Although a physical gloss exists as a physically measurable index, people can also perceive a perceptual gloss on object surfaces. However, the physical gloss does not always match the perceptual ...gloss. Because the physical gloss is calculated based only on the specular gloss and does not reflect other physical features that affect the perceptual gloss. Thus, we analysed the relationships between physical features and perceptual gloss by measuring many physical properties of object surfaces, including their physical gloss. We prepared 127 flat objects comprising three materials: paper, resin and metal plating. The perceptual gloss was visually evaluated for observation angles of 20°, 60° and 85° using a magnitude estimation method. Multiple measurements were conducted to obtain physical features such as the gloss unit (GU), haze, distinctness of image and high dynamic range luminance. We then constructed prediction models for the perceptual gloss using these physical features and multiple regression analyses. By combining these multiple physical quantities and using the GU in the power scale, the prediction accuracy was improved. By the optimal power index (0.33 for physical gloss in the common prediction model, independent of the observation angle), we found that human gloss perception may be related to brightness perception.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Power generation performance and long‐term durability of ammonia‐fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems are investigated with SOFC stacks consisting of 30 planar anode‐supported cells. SOFC ...systems with three different operation modes are employed: direct ammonia, external decomposition and autothermal decomposition. A novel BaO/Ni/Sm2O3/MgO catalyst is newly developed for the external ammonia cracker, whereas a Co‐Ce‐Zr composite oxide catalyst is used for the autothermal ammonia cracker. Initial performance measurement and 1,000 h long‐term durability test of the stacks are conducted. The stack fueled with direct ammonia achieves 1 kW power output with 52% direct current (DC) electrical efficiency; a slight decrease in its performance compared with the stack with the mixture fuel of hydrogen and nitrogen is attributed to the decrease in the stack temperature caused by the endothermic ammonia decomposition reaction. The external ammonia cracker helps to maintain the stack temperature, improving the initial performance of the stack. The stack performance with the autothermal ammonia cracker is also comparable to those with the other operation modes. It is also demonstrated that the stacks fueled with ammonia have excellent stability during the long‐term tests and 57% energy conversion efficiency at ca. 700 W electrical output is achieved with the external ammonia cracker.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•The growth process of SiC crystal by TSSG technique are numerically analyzed.•Marangoni convection gives rise to a spoke-like supersaturation distribution.•The seed rotation suppresses the ...supersaturation oscillation near the seed surface.•The seed rotation cannot improve the growth rate uniformity near the crystal edge.
A three-dimensional numerical simulation study has been carried for the Top-Seeded Solution Growth (TSSG) process of single crystal SiC. During growth, Marangoni and forced convections (flows) develop in the growth solution due to free surface tension gradient and seed rotation, respectively. Relative contributions of such flows were numerically examined. Since supersaturation in the growth solution near the crystal surface is a key factor affecting the stability of crystal morphology, our study has focused on the influence of these flows on the distributions of spatial and temporal flow velocity and solution supersaturation. Simulation results show that the contribution of Marangoni convection gives rise to the development of spoke-like flow patterns and a downward flow below the seed crystal that leads to a non-uniform supersaturation distribution at the center and at the edge near the seed crystal surface. Additionally, a characteristic frequency associated with the supersaturation oscillation appears to be due to the Marangoni instability. Results also show that, although the forced convection induced by seed rotation may weaken such supersaturation non-uniformity in the center and suppress the development of such spoke-like patterns, its effect near the edge is not significant.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The feasibility of solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells as a low‐cost alternative to amorphous silicon cells is demonstrated. Such a cell (see Figure) with a record efficiency of over 4 % under ...simulated sunlight is reported, made possible by using a new organic metal‐free indoline dye (see Figure) as the sensitizer with high absorption coefficient.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a Th2‐associated fibroinflammatory autoimmune disease, in which B cells are suggested to exert antibody‐independent functions. We found that CD30+GM‐CSF‐producing B cells ...(GM‐Beffs) were generated from memory B cells by Th2 cytokines along with TGF‐β and induced differentiation to monocyte‐derived dendritic cells. CD30+GM‐Beffs were increased in SSc patients with the diffuse type and concomitant ILD, suggesting their pivotal role in disease pathogenesis.
