused their interest on the fundamental characterization of spontaneously adsorbed organosulfur monolayers. An introductory chapter presents general aspects of monolayer preparation and characterization, followed by a few examples that illustrate the range of applications of these films. This thesis contains two papers. In the first paper, three analogous monolayer precursors are studied to determine their similarities and differences in the monolayer structure. A GC-MS analysis of products form the chemisorption process and open circuit potential measurements are used to derive possible mechanisms behind monolayer formation. The second paper focuses on monolayers formed from thioctic acid, including its characterization and application to cytochrome c electrochemistry. Although thiols and disulfides have been extensively studied as monolayer precursors, thioctic acid is particularly interesting because the disulfide functionality of this asymmetric molecule is contained in a strained five-membered ring. Given the ring strain, steric bulk and asymmetry of the molecule, the study of these monolayers lend insight into the factors important for the formation of organosulfur monolayers. This thesis concludes with a general summary and directions for future studies. 40 refs

NF-κB Activation in Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells by TNF and LPS

Post-natal human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) represent a unique precursor population in the dental pulp, which has multipotential and can regenerate a dentin/pulp-like structure. Because the dental pulp is frequently infected by oral bacteria due to dental decay, in this study, we examined whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activated the immunologic transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in DPSCs. We found that both TNF and LPS activated the I-kappa B kinase complex (IKK) in DPSCs to induce the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, resulting in the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Consistently, both TNF and LPS rapidly induced the expression of the NF-κB-dependent gene interleukin-8 (IL-8). However, unlike in monocytes, we found that LPS could not induce the phosphorylation of the NF-κB active subunit p65 in DPSCs. In summary, our studies suggest that DPSCs may be involved in immune responses during pulpal infection through activating NF-κB

Techno-economic evaluation of reducing shielding gas consumption in GMAW whilst maintaining weld quality

A new method of supplying shielding gases in an alternating manner has been developed to enhance the efficiency of conventional gas metal arc welding (GMAW). However, the available literature on this advanced joining process is very sparse and no cost evaluation has been reported to date. In simple terms, the new method involves discretely supplying two different shielding gases to the weld pool at predetermined frequencies which creates a dynamic action within the liquid pool. In order to assess the potential benefits of this new method from a technical and cost perspective, a comparison has been drawn between the standard shielding gas composition of Ar/20%CO2, which is commonly used in UK and European shipbuilding industries for carbon steels, and a range of four different frequencies alternating between Ar/20%CO2 and helium. The beneficial effects of supplying the weld shielding gases in an alternating manner were found to provide attractive benefits for the manufacturing community. For example, the present study showed that compared with conventional GMAW, a 17 per cent reduction in total welding cost was achieved in the case of the alternating gas method and savings associated with a reduction in the extent of post-weld straightening following plate distortion were also identified. Also, the mechanical properties of the alternating case highlighted some marginal improvements in strength and Charpy impact toughness which were attributed to a more refined weld microstructure

Premartensitic Transition in Ni2+xMn1-xGa Heusler Alloys

The temperature dependencies of the resistivity and magnetization of a series of Ni2+XMn1-XGa (X = 0 - 0.09) alloys were investigated. Along with the anomalies associated with ferromagnetic and martensitic transitions, well-defined anomalies were observed at the temperature of premartensitic transformation. The premartensitic phase existing in a temperature range 200 - 260 K in the stoichiometric Ni2MnGa is suppressed by the martensitic phase with increasing Ni content and vanishes in Ni2.09Mn0.91Ga composition