The effect of inoculation with Lactobacillus plantarum and addition of glucose at ensiling on the quality of aerated silages

In laboratory silos, into which air was introduced during the first 4 days, the changes during ensilage were examined using the following treatments: A, control; B, glucose addition; and C, glucose addition + L. plantarum inoculation. In four separate experiments using Italian ryegrass or cocksfoot, treatment A gave very poor quality of silages without exception, producing large amounts of higher VFA and no or little lactic acid. Treatment C gave excellent or satisfactory results producing large amounts of lactic acid or no VFA other than acetic acid, while the results of treatment B were variable. Changes in pH values and VBN levels also confirmed the improving effect of the combination of glucose addition and L. plantarum inoculation to the aerated silage.     

Chemical modification of diamond surface with linoleic acid by using benzoyl peroxide

In this study, the introduction of the C=C bond, which is known to be chemically active, on diamond surface was attempted using a reaction with unsaturated fatty acid. The chemical reactivity of a hydrogenated diamond surface with linoleic acid, which was most effective for introducing of the C=C bond, using benzoyl peroxide was investigated in detail. The diamond surface modified with the C=C bond was used as the substrate for the surface-modified diamond. Different radical source such as NCS, NBS, AIBN, and TEMPO were allowed to react with the diamond surface treated with linoleic acid. After the reaction with NCS, NBS, or AIBN, IR peaks at 3011 cm^− 1, which correspond to the C-H bond on the C=C bond, significantly decreased in size, and XPS spectra showed that the elements that derived from the reacted radical source, that is Cl, Br, or N, existed on the diamond surface. On the other hand, after the reaction with TEMPO no XPS peak of the N atoms appeared although the IR peak at 3011 cm^− 1 slightly decreased. These experimental results indicate that the C=C bond introduced on diamond surface can participate in chemical reaction. The method used in this study could become a very useful technique if the coverage factor of the C=C bond is improved by optimization of the reaction condition.     

High‐resolution OLED display with remarkably low power consumption using blue/yellow tandem structure and RGBY subpixels

A top‐emission organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) with a microcavity structure combined with a blue/yellow tandem structure was developed. A high‐resolution active‐matrix OLED display with the world's lowest level of power consumption using the tandem OLED with red, green, blue, and yellow subpixels was fabricated.     

A flexible OLED display with an OTFT backplane made by scalable manufacturing process

Abstract— A full‐color top‐emission AMOLED display driven by an organic TFT backplane manufactured using a scalable, lift‐off‐free, and shadow‐mask‐free process has been developed. It was shown that cost‐efficient copper can be used for S/D electrodes. The display has shown no significant degradation over a storage life of more than 10 months and operation over 25 hours during which the display is bent over 10,000 times.     

Flexible high‐resolution full‐color top‐emitting active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode display

We developed a high‐performance 3.4‐in. flexible active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode (AMOLED) display with remarkably high resolution using an oxide semiconductor in a backplane, by applying our transfer technology that utilizes metal separation layers. Using this panel, we also fabricated a prototype of a side‐roll display for mobile uses. In these AMOLED displays, a white OLED combined with a color filter was used in order to achieve remarkably high resolution. For the white OLED, a tandem structure in which a phosphorescent emission unit and a fluorescent emission unit are serially connected with an intermediate layer sandwiched between the emission units was employed. Furthermore, revolutionary technologies that enable a reduction in power consumption in both the phosphorescent and fluorescent emission units were introduced to the white tandem OLED.     

Apatite-forming ability of vinylphosphonic acid-based copolymer in simulated body fluid: effects of phosphate group content

Phosphate groups on materials surfaces are known to contribute to apatite formation upon exposure of the materials in simulated body fluid and improved affinity of the materials for osteoblast-like cells. Typically, polymers containing phosphate groups are organic matrices consisting of apatite–polymer composites prepared by biomimetic process using simulated body fluid. Ca²⁺ incorporation into the polymer accelerates apatite formation in simulated body fluid owing because of increase in the supersaturation degree, with respect to apatite in simulated body fluid, owing to Ca²⁺ release from the polymer. However, the effects of phosphate content on the Ca²⁺ release and apatite-forming abilities of copolymers in simulated body fluid are rather elusive. In this study, a phosphate-containing copolymer prepared from vinylphosphonic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate was examined. The release of Ca²⁺ in Tris-NaCl buffer and simulated body fluid increased as the additive amount of vinylphosphonic acid increased. However, apatite formation was suppressed as the phosphate groups content increased despite the enhanced release of Ca²⁺ from the polymer. This phenomenon was reflected by changes in the surface zeta potential. Thus, it was concluded that the apatite-forming ability of vinylphosphonic acid-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-triethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymer treated with CaCl₂ solution was governed by surface state rather than Ca²⁺ release in simulated body fluid.     