Summary
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a T helper type 2 (Th2)‐associated autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis. Efficacy of B cell depletion therapy underscores antibody‐independent functions of B cells in SSc. A recent study showed that the Th2 cytokine interleukin (IL)‐4 induces granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF)‐producing effector B cells (GM‐Beffs) in humans. In this study, we sought to elucidate the generation mechanism of GM‐Beffs and also determine a role of this subset in SSc. Among Th‐associated cytokines, IL‐4 most significantly facilitated the generation of GM‐Beffs within memory B cells in healthy controls (HCs). In addition, the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β further potentiated IL‐4‐ and IL‐13‐induced GM‐Beffs. Of note, tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, inhibited the expression of GM‐CSF mRNA and protein in memory B cells induced by IL‐4, but not by TGF‐β. GM‐Beffs were enriched within CD20+CD30+CD38−/low cells, a distinct population from plasmablasts, suggesting that GM‐Beffs exert antibody‐independent functions. GM‐Beffs were also enriched in a CD30+ fraction of freshly isolated B cells. GM‐Beffs generated under Th2 conditions facilitated the differentiation from CD14+ monocytes to DC‐SIGN+CD1a+CD14−CD86+ cells, which significantly promoted the proliferation of naive T cells. CD30+ GM‐Beffs were more pronounced in patients with SSc than in HCs. A subpopulation of SSc patients with the diffuse type and concomitant interstitial lung disease exhibited high numbers of GM‐Beffs. Together, these findings suggest that human GM‐Beffs are enriched in a CD30+ B cell subset and play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
To investigate the clinical and radiological features to predict adhesion between vestibular schwannoma (VS) and brain tissue which is a critical risk factor for postoperative infarction and residual ...tumour.
One hundred and seven consecutive VS surgeries were analysed. After excluding cases without contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT), Koos grades 1 and 2, and cases with incomplete clinical data, 44 patients were finally included in the study. Enhancement of the tumour capsule on the brainstem side on CE-CT was defined as the CE-CT rim sign, which was analysed along with clinical characteristics, including tumour adhesion and postoperative complications.
Eight patients exhibited CE-CT rim signs; 17 had tumour adhesions. Four patients had postoperative infarction at the ipsilateral middle cerebellar peduncle; 18 exhibited postoperative infarction and/or residual tumour at the middle cerebellar peduncle. The CE-CT rim sign significantly correlated with tumour adhesion, postoperative infarction, and postoperative infarction and/or residual tumour in the cerebellar peduncle. Univariate regression analysis revealed that the CE-CT rim sign significantly correlated with tumour adhesion (odds ratio OR 6.81, 95% confidence interval CI 1.18-39.25, p=0.032) and postoperative infarction and/or residual tumour at the cerebellar peduncle (OR 6.00, 95% CI 1.04-34.31, p=0.044).
The CE-CT rim sign was identified in 18.2% of patients with VS and significantly correlated with tumour adhesion and postoperative complications, such as postoperative infarction and residual tumour. This study highlights the importance of the preoperative CE-CT rim sign in VS, which is predictive of tumour adhesion and postoperative complications.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
Patients' quality of life (QoL) deteriorates remarkably after gastrectomy. Billroth I reconstruction following distal gastrectomy has the physiological advantage of allowing food to pass ...through the duodenum. It was hypothesized that Billroth I reconstruction would be superior to Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction in terms of long‐term QoL after distal gastrectomy. This study compared two reconstructions in a multicentre prospective randomized clinical trial to identify the optimal reconstruction procedure.
Methods
Between January 2009 and September 2010, patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were randomized during surgery to Billroth I or Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction. The primary endpoint was assessment of QoL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Gastric (FACT‐Ga) questionnaire 36 months after surgery.
Results
A total of 122 patients were enrolled in the study, 60 to Billroth I and 62 to Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative complications or mortality, and no significant differences in FACT‐Ga total score (P = 0·496). Symptom scales such as epigastric fullness (heaviness), diarrhoea and fatigue were significantly better in the Billroth I group at 36 months after gastrectomy (heaviness, P = 0·040; diarrhoea, P = 0·046; fatigue, P = 0·029). The rate of weight loss in the third year was lower for patients in the Billroth I group (P = 0·046).
Conclusion
The choice of anastomotic reconstruction after distal gastrectomy resulted in no difference in long‐term QoL in patients with gastric cancer. Registration number: NCT01065688 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
No difference between reconstructions
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In order to improve the long-term creep strength of 9%Cr steel, the stabilization of martensitic microstructure in the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundaries during creep has been investigated ...by the addition of boron and by a dispersion of nano-size MX nitrides. Creep tests were carried out at 923
K for up to about 3×10
4
h. Boron is enriched in the M
23C
6 carbides during aging and creep, especially in the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundaries. This reduces the coarsening rate of M
23C
6 carbides, which effectively stabilizes the martensitic microstructure in the vicinity of prior austenite grain boundaries. A dispersion of nano-sized MX nitrides but no M
23C
6 along boundaries also gives rise to excellent pinning force for migrating boundaries during creep, as shown by approximately two orders of magnitude longer time to rupture than ASME-P92. The stabilization of martensitic microstructure retards the onset of tertiary or acceleration creep, which results in lower minimum creep rate and longer time to rupture.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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