Characterization and CO2 sorption properties of poly[methacryloxypropylheptacyclopentyl‐T8‐silsesquioxane‐ co‐3‐methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane]

Poly[methacryloxypropylheptacyclopentyl‐T8‐silsesquioxane (MAPOSS)‐co‐3‐methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane (SiMA)] was synthesized through free radical polymerization. The physical and carbon dioxide (CO₂) sorption properties of the copolymer membranes were investigated in terms of the MAPOSS content. As the MAPOSS content increases, the membrane density increased, suggesting a decrease in the fractional free volume. In addition, the thermal stability was improved with increasing the MAPOSS content. These are because of the polyhedraloligomericilsesquioxane (POSS) units that restrict the high mobility of poly(SiMA) segments. The glass transition temperature, T_g of the copolymers was single T_g based on the differential scanning calorimetry, suggesting that the copolymers were random and not phase separation. Based on the CO₂ sorption measurement, the POSS units play a role in reducing Henry's dissolution by suppressing the mobility of the poly(SiMA) component, while POSS units increase the nonequilibrium excess free volume, which contributes to the Langmuir dissolution. Based on these results, the introduction of MAPOSS unit is one of the effective ways to improved the thermal stability and CO₂ sorption property due to the enhancement of the polymer rigidity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

PCE-based fast path control in multi-domain photonic networks

We discuss issues for controlling an optical path in large-scale photonic networks, and introduce an inter-domain path control system based on Path Computation Elements (PCEs). In the system, maximum flow information enables the load balancing of traffic, and Path Key scheme preserve the confidentiality of internal topology information among carrier networks. Based on the experimental results, we show the path setup in the introduced system is significantly faster than the manual path setup among domains in current carriers' networks. For the additional reduction of the path setup time, we propose the domain-wise paralleled signaling method. We also show that decreasing the number of nodes per domain makes path setup faster in the introduced system with deployment of the proposed signaling method.     

PVDF actuator for high‐frequency fatigue test of thin‐film metals

This paper suggests a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) piezoelectric diaphragm actuator used in a novel fatigue test method for thin metal films. A thin‐film metal specimen is stamped on top of the actuator using a stamping epoxy. As the actuator vibrates, the stress in the specimen increases until it fails under fatigue. A finite element model of the actuator is built, and its vibration amplitude is confirmed to be in a good agreement with experiment. Then, a model of the specimen is added to this model to simulate the vibration of the specimen for fatigue test. Stress analysis of the specimen at a driving voltage of 200 V_0−p confirms that this actuator can increase the stress in the specimen to near 1 GPa, which is high enough for the fatigue test of metals such as titanium. In the experiment, a thin‐film titanium specimen is stamped on top of the actuator which is then vibrated. The stress in the fatigue gauge on thin‐film specimen increased until the specimen failed under fatigue. This shows that the proposed PVDF actuator is suitable for the fatigue test of thin‐film metals such as titanium. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Temperature influence on performance degradation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells irradiated with protons

This paper reports temperature influence on radiation degradation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si : H) solar cells. Degradation behaviors of a‐Si : H solar cells irradiated with protons at 331 K are compared with that at 298 K (room temperature). Variations with time in the post‐irradiation electrical properties are also investigated. It is found that the radiation degradation of the electrical properties at 331 K is significantly smaller than that at room temperature. Also, all the electrical properties (short‐circuit current, open‐circuit voltage, output maximum, and fill factor) recover with time after irradiation even at room temperature. The characteristic time of thermal annealing of short‐circuit current is larger as the temperature is higher. These results indicate that temperature during irradiation and elapsed time from irradiation to measurement is an important parameter for radiation degradation of a‐Si : H solar cells. Therefore, these parameters should be controlled in conducting the ground radiation tests. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization, cell uptake, and subcellular distribution of DNA complexes with lipoglutamides having tetraethylene glycol tails

