Experimental study of cell pattern formation induced by internal heat sources in a horizontal fluid layer

This study determines the flow structure in a convection cell with an internally heated layer by PIV to elucidate the convection cell transition mechanisms. The vertical velocity component is determined and the cell behaviour with respect to Rayleigh number is investigated quantitatively. Cell expansion process is described as a consequence of development of the descending flow at the centre of cells. The results suggest that a spoke-like structure is stable in this system in ideal conditions and a double-cell structure is formed when there are restrictions on the system, i.e. finite lateral boundaries.     

Particle morphology, electrical conductivity, crystal and electronic structures of hydrothermally synthesized (Ce,Sr)PO4

We focused on Sr-substituted CePO₄—i. e., (Ce,Sr)PO₄—with the monazite structure and synthesized the orthophosphates hydrothermally. As for the obtained products, we investigated the particle morphologies by SEM and electrical conduction properties by conductivity measurements. In order to estimate the crystal and electronic structures, neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements were also carried out. As a result, it was found that (Ce,Sr)PO₄ with a single phase of the monazite structure was successfully prepared by the hydrothermal method and the substitution amount of Sr was almost equal to the nominal one. It was also demonstrated that a powder morphology of the (Ce,Sr)PO₄ depended on the synthetic conditions; i.e, concentrations of cation sources and pH of aqueous solution in the hydrothermal process. The Sr-substituted sample showed much higher conductivities than the unsubstituted one, in the same way as the (Ce,Sr)PO₄ synthesized by other methods reported previously.     

Effects of radioactive fallout on the pregnant woman and the fetus

The levels of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in human placenta, fetus and diet were determined by radiochemical methods during the period from March 1966 to December 1968. The possible effects of these radionuclides on the pregnant woman and the fetus were discussed. The metabolic characteristics of both ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs were also discussed on the basis of estimates of discrimination factors and observed ratios of these radionuclides.

As a result of the analyses, the dose rate to the human placenta resulting from deposition of ⁹⁰Sr in the organ was estimated at about 0.003 mrem/month and that of ¹³⁷Cs at about 0.013 mrem/month. The dose rate to the total body resulting from the body burden of these radionuclides in the mother was estimated at about 0.012 mrem/ month. These values are much smaller than the monthly dose from ⁴⁰K normally existing in the body.

It was rather difficult to draw definitive conclusions concerning the possible correlation between the ⁹⁰Sr fallout and the annual changes of infant mortality rates in Japan.     

Multi-component granulation in a fast fluidized bed

The granulation of multi-component particles was conducted in a fast fluidized bed with an atomizing binder solution. The effects of gas velocity and binder droplet diameter on granulation rate, granule size distribution and granule composition were studied. The granulation rate and granule yield were determined by the balance between the agglomeration rate of feed particles and the disintegration rate of granules because there was no secondary granulation. With the increase in gas velocity and the reduction in binder droplet size, the agglomeration rate of feed particles decreased but the disintegration rate of granules increased, resulting in a reduced granule yield. Despite the larger fraction of small particles in the granules, the homogenous granulation of multi-component particles was achieved.     

Observation of metal on Si(0 0 1) by STM/STS and its consideration based on the first principles calculations

Local density of states (LDOS) is obtained by the first principles calculation based on the density functional theory on the Si(0 0 1)2 × 1 surface and on the surface with an Al dimer. At an Al dimer, LDOS has a high intensity in the conduction band region, which cannot be seen on the Si(0 0 1)2 × 1 surface. This tendency is observed in STS measurements as well. The possibility for a microelementary analysis is presented by applying this method to other metal atoms on the Si surface. Furthermore, it is pointed out that STS measurements should be always performed at the same tip-sample separation to obtain reproducible STS spectrums.     

Improved efficiency of Al0.36Ga0.64As solar cells with a ppnn structure

Improvement of efficiency of Al_0.36Ga_0.64As solar cells is advanced in two aspects of minority-carrier lifetime: reduction of majority-carrier concentration in the emitter and base layers, and reduction of deep levels in the back-surface-field (BSF) layer. A pp⁻n⁻n structure is proposed to optimize the use of the effect of reduced majority-carrier concentration, and its effectiveness verified in a preparatory experiment on Al_0.3Ga_0.7As solar cells. A very poor photoluminescence (PL) decay time (below 0.3 ns) of a BSF layer heavily doped with Si becomes 14-fold longer when Se is applied to the dopant instead of Si, resulting in an improvement of the external quantum efficiency near the absorption edge. These two aspects of this study lead to the realization of 16.6% efficiency under 1-sun, AM 1.5 global conditions with an Al_0.36Ga_0.64As solar cell.     

Spherical-Impact Damage and Strength Degradation in Silicon Nitrides for Automobile Turbocharger Rotors

Spherical-impact damage to two silicon nitrides is investigated. Gas-pressure-sintered silicon nitride exhibits an elastic response to impact by spherical partially stabilized zirconia particles, resulting in Hertzian cone-crack initiation in the sintered body. Pressureless-sintered silicon nitride, on the other hand, demonstrated an elastic/plastic response, with median/radical-crack initiation. These differences in behavior are due to their microstructural differences as well as to the different hardness values of the silicon nitrides in relation to those of the PSZ spheres. The postimpact bend strength of silicon nitrides is also degraded when crack length exceeds the inherent flaw size.     

Rhombencephalosynapsis: cerebellar embryogenesis

We describe two infants in whom rhombencephalosynapsis was diagnosed with MR imaging in vivo. In contrast to Dandy-Walker malformation, the vermian maldevelopment in this anomaly is characterized by an absence of the anterior vermis and a deficiency of the posterior vermis. The cerebellar hemispheres are fused. In an attempt to identify the pathogenesis of these anatomic manifestations, we question the traditional concept of the embryologic development of the cerebellar primordium.