Finite element analysis of the transient motion of stratified viscous fluids under gravity

The present paper deals with the finite element analysis of two-dimensional two-layer density flows in a gravitational field. A fluid in each layer is replaced with a large number of discrete particles, and the motion and deformation of each layer is represented by moving those particles in a Lagrangian manner. The velocity distribution in the whole fluid region is given as the finite element solution of the Navier-Stokes equations and the equation of continuity. In the finite element calculation, free-slip conditions are used on solid wall boundaries because no-slip conditions may cause sticking of some particles to walls. Then, a new technique for the implementation of free-slip conditions on arbitrary curved boundaries is presented. As numerical examples, density flows in a rectangular closed container and Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the container with a circular cross-section have been computed.     

Analysis of shielded microstrip lines with arbitrary metallizationcross section using a vector finite element method

The finite element method (FEM) with the high-order mixed-interpolation-type triangular element is used to solve the problem of practical microstrip lines with arbitrary metallization cross section. Analyses are carried out to produce the frequency characteristics of propagation constant, characteristic impedance, and attenuation constant of shielded microstrip lines with rectangular, trapezoidal, and semi-trapezoidal strip cross sections. A comparison of the numerical results with those of the existing results shows good agreement and thus verifies the versatility of the FEM. Also, the numerical results show the effects of the metallization cross sections on the transmission properties and thus emphasize the importance of considering the practical microstrip configurations in the design of miniaturized MMICs     

Recent development in NRD-guide technology

Recent achievements in the field of the NRD-guide integrated circuits and antennas are reviewed. The main emphasis is placed on a new class of planar antennas which employ a leaky NRD-guide as the feed medium and can be contained in a common housing together with the NRD-guide integrated circuits.     

Quantitative trait loci affecting 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced tongue carcinogenesis in the rat

The incidence of tongue carcinomas (TCs) induced by oral administration of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide in rats is strain dependent. The inbred Dark-Agouti (DA) strain showed a much higher susceptibility to large mass-forming infiltrative TCs than did the Wistar-Furth (WF) strain. Our previous study (M. Kitano et al, Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 87: 1097-1101, 1996) on crosses between these two strains postulated a dominant susceptibility gene in DA and a dominant resistance gene in WF rats. The present study mapped these loci by analyzing the backcrosses to each parent with simple sequence repeat polymorphisms. Five quantitative parameters were analyzed: (a) the number of TCs > 5 mm in diameter; (b) the total number of TCs per rat; (c) the diameter of the largest TCs (DTCmax values); (d) the number of non-TC cancers per rat; and (e) and the number of cancers of any site per rat. All of these parameters were closely correlated (P < 0.0001). DA rats had a semidominant gene (Stc1) favoring the development of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced cancers on chromosome 19, closely linked to D19Mit9. Peak linkage was observed 4 cM distal from D19Mit9, with a logarithm of the odds (lod) score of 5.72 for the number of large TCs and 6.08 for the DTCmax. On the other hand, WF rats had a semidominant gene (Rtc1) mapped between D1Mit1 and D1Mit3, approximately 20 cM from D1Mit1, with a peak lod score of 3.30 for both the number of large TCs and the DTCmax. The main effect of Rtc1 seemed to be to reduce the size of the TCs. The action of these genes was dose dependent and cooperative. The final incidence of TC in DA, WF, F1, and backcross rats seemed to be explained by combinations of genotype at these two loci. Possible candidate genes for Stc1 and Rtc1 are discussed.     

The effect of gas atmospheres on resistivity of indium tin oxide films at high temperature

The effects of heat treatment in Q₂, O₂ and N₂, and Ar gases on the high temperature (500 C) electrical resistivity of indium tin oxide (ITO) film 52 nm thick prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis method were studied. The partial oxygen pressure effect on the resistivity was found to be to . The resistivity changes for cyclic exchange of O₂ by Ar gas at 500 C. These lead to the conclusion that chemisorption of oxygen atoms in the film surface is dominant for this thin film, for thicker films such as 640 nm oxygen diffusion is found to occur. The Langmuir model of the monolayer isothermal adsorption of oxygen atoms in the surface is applicable to the rapid change of resistivity.     

