Direct Observation of Pure Cu and Cu-Ag Anode Passivation in H2SO4-CuSO4 Aqueous Solution by Channel Flow Double Electrode and Optical Microscopy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The dissolution and passivation of pure Cu and Cu-5 wt pct Ag anodes in H2SO4-CuSO4 electrolyte were investigated by a direct...     

Design of energy‐efficient train speed profiles considering fixed‐block signaling system

In dense traffic railway networks, trains may often slow down or stop between stations owing to previous train delays. If preceding train trajectory can be predicted, energy‐efficient driving can be achieved by suppressing unnecessary speed changes. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to find energy‐efficient driving considering fixed‐block signaling (FBS) system by using dynamic programming (DP). DP is suitable for use because it can optimize the control inputs with discrete and state constraints. In this paper, we discuss energy‐efficient driving by considering a FBS system using some case studies of simulation. In the simulation, we examine a technique to drive an express train in an energy‐efficient way when the preceding local train is running toward the station with passing loops. The results show that the proposed method can derive complex speed profiles for energy‐efficient driving and the train can be operated with a maximum reduced energy consumption of 8.3%.     

Matrix influence on the piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite exhibiting particle alignment

This study was addressed to the influence of an electric field strength applied at fabrication process and matrix properties, such as the dielectric constant and the Young's modulus, on “pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite” in order to further enhance the piezoelectricity of that. The pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite consists of linearly ordered piezoelectric ceramic particles in polymer material. Silicone gel, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and poly‐methyl‐methacrylate, which exhibit different dielectric constants and Young's modulus, were used as matrices to evaluate the matrix influence. The piezoelectricity of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite was evaluated using the piezoelectric strain constant d₃₃. The d₃₃ is one of the indices of the piezoelectric properties for piezoelectric materials. As a result, it was confirmed that d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite increased with the increase of the electric filed strength applied at fabrication process, though, it reached a constant value at a certain strength value. Further it was confirmed that dielectric constant of the matrix had a small influence on d₃₃ of the pseudo‐1‐3 piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composite, however, in case of matrix of lower Young's modulus, d₃₃ was increase. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41817.     

Facile synthesis and thermal properties of waterglass-based silica xerogel nanocomposites containing reduced graphene oxide

In this study, new rGO-silica xerogel nanocomposites (SX-rGO) and its glass fiber reinforced composites (GFR-SX-rGO) were prepared, and its microstructure and thermal properties were evaluated. The raw material was a mixed dispersion prepared by adding 0.01–2.5?wt% of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to waterglass (6% SiO₂). A hydrogel was prepared via sol-gel reaction of this raw material, which was then immersed in hydrochloric acid, hydrophobized in a siloxane/2-propanol reaction system, and then dried at ambient pressure to obtain a hydrophobic carbon-silica xerogel composite. The obtained samples were characterized by N₂ physisorption (at 77?K), solid ²⁹Si Magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, hydrophobicity, and thermal conductivity. It was found that as the amount of rGO was increased, the specific surface area of the nanocomposite decreased by ~25% from 535 to 403?cm²/g, and the average pore size and pore volume were almost halved. The thermal decomposition temperature of the SX-rGO was increased markedly by the addition of rGO. Moreover, the GFR-SX-rGO-0.5 showed low density (0.208?g/cm³), high contact angle (146°) and low thermal conductivity (0.0199?W/mK).     

Assessing material qualities and efficiency limits of III–V on silicon solar cells using external radiative efficiency

The paper presents a quantitative approach to the investigation and comparison of the material qualities of III–V on silicon (III–V/Si) solar cells by using external radiative efficiencies. We use this analysis to predict the limiting efficiencies and evaluate the criteria of material quality in order to achieve high‐efficiency III–V/Si solar cells. This result yields several implications for the design of high‐efficiency III–V/Si solar cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrophobic Tagged Dihydrofolate Reductase for Creating Misfolded Glycoprotein Mimetics

In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), nascent glycoproteins that have not acquired the native conformation are either repaired or sorted for degradation by specific quality‐control systems composed by various proteins. Among them, UDP‐glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase (UGGT) serves as a folding sensor in the ER. However, the molecular mechanism of its recognition remains obscure. This study used pseudo‐misfolded glycoproteins, comprising a modified dihydrofolate reductase with artificial pyrene–cysteine moiety on the protein surface (pDHFR) and Man₉GlcNAc₂‐methotrexate (M9‐MTX). All five M9‐MTX/pDHFR complexes, with a pyrene group at different positions, were found to be good substrates of UGGT, irrespective of the site of pyrene modification. These results suggest UGGT's mode of substrate recognition is fuzzy, thus allowing various glycoproteins to be accommodated in the folding cycle.