Gas-phase Mass Transfer Resistance in Rotational-current Tray

In this report, the average holding time of gas in foaming layer and the number of transfer units based on gas-phase of the Rotational-current tray were considered experimentally. The average holding time was determined by water-air system. On the other hand, the number of transfer units was determined by water-ammonia-air system that gas-phase resistance controlled. The average holding time increases with gas and liquid velocities, and does not change with the tray dimensions clearly. From the experimental results of the number of transfer units, it was found that the tray can be operated at high efficiency up to larger gas and liquid flow rates than that of sieve trays

Liquid-phase Mass Transfer Resistance in Rotational-current Tray

The liquid phase mass transfer resistance in the Rotational-current tray is one of the most important factors in its design and performance. In this report, the holding time of liquid on the tray was studied experimentally by water-air system, and then the desorption tests were carried out by water-oxygen-air system that the liquid phase resistance were controlling. From the results of these experiments, it was found that the gas flow rate and the holding time of liquid on the tray control the tray efficiency strongly. Thus, the experimental equation for the number of transfer units based on liquid phase was derived. And also, it was found that this type of tray can be operated at high efficiency with a higher gas rate than the Kittel tray and the sieve tray without downcomer

Liquid Holdup on Rotational-current Tray

Recently various trays in which mass transfer operations are carried out have been developed, and the authors have designed one of the rotational-current tray which is designed to direct flow of ascending gas horizontally across the tray surface. In this report, as a fundamental study for mass transfer on this tray, flow mechanism and liquid holdup on the tray are considered experimentally. Experiments are carried out by water-air, methanol-water air and gricerinewater-air systems

Correlation of Flooding Velocities in plate columns without Downcomer

Flooding velocities of plate columns are an upper limit of stable operational range, and also a very important factor for design and operation of the plate columns. In order to study the flooding velocities, various types of plate columns without downcomer (sieve trays, sieve trays with holes of two different diameters, turbo-grid trays, two types of ripple trays and rotational-current trays) were used. The flooding velocities of these trays were found to be well correlated by modifing the correlation of flooding velocities in the packed columns which was proposed by Zenz and Eckert. The shape factor in the correlation has its own correlation according to each type of the trays mentioned above

Usefulness of the serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio as a blood biomarker for sarcopenia components among age groups in community-dwelling older people: The SONIC study

Fang W., Godai K., Kabayama M., et al. Usefulness of the serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio as a blood biomarker for sarcopenia components among age groups in community-dwelling older people: The SONIC study. Geriatrics and Gerontology International , (2024); https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14876.Aim: The serum creatinine/cystatin C ratio (CCR) or sarcopenia index is considered a useful marker of muscle mass. However, its usefulness in late-stage older adults remains unclear. We aimed to determine the usefulness of CCR as an indicator of sarcopenia in community-dwelling Japanese adults aged >75 years. Methods: Our study recruited participants aged 70, 80, and 90 ± 1 years during the baseline years, and included a 3-year follow-up in the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, Investigation with Centenarians study. From 2015 to 2018, 955 participants were eligible: 367 in their 70s, 304 in their 80s, and 284 in their 90s. The diagnostic components of sarcopenia, including “low muscle mass, plus low muscle strength, and/or low physical performance,” were evaluated using the bioelectrical impedance analysis-measured skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), handgrip strength, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score, respectively, in accordance with the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Separate analyses were performed between each component and CCR, adjusting for sex, body mass index, and other blood biomarkers in each group. Results: The relationship between CCR and sarcopenia components was significant for handgrip strength (β = 0.21, 0.13, 0.19, and P < 0.0001, =0.0088, <0.0001, for the 70s, 80s, and 90s age groups, respectively); however, it was limited for SMI (β = 0.14; P = 0.0022, only for the 90s) and not significant for the SPPB score. Conclusion: CCR is a limited indicator of sarcopenia in late-stage older adults. Although its association with muscle strength was significant, its relationship with muscle mass and physical performance was less pronounced

Computed Tomography Findings for Diagnosing Follicular Thyroid Neoplasms

Since no diagnostic method has been established to distinguish follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) from follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA), surgery has been the only way to reach a diagnosis of follicular neoplasm. Here we investigated the computed tomography (CT) features of follicular neoplasms, toward the goal of being able to identify specific CT features allowing the preoperative differentiation of FTC from FTA. We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 205 patients who underwent preoperative CT of the neck and were histopathologically diagnosed with FTC (n=31) or FTA (n=174) after surgery between January 2002 and June 2016 at several hospitals in Japan. In each of these 205 cases, non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT images were obtained, and we analyzed the CT features. On univariate analysis, inhomogeneous features of tumor lesions on contrast-enhanced CT were more frequently observed in FTC than in FTA (p=0.0032). A multivariate analysis identified inhomogeneous features of tumor lesions on contrast-enhanced CT images as an independent variable indicative of FTC (p=0.0023). CT thus offers diagnostic assistance in distinguishing FTC from FTA