High-pressure fuel spray ignition behavior with hot surface interaction

Fuel-flexible aircraft propulsion systems using compression ignition engines will require novel strategies for reducing the ignition delay of low-reactivity fuels to feasible timescales. Hot surface ignition of fuel sprays has been implemented in some practical situations, but the complex nature of flame formation within the spray structure poses significant challenges. In order to design next-generation ignition devices, the capacity of hot surface heating elements to promote fuel spray ignition must be investigated. In this study, a rapid compression machine (RCM) was used to examine the ignition process of a single kerosene-based F-24 jet fuel spray with a cylindrical heating element inserted into the spray periphery. The experiments, performed with moderately high injection pressures of 40 MPa, have demonstrated two modes of ignition governed by surface temperature and insertion depth of the heating element. There exists an optimal position where the heating element tip is located in the fuel vapor cone around the liquid spray. For this configuration, a critical surface temperature was identified (～1250 K), above which short ignition delays associated with a “spray ignition” mode are consistently achieved. In this case, a local ignition flame kernel propagates downstream to the flame lift-off length before full ignition of the spray. In comparison, below the critical temperature a slower “volumetric” mode results. The extended ignition delays associated with this mode may be impractical for compression ignition engines operating at high speeds and increased altitude.     

Imaging Hydrogen Sulfide in Hypoxic Tissue with [99mTc]Tc-Gluconate

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is the third gasotransmitter and is generated endogenously in hypoxic or inflammatory tissues and various cancers. We have recently demonstrated that endogenous H₂S can be imaged with [^99mTc]Tc-gluconate. In the present study, we detected H₂S generated in hypoxic tissue, both in vitro and in vivo, using [^99mTc]Tc-gluconate. In vitro uptake of [^99mTc]Tc-gluconate was measured under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, using the colon carcinoma cell line CT26, and was higher in hypoxic cells than that in normoxic cells. An acute hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion model was established in BALB/c mice by exposing the animals to 3 h of ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion prior to in vivo imaging. [^99mTc]Tc-gluconate (12.5 MBq) was intravenously injected through the tail vein, and uptake in the lower limb was analyzed by single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). SPECT/CT images showed five times higher uptake in the ischemic limb than that in the normal limb. The standard uptake value (SUVmean) of the ischemic limb was 0.39 ± 0.03, while that of the normal limb was 0.07 ± 0.01. [^99mTc]Tc-gluconate is a novel imaging agent that can be used both in vitro and in vivo for the detection of endogenous H₂S generated in hypoxic tissue.     

SPH simulation of fuel drop impact on heated surfaces

The interaction of liquid drops and heated surfaces is of great importance in many applications. This paper describes a numerical method, based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), for simulating n-heptane drop impact on a heated surface. The SPH method uses numerical Lagrangian particles, which obey the laws of fluid dynamics, to describe the fluid flows. By incorporating the Peng–Robinson equation of state, the present SPH method can directly simulate both the liquid and vapor phases and the phase change process between them. The numerical method was validated by two experiments on drop impact on heated surfaces at low impact velocities. The numerical method was then used to predict drop-wall interactions at various temperatures and velocities. The model was able to predict the different outcomes, such as rebound, spread, splash, breakup, and the Leidenfrost phenomenon, consistent with the physical understanding.     

Dynamic changes of gangliosides expression during the differentiation of embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells into neural cells

Stem cells are used for the investigation of developmental processes at both cellular and organism levels and offer tremendous potentials for clinical applications as an unlimited source for transplantation. Gangliosides, sialic acid-conjugated glycosphingolipids, play important regulatory roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. However, their expression patterns in stem cells and during neuronal differentiation are not known. Here, we investigated expression of gangliosides during the growth of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and differentiated neuronal cells by using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Monosialoganglioside 1 (GM1) was expressed in mESCs and MSCs, while GM3 and GD3 were expressed in embryonic bodies. In the 9-day old differentiated neuronal cells from mESCs cells and MSCs, GM1 and GT1b were expressed. Results from immunostaining were consistent with those observed by HPTLC assay. These suggest that gangliosides are specifically expressed according to differentiation of mESCs and MSCs into neuronal cells and expressional difference of gangliosides may be a useful marker to identify differentiation of mESCs and MSCs into neuronal cells.     

Blue upconversion luminescence of CaMoO4:Li+/Yb3+/Tm3+ phosphors prepared by complex citrate method

Li⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped CaMoO₄ upconversion (UC) phosphor was prepared by complex citrate-gel method and UC luminescence properties were investigated. Li⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped CaMoO₄ has intense blue emission induced by ¹G₄??³H₆ transition at 476?nm that is improved 10 times more than that of Li⁺ undoped sample and weak red emission at 647 nm generated by ³F₂??³H₆ transition under excitation at 980?nm. The optimum doping concentration of Li⁺ ions was investigated and UC mechanism of Li⁺/Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped CaMoO₄ was discussed in detail.     

Evaluation of the radiation dose to a phantom for various X-ray exposure factors performed using the dose area product in digital radiography

The aim of this study is to measure the dose area product (DAP) in digital radiography by using a DAP meter to determine the X-ray exposure. Pediatric X-ray examinations can be obtained for any radiographic examinations using the selected radiographic examination parameters (kVp and mAs), the DAP information recorded. The best peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) at a fixed tube voltage of 70 kVp was obtained at tube currents of 20 and 32 mA, whereas the best PSNR at a fixed tube current of 25 mA was obtained at a tube voltage of 73 kVp. The fixed tube voltage of 70 kVp and the fixed tube current of 25 mA could help to obtain the best image quality and depict the spatial resolution of an anthropomorphic torso phantom radiographic examination. The normalized data over the DAP were provided to determine the patient dose from radiography.     

Stabilization of Cs/Re trapping filters using magnesium phosphate ceramics

The present study a promising method for stabilizing spent filters trapping cesium and technetium by using magnesium phosphate ceramics. Simulated spent filters were fabricated by vaporizing nonradioactive cesium and rhenium (a surrogate of Tc) through the voloxidizer. In order to reveal the characteristics of spent filters, phase structures and thermal stability were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. Waste forms were fabricated by crushing spent filters and mixing them with magnesium oxide and potassium phosphate. Characterizations of the waste forms were performed by the analyses of compressive strength, apparent porosity, XRD, and scanning electron microscopy. The waste forms showed the excellent mechanical property compared with that of ordinary Portland cement, with the highest compressive strength of 38.1 MPa in the sample with 30 wt% of Cs-filter. Microstructural analysis suggests that waste materials are encapsulated by the binding matrix composed of magnesium potassium phosphate. The results of characterization suggest that fabricating a sound and durable waste form is possible with magnesium phosphate ceramics.     

Synthesis of 6,7-dimethoxy-1-halobenzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Some 6,7-dimethoxy-1-halobenzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines were synthesized from 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine and halophenylacetic acids in three steps in good yield.     

Synthesis of 4,5-dichloro-1-(4,5-dichloropyridazin-3-yl)pyridazin-6-one

This paper presents the synthesis of 4,5-dichloro-1-(4,5-dichloropyridazin-3-yl)pyridazin-6-one from 4,5-dichloropyridazin-6-one.