Vivid image projection system using e‐Paper active screen

Projected image on a screen is not always vivid enough when it is projected in a bright room. We generally have to choose either vivid image in a dark room or dull image in a bright room. We have suggested a new projection system which can realize high contrast image projection in a bright room. It is consisted of electronic paper screen, projector, and light‐emitting diode room light. The electronic paper (e‐Paper) screen alternates its whole surface white/black with 120 Hz. Room lights are controlled with the same frequency of 120 Hz with the opposite phase as that of the e‐Paper screen. We have confirmed that our new system has achieved higher contrast than the conventional projection system and also enough readability of paper documents in the room simultaneously. We have thus confirmed that our new system can bring an ideal condition, for audience, which can realize a vivid image projection in a bright room.     

Alteration of substrate specificity of cholesterol oxidase from Streptomyces sp. by site-directed mutagenesis

Despite the structural similarities between cholesterol oxidasefrom Streptomyces and that from Brevibacterium, both enzymesexhibit different characteristics, such as catalytic activity,optimum pH and temperature. In attempts to define the molecularbasis of differences in catalytic activity or stability, substitutionsat six amino acid residues were introduced into cholesteroloxidase using site-directed mutagenesis of its gene. The aminoacid substitutions chosen were based on structural comparisonsof cholesterol oxidases from Streptomyces and Brevibacterium.Seven mutant enzymes were constructed with the following aminoacid substitutions: L117P, L119A, L119F, V145Q, Q286R, P357Nand S379T. All the mutant enzymes exhibited activity with theexception of that with the L117P mutation. The resulting V145Qmutant enzyme has low activities for all substrates examinedand the S379T mutant enzyme showed markedly altered substratespecificity compared with the wild-type enzyme. To evaluatethe role of V145 and S379 residues in the reaction, mutantswith two additional substitutions in V145 and four in S379 wereconstructed. The mutant enzymes created by the replacement ofV145 by Asp and Glu had much lower catalytic efficiency forcholesterol and pregnenolone as substrates than the wild-typeenzyme. From previous studies and this study, the V145 residueseems to be important for the stability and substrate bindingof the cholesterol oxidase. In contrast, the catalytic efficiencies(k_cat/K_m) of the S379T mutant enzyme for cholesterol and pregnenolonewere 1.8- and 6.0-fold higher, respectively, than those of thewild-type enzyme. The enhanced catalytic efficiency of the S379Tmutant enzyme for pregnenolone was due to a slightly high k_catvalue and a low K_m value. These findings will provide severalideas for the design of more powerful enzymes that can be appliedto clinical determination of serum cholesterol levels and assterol probes.     

Measurement of self-diffusion coefficients in Li ionic conductors by using the short-lived radiotracer of 8Li

For the effective use of short-lived radioactive beams, soon to be available at the Tokai Radioactive Ion Accelerator Complex, the authors have developed a radiotracer method for diffusion studies in solids. The experimental test was performed by the measurement of the diffusion coefficients of Li in a sample of the compound βLiAl using an α-emitting radiotracer of ⁸Li (T_1/2=0.84 s). It was found that the time-dependent yields of the α particles from the diffusing ⁸Li that was initially implanted in the sample could be used as a measure of the diffusivity of the tracer in a nondestructive way. The method was applied to measure the self-diffusion coefficients of Li in βLiGa, and for investigating how the Li diffusion in the Li ionic conductors is affected by the concentration of atomic defects (i.e., the existence of the atomic vacancies of Li and the defects in Ga sites that are replaced by Li).     

Development of the remote-controlled platform truck for handling heavy object and the remote control human interface for the disaster response

General interest for robotic technology has been increased by the public and the media after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (hereafter referred to as 1F) disaster. Especially, robots which can work under the very severe condition where personnel cannot access have demands for development. As to respond to such high demands, NEDO established ‘Disaster response unmanned systems development project’ in 2012.[1] This project is specialized in the development of various remote-controlled equipment, such as remote-controlled platform truck and remote control human interface under ‘Mobile Robot Development’. Remote-controlled platform truck is designed to safely and surely deliver robots and supplies, instead of using stairs and elevator, etc. in and out of building where it is too critical for personnel to work under. Remote control human interface for robots is designed to standardize the command and operation screen for operator, based on opinions from project members, and manned facility construction.[2] In this article, mechanical structure and development tasks for remote-controlled platform truck, and commonalization approach for operation and camera display of various remote-controlled equipment and robot for remote control human interface are stated. Background: due to hydrogen explosion triggered by The Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011, a reactor building at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was severely damaged. It is required to reduce high radiation dose in the atmosphere of the reactor building to perform restoration. To pursue decontamination of the reactor building, equipment to lift and carry decontamination devices to upper floor are required.