Aspect ratio effects on natural convection in a water-saturated porous cavity near its density maximum

In this study, two-dimensional steady-state solutions of buoyancy-driven convection in a water-saturated porous cavity is conducted numerically for a range of different aspect ratios. The left vertical wall is considered into a partially heating location. The Brinkman–Forchheimer extended Darcy model is used to investigate the average heat transfer rate. The governing equations are solved using a finite volume method. The results obtained for various values of parameters are presented graphically in the form of streamlines, isotherms and velocity at mid-plane of the cavity. In addition, numerical results for the average Nusselt number are presented for various parametric conditions.     

Microelectrofluidic bench using UV-curable rigid polymer fabricated by rapid and low-temperature process

We present a rapid and low-temperature polymer fabrication method based on the direct patterning by UV light. Compared to the conventional polymer micromolding method for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cyclic olefin copolymers (COC), the present method has advantages of rapid fabrication in low-temperature environment. We used an AEO3000, UV-curable low-stress hyper-branched polymer (HBP), as a polymer material. The AEO3000 layer was selectively exposed to UV light by a photomask at room temperature for 3 min. Using the present method, we designed the rigid substrate for the microelectrofluidic bench. The measured electrical and fluidic interconnection characteristics in the bench were 0.75 ± 0.44 Ω and 8.3 kPa (at the flow rate of 100 μl/min), respectively. Both electric and fluidic characteristics were equivalent or lower than the sum of individual devices. We also successfully verified the bio-sample analysis through the interconnected devices on the microelectrofluidic bench using yeast cell samples. The proposed method offers fast and bio-compatible process applicable to biomedical micro total analysis systems.     

Characterization of traditional Korean lacquers using surface analytical techniques

Traditional Korean lacquer films, such as Otchil and Hwangchil, are natural paints extracted from Rhus vernicifera and Dendropanax morbifera trees that grow in the eastern part and on the west and south coast of the Korean Peninsula, respectively. Rhus lacquer has a black color, and Hwangchil has a transparent gold color and a rich camphoric perfume (benzoin). These lacquers have been used since ancient times. In this study, analytical techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS), were used to study the traditional Rhus lacquer and Hwangchil films, avoiding time‐consuming and destructive extraction procedures. To compare the Rhus and Hwangchil lacquers, reference lacquer films were prepared using Rhus and Dendropanax saps. These films were then analyzed using FT‐IR, XPS, and TOF‐SIMS. After establishing the methodology using the reference lacquer films, surface analytical techniques were applied to two different plates painted by an artist. The results suggest that FT‐IR, XPS, and TOF‐SIMS are simple and complementary analytical techniques for the discrimination of old lacquer films. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of Asian lacquer films using ToF‐SIMS and complementary analytical techniques

Lacquer has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years as a natural coating material owing to its durable, adhesive, decorative, and protective properties. Protection and restoration of lacquer‐coated cultural remains has become an important subject, and identification of the lacquer types in old lacquer‐wares has also become very important for conservation and restoration research. This paper provides identification of several molecular species of vegetal‐source Asian lacquers with the aim of providing a methodology for application in the field of cultural heritage. Several chemical markers of the vegetal species in Asian lacquers were identified using a methodology consistent with the sampling restrictions required for cultural‐heritage objects. Surface analytical methods such as time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese lacquers; avoiding time‐consuming and destructive extraction processes. These ToF‐SIMS results provided the structural characterization of a series of catechol derivatives. The ToF‐SIMS spectra of Rhus vernicifera from Korea and China, and Rhus succedanea from Vietnam indicated a series of urushiol and laccol repeat units, respectively, in the mass range of m/z 0–1800. Because of its sensitivity, specificity, and speed of analysis, the ToF‐SIMS technique can be used to investigate cultural lacquer‐coated treasures as well as to discriminate among different Asian lacquer coatings or binding mediums for the conservation or restoration of lacquer‐ware. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid synthesis and consolidation of nanostructured 2MgAl2O4–MgAl2Ti3O10 composite and its mechanical properties

