System efficiency of a water-splitting system synthesized by photochemical and thermoelectric conversion of solar energy

Valuable hybrid systems for hydrogen production by solar energy have been developed and the system efficiency has been estimated and discussed from various points of view. In order to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen without the consumption of additional reactants, a steady stream of the reacting materials must be maintained in consecutive reaction processes and if the system has a rate determining step extra energy should be supplied to promote the reaction. In the Yokohama Mark 5 Process, the efficiency of the thermoelectric device is as low as 5 %; however, the overall efficiency of hydrogen production can be raised to 20 % by addition of extra electric power.The energetics of a hybrid system combining photochemical, thermochemical and electrochemical reactions have also been discussed.     

A finite element formulation for large elastic-plastic deformation analysis of polycrystals and some numerical considerations on polycrystalline plasticity

A finite element formulation for large elasto-plastic deformation of polycrystalline materials is proposed in incremental form. The effect of rotation of crystal axes besides usual element rotaion is taken into account. Some numerical considerations on polycrystalline plasticity (i.e. stress-strain curves for several proportional loadings, effect of change of loading path on stress-strain curve, subsequent yield loci for uniaxial and equi-biaxial loadings and so forth) are given for the case of small deformation by using a plate model which consists of 121 square FCC crystals.     

Ultra-thin high-density LSI packaging substrate for advanced CSPs and SiPs

An ultra-thin high-density LSI packaging substrate, called multi-layer thin substrate (MLTS), is described. It meets the demand for chip scale packages (CSPs) and systems in a package (SiPs) for use in recently developed small portable applications with multiple functions. A high-density build-up structure is fabricated on a Cu plate, which is then removed, leaving only an ultra-thin, high-density multi-layer substrate. MLTS has (1) excellent registration accuracy, which enables higher density and finer pitch patterning due to the use of a rigid, excellent-flatness Cu base plate; (2) a thinner multi-layer structure due to the use of a core-less multi-layer structure; (3) excellent reliability, supported by the use of an aramid-reinforced epoxy resin dielectric layer; and (4) a cost-effective design due to the use of fewer layers fabricated using a conventional build-up process. A prototype high-density CSP (0.4-mm pitch/288 pins/4 rows/10 mm²) was fabricated using a 90-μm-thick MLTS (with a solder resist layer). Testing demonstrated that it had excellent long-term reliability. A prototype ultra-thin, high-density SiP (0.5-mm pitch/225 pins/11 mm²/0.93 mm thick) was also fabricated based on MLTS. MLTS consists of only two conductor layers (total thickness: 90 μm) while an identical-function build-up printed wiring board needs four conductor layers (total thickness: 300 μm). With its thinner core-less multi-layer structure, MLTS enables the fabrication of ultra-thin, high-density SiPs.     

Single application extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the first choice for patients with pancreatic duct stones

OBJECTIVES: We performed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as the treatment of first choice on 32 chronic pancreatitis patients with main pancreatic duct (MPD) stones prospectively to establish more convenient and safer treatment. METHODS: All patients were treated in a prone position, and shock waves were discharged from the ventral side. ESWL was performed once or twice a week, and no other treatments before ESWL had been applied. RESULTS: Disintegration of all MPD stones to 3 mm or less in diameter could be achieved in all treated patients. Complete clearance of the stones was obtained in 24 patients (75%) without the necessity of endoscopic extraction of fragments. Reduction of MPD diameters after ESWL was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Epigastric and/or back pain complaints before ESWL were completely alleviated in 79% (periods of follow-up: 16-63 months, mean 44), and the pancreatic exocrine function also improved in 61%. No severe complications occurred in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL, which is comparatively easy to perform, is a safe and efficient approach that changes endoscopy's status as an indispensable pretreatment. Therefore, ESWL can be recommended as the first choice treatment for patients with chronic pancreatitis accompanied by MPD stones that should be tried before consideration of either surgical or endoscopic procedures.     

Photoinduced radical polymerization of styrene derivatives via their cation radicals

Summary It was found that radical polymerization occurs when the mixture of p-methoxystyrene and styrene in the presence of electron acceptors is photoexcited in basic solvents. Concomitantly, p-methoxystyrenestyrene co-dimers: trans-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-cyclobutane and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene are produced. From the results of some polymerization runs and the co-dimer structure, it is considered that the linear co-dimer cation radical is the common precursor for both radical polymerization and cationic dimerization, and the radical polymerization is initiated by its radical end.     

Application of rigid polyurethane integral-skin foams to thermal insulating unit cases for car air conditioners

Integral-skin foams of rigid polyurethane are sandwich structures consisting of a core layer of closed cells enclosed in rigid surface layers on both sides. We examined the layer composition of integral-skin foam with the objective of maximum flexural strength, and then studied possibilities of reconciling the strength and thermal insulating properties in housings for evaporators in car air conditioners; i.e., unit cases. This examination showed that the most practical density range (250 ≦ ρ_pall ≦ 500 kg/m³) provides vibratile resistance and thermal insulating properties. In actual car-running tests, a maximum 0.1 MPa stress was generated on unit cases with overall densities of 350 kg/m³, We found this to be 0.4% of the flexural strength of an integral-skin foam and 2% of the fatigue strength. In the forcible vibratile test, a stress of 0.5 to 1.0 MPa was generated at the resonance point of a unit case with 250 to 500 kg/m³ overall density. We found that these values are 2 to 5% of integral-skin foam's flexural strength and 10 to 25% of its fatigue strength. These values are of the same level as the conventional unit case made of polypropylene blended with talc. An integral-skin foam with an overall density of 250 kg/m³, nearly equal to half the weight of polypropylene, has the same level of resistance to vibration.     

Representation of the size and shape of a single particle

A method for expressing three-dimensional bodies by a Fourier series expansion is proposed. The equivalent ellipsoid which has the same volume, surface area, and an average projected area as those of a test sample is made obtainable simultaneously. Computer application is explained using a cube as the test sample.     

Composition dependence of lithium ionic conductivity in lithium nitride-lithium iodide system

Two minima in the lithium ionic conductivity vs. composition curve in the lithium nitride-lithium iodide system are observed at Li₅NI₂ and Li₇N₂I. It is shown that ionic conductivity minimum at the stoichiometric Li₅NI₂ is caused by the increase in the lithium ion concentration.     

Controlling hydrothermal reaction pathways to improve acetic acid production from carbohydrate biomass

A two-step hydrothermal process to improve the production of acetic acid was discussed. The first step was to accelerate the formation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), 2-furaldehyde (2-FA), and lactic acid (LA), and the second step was to further convert the furans (HMF, 2-FA) and LA produced in the first step to acetic acid by oxidation with newly supplied oxygen. The acetic acid obtained by the two-step process had not only a high yield but also better purity. The contribution of two pathways via furans and LA in the two-step process to convert carbohydrates into acetic acid was roughly estimated as 85-90%, and the ratio of the contributions of furans and LA to yield acetic acid was estimated as 2:1. The fact that WO of carbohydrates is not capable of producing a large amount of acetic acid, while the two-step process can enhance the acetic acid yield, can be explained because formic acid is a basic product of direct oxidation of carbohydrate, and acetic acid in WO of carbohydrates may come from the oxidation of dehydration products of aldose.