HLA-G is a non-classical MHC class I gene with a limited tissue distribution. The most pronounced expression is detected in the cytotrophoblast of first trimester placenta. It is possible to detect mRNA for HLA-G in preimplantation blastocysts where expression is correlated with a high cleavage rate of embryos. HLA-G seems to play an important role in the feto-maternal relationship. The polymorphism of the HLA-G locus is not fully clarified. One study has shown extensive nucleotide sequence variation in the exon 3 (alpha-2 domain) in healthy African Americans. A few studies in other populations have only revealed a limited polymorphism. We investigated the polymorphism of the exon 3 of HLA-G by means of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP)- and DNA sequencing analysis in a Danish population. We detected four single-base substitutions in exon 3 compared to the sequence of HLA-6.0 (G*01011); one of these has not been reported before. We also found a deletion of the first base of codon 130 or the third of codon 129 in a heterozygous individual. This study, together with previous results, suggests that the polymorphism of exon 3 of the HLA-G gene in Caucasians is limited, in contrast to that observed in Americans originating from Africa. Implications of this discrepancy and the detected deletion in relation to certain disorders of pregnancy are discussed.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Liraglutide for Stroke Model of Rats

The number of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is increasing, and stroke is deeply associated with DM. Recently, neuroprotective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are reported. In this study, we explored whether liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue exerts therapeutic effects on a rat stroke model. Wistar rats received occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 90 min. At one hour after reperfusion, liraglutide or saline was administered intraperitoneally. Modified Bederson’s test was performed at 1 and 24 h and, subsequently, rats were euthanized for histological investigation. Peripheral blood was obtained for measurement of blood glucose level and evaluation of oxidative stress. Brain tissues were collected to evaluate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The behavioral scores of liraglutide-treated rats were significantly better than those of control rats. Infarct volumes of liraglutide-treated rats at were reduced, compared with those of control rats. The level of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolite was lower in liraglutide-treated rats. VEGF level of liraglutide-treated rats in the cortex, but not in the striatum significantly increased, compared to that of control rats. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate neuroprotective effects of liraglutide on cerebral ischemia through anti-oxidative effects and VEGF upregulation.     

Decision-making in electrical appliance use in the home

This paper presents the results of a survey as well as an argument from the viewpoint of behavioral economics with the aim of clarifying how consumers make decisions about electrical appliance use in the home. A survey of consumers showed that most have little awareness of the energy efficiency of appliances, the price of the services produced by electrical appliances, or electricity rates. These findings indicate that price does not function as a signal in electricity consumption through electrical appliance use. Rather, we found that consumer decision-making in electricity consumption is dependent on the characteristics of the particular electrical appliances they use. Additionally, we argue that the payment system for home electricity consumption plays an important role in decision-making, causing biases due to aspects of human psychology discussed here in terms of satisficing and heuristics, payment decoupling, and budgeting. We conclude that decision-making about electrical appliance use and electricity consumption in the home is not always rational and is affected both by the particular characteristics of appliances and the payment system for electricity consumption along with human psychology.     

Online time-differential perturbed angular correlation study with an O beam - Residence sites of oxygen atoms in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The online time-differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) method was applied to a study of the physical states of a probe ¹⁹F, the β⁻ decay product of ¹⁹O (t_1/2 = 26.9 s), implanted in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The observed magnitude of the electric field gradient at the probe nucleus, ∣V_zz∣ = 2.91(17) × 10²² V m⁻², suggests that the incident ¹⁹O atoms are stabilized at an interlayer position with point group C_3v. Exhibiting observed TDPAC spectra having a clear sample-to-detector configuration dependence, we demonstrate the applicability of the present online method with a short-lived radioactive ¹⁹O beam.     

Development of grain structure during friction stir welding of pure titanium

The microstructure evolution during friction stir welding of commercial purity titanium was studied. Material flow was found to be close to the simple-shear deformation and arose mainly from the prism slip. The grain structure evolution was shown to be a complex process including several stages. Far from the welding tool, the microstructural evolution was found to be governed by geometrical effects of strain and limited discontinuous recrystallization. In the stir zone, formation of a strong texture was shown to lead to texture-induced grain convergence, and the grain structure development was thus closely related to the texture evolution.     

DC sputter deposition of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) films with H2O introduction

Amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) films were deposited by dc magnetron sputtering with H₂O introduction and how the H₂O partial pressure (P_H2O) during the deposition affects the electrical properties of the films was investigated in detail. Resistivity of the a-IGZO films increased dramatically to over 2 × 10⁵ Ωcm with increasing P_H2O to 2.7 × 10^− 2 Pa while the hydrogen concentration in the films increased to 2.0 × 10²¹ cm^− 3. TFTs using a-IGZO channels deposited under P_H2O at 1.6-8.6 × 10^− 2 Pa exhibited a field-effect mobility of 1.4-3.0 cm²/Vs, subthreshold swing of 1.0-1.6 V/decade and on-off current ratio of 3.9 × 10⁷-1.0 × 10⁸.