Rapid sintering of nanostructured 2MgAl₂O₄–MgAl₂Ti₃O₁₀ composite in a pulsed current activated sintering process was investigated. The advantage of this process is that it enables very rapid densification to near theoretical density and prevents grain growth in nanostructured materials. Highly dense nanostructured 2MgAl₂O₄–MgAl₂Ti₃O₁₀ composite was produced by simultaneous application of 80 MPa pressure and a pulsed current of 2,800 A for 2 min. The sintering behavior, grain size, and mechanical properties of the 2MgAl₂O₄–MgAl₂Ti₃O₁₀ composite were investigated.     

Mass- and heat-transfer-enhanced catalyst system for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in fixed-bed reactors

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was carried out using Al₂O₃-supported Co catalyst coated on metallic monolith. Considering the liberation of a large amont of heat from the highly exothermic FTS reaction, catalytic activity of Co catalyst coated on metallic monolith was tested and compared with that of pellet-type catalysts. The reaction was carried out in a conventional tubular fixed-bed reactor and simulated distillation (SIMDIS) analysis method was used to determine the liquid products distribution. Proper control of degree of reaction, as well as the reaction temperature gave rise to a shift of products selectivity toward higher hydrocarbons, especially C₁₃?C₁₈ diesel range hydrocarbons.     

Nematic domains and resistivity in an itinerant metamagnet coupled to a lattice

The nature of the emergent phase near a putative quantum critical point in the bilayer ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7 has been a recent subject of intensive research. It has been suggested that this phase may possess electronic nematic order (ENO). In this work, we investigate the possibility of nematic domain formation in the emergent phase, using a phenomenological model of electrons with ENO and its coupling to lattice degrees of freedom. The resistivity due to the scattering off the domain walls is shown to closely follow the ENO parameter. Our results provide qualitative explanations for the dependence of the resistivity on external magnetic fields in Sr3Ru2O7.     

Understanding the effects of diffusion coefficient and exchange current density on the electrochemical model of lithium-ion batteries

The diffusion coefficient and exchange current density are the two dominant parameters that determine the electrochemical characteristics of the electrochemical battery model. Nevertheless, both parameter values are generally adopted from well-known literature or experimental data measured under limited conditions and are sometimes overfitted to match actual electrochemical behaviors without full consideration. Herein, the diffusion coefficients and exchange current densities of a LiNi_0·4Mn_0·3Co_0·3O₂/Li cell are measured and applied to the electrochemical model (based on Newman's model) using four different electrochemical methods: galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Without any fitting, the model adopting the diffusion coefficient and exchange current density measured from PITT and EIS, respectively, simulates the actual voltage–capacity profiles well. Thus, this case study provides a valuable opportunity to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each measurement method in obtaining key experimental parameters for electrochemical battery models.     

Quasi-Baer Rings with Essential Prime Radicals

A ring R is called “quasi-Baer” if the right annihilator of every right ideal is generated, as a right ideal, by an idempotent. It can be seen that a quasi-Baer ring cannot be a right essential extension of a nilpotent right ideal. Birkenmeier asked: Does there exist a quasi-Baer ring which is a right essential extension of its prime radical? We answer this question in the affirmative. Moreover, we provide an example of a quasi-Baer ring in which the right essentiality of the prime radical does not imply the left essentiality of the prime radical.     

Dynamical analysis of an anemoscope in the phase plane

We study the dynamical aspects of an anemoscope indicating a wind direction by constructing a model in the discrete view of fluid. Due to the non-linearity of the rotational equation, the geometrical method is applied for the qualitative analysis. For a given wind direction, there are two fixed points of the parallel and anti-parallel configurations. Near the anti-parallel configuration of the stable fixed point, the anemoscope performs a damped harmonic oscillation. It can be noteworthy that there is always the damping term for both the configurations even in the absence of the non-aerodynamic frictional force from, for example, the axis of rotation. The argument using the index of a closed curve in the phase portrait seems to support the non-existence of periodic solution.