Selective oxidation of benzaldehyde derivatives on TiO2 photocatalysts modified with fluorocarbon group

Fluorocarbon groups were introduced onto surfaces of SiO₂-covered TiO₂ particles (SiO₂–TiO₂). Oxidation of pentafuluorobenzaldehyde on the surface modified TiO₂ powders proceeded much efficiently than that on SiO₂-covered TiO₂ particles without surface modification. In addition, no enhancement of activity level of surface-modified SiO₂–TiO₂ for oxidation of benzaldehyde was observed. The enhancement of the surface-modified SiO₂–TiO₂ is due to the interaction of F atoms between the substrate and fluorocarbon groups introduced on SiO₂–TiO₂.     

Time-correlated single photon counting system and light-collection system for studying fluorescence emitters under high-vacuum conditions: Use of immersion objective and ionic liquid

In this paper, we introduce a time-correlated single photon counting system and an efficient light-collection system for studying fluorescence emitters under high-vacuum conditions; the latter system has an immersion objective, and an ionic liquid is used as a refractive index matching medium. The ionic liquid is positioned in high vacuum. The time-correlated single photon counting system has modified photomultiplier tubes that act as photon detectors. The light-collection system is designed to be simple, compact, and easy to use. In order to verify the performance of these systems, the optical properties of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (CdSe/ZnS) and fluorescent dye molecules are studied as examples.     

Properties and microstructures of epoxy resin/TiO2 and SiO2 hybrids

Epoxy resin/TiO₂ and epoxy resin/SiO₂ hybrids were prepared by different procedures, and their mechanical properties were correlated to their microstructures, as indicated by small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. Epoxy resin/TiO₂ hybrids were prepared by mixing the epoxy resin (EP828) with N‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (S320) in acetone, and then titanium‐n‐butoxide (TnBU) was added. In addition, epoxy/SiO₂ hybrids were prepared by mixing EP828 with a curing agent, a diamino heterocyclic compound (B002) in acetone, and an organo silica sol (silica nanoparticles dispersed in methylethylketone) was added. In the EP828/S320/TiO₂ hybrid systems, the TiO₂ component was attached to both of the chain ends of the epoxy matrix, hence leading to the formation of inorganic domains via the covalent bonds. SAXS profiles of these hybrids showed peaks at q = 2.3 nm^?1, caused by interference between the domains. The storage modulus increased with increasing TiO₂ content above the T_g, owing to the strong interactions between TiO₂ and the epoxy matrix. The tanδ peak position did not change, although the intensity decreased with increasing TiO₂ content. The SAXS profiles of the EP828/B002/SiO₂ hybrids were very different to those of the corresponding EP828/S320/TiO₂ hybrids, and indicated that SiO₂ particles with rough surfaces were randomly dispersed in the epoxy matrix. The storage moduli of the EP828/B002/SiO₂ hybrid systems increased only slightly with SiO₂ content, because of the weak interactions. These mechanical properties are well explained by the microstructures derived from the SAXS profiles. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bacterial cellulose/silica hybrid fabricated by mimicking biocomposites

In plants such as grasses, rice, and sugar cane, biomineralizatin occurs such that amorphous silica is drawn from soil, transferred and deposited on polysaccharide matrix. In this study, by mimicking natural biomineralization in plants, a cellulose/silica hybrid was produced using bacterial cellulose (BC). BC hydro-gel was immersed in an aqueous solution of silanol derived from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and silanol was then converted into silica in the BC hydro-gel matrix. By pressing the BC hydro-gels and hybrids at 120 °C and 1–2 MPa, water-free translucent sheets were obtained. In the leaves of rice plants, large silica bodies (μm order) were embedded in the polysaccharide matrix, whereas in the BC/silica hybrids, nano scale silica was embedded between the micro fibrils of the BC matrix. Reflecting this structure, the modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of dry BC/silica hybrid improved to 17 GPa at 25 °C and 185 MPa, respectively. In the case of rice plants, the modulus was 3.5 GPa at 25 °C and the tensile strength was 25–88 MPa, suggesting a weaker structure than in BC hybrid.