Microscopic fatigue processes in a plain-weave glass-fibre composite

This paper focuses on the microscopic damage and progressive failure of a composite reinforced by plain-weave glass cloth under tensile fatigue loading. The fatigue process was divided into three stages like that of multi-directional laminates. It was found that the internal damage at each stage (matrix cracks, debonds in the weft, successive debonds in the warp and ‘metadelaminations’ between warps and wefts) occurred near the cross-over point of the fabric. The modulus decay mechanism was explained by considering the progression of this internal damage. From the end of the first stage to the beginning of the middle stage, a characteristic damage state (CDS) (called a ‘meta-CDS’) was observed. It was found that woven composites have a unit area of damage accumulation (called a ‘unit cell’) and the damage of each unit cell and its distribution control the total fatigue damage of the material.     

Modeling of micturition characteristics based on prostaticstiffness modulation induced using hormones and adrenergic antagonists

The authors present a biosensor intended to evaluate prostatic stiffness. The stiffness of the prostate was modulated using hormonal induction and adrenergic stimulation. The results show that the sensor can be sufficiently accurate to discriminate between soft prostates used as controls and those stiffened with hormones. The modulation produced by an adrenergic agent on prostatic stiffness was detected using this system. An electrical model was constructed embodying the parameters of prostatic stiffness, micturition frequency, and volume, demonstrating that prostatic stiffness correlates with micturition frequency     

Shape memorizing properties of a hydrogel of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Hydrogel prepared by repetitive freezing and thawing of poly(vinyl alcohol) aqueous solution was chemically crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The chemically crosslinked hydrogel hardly changed its physical appearance, and showed good elasticity and strength as original gel. However, after treating in boiling water, it swelled a little, depending on the condition of the chemical treatment. The melted gel thus obtained showed shape memorizing property, that is, it could firmly hold nearly 200% of strain, keeping its original high elasticity. The strain could be released very quickly (< 1 s) in boiling water, and the gel was suggested to be applied to a new type of gel actuator. X-ray diffraction study revealed that the melted gel does not necessarily reform the physical crosslinks in exactly the same manner as the original gel in the process of shape restoring, but the distribution of the physical crosslinks can be restored as they were. It was suggested that the chemical crosslinks which remember the distribution of the physical crosslinks plays a critical roll in the shape restoring process.     

Preparation and structure of poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(vinyl acetate) composite porous membrane

The preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) composite porous membrane was investigated by extracting PVAc with solvent from films of PVAc lattices which were obtained by the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) in the presence of PVA. The formation of the porous membrane depended upon whether or not PVAc in the latex film was easily extracted with solvent. In the case of using hydrogen peroxide (HPO)–tartaric acid (TA) as an initiator, in the film of the latex which was produced from the batch method in which all ingredients of the batch were put into the reaction vessel before starting polymerization, PVAc could be extracted over 90% of total PVAc with common organic solvents. In the film of the latex which was produced from the dropwise addition method of VAc and initiator, the PVAc extraction was about 20-30%. On the other hand, in the case of using ammonium persulfate as an initiator, the desired porous membrane was not obtained. The structure of the porous membrane obtained from the latex of the batch method by using HPO—TA consisted of spherical cells which were made up of PVA and grafted PVAc or insoluble PVAc like microgels, which were not extracted with organic solvent and were connected by small pores. The PVA—PVAc composite porous membrane is permeated by n-hexane with 5.58 × 10² mL/cm²·s at 0.5 kg/cm², by benzene with only 1.33 × 10^?3mL/cm²·s even at 60 kg/cm².     

Ergonomics solution for crossing collisions based on field assessment of visual environment at urban intersections in Japan

This paper aims to assess quantitatively the actual visual environment of uncontrolled urban downtown intersections in Japan in relation to frequently occurring crossing collisions and to discuss the safety countermeasures for them. In Field Study 1 dealing with direct visibility, our ultra-wide-angle photograph analysis revealed that most of the right/left-ward visible range at 11 intersections were insufficient to check safety, and the quality of direct visibility was closely associated with causing crossing collisions. The countermeasures to reduce a blind area were determined to be a top priority. In Field Study 2 dealing with indirect visibility, more than half of the 25 traffic convex mirrors had marked shortcomings for preventive safety, and ergonomics guidelines ensuring indirect visibility were proposed for installing traffic convex mirrors. Low-cost/low-technology-oriented countermeasures are highly recommended to obtain clear/sufficient images of crucial information satisfying drivers' requirements on traffic convex mirrors in accordance with those ergonomics guidelines was highly recommended. Crossing collisions could be prevented by improvement of poor direct and indirect visibility.     

Strength Analysis of Yttria-Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals

Tensile strength of Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂ polycrystals (Y-TZP) was measured by a newly developed tensile testing method with a rectangular bar. The tensile strength of Y-TZP was lower than that of the three-point bend strength, and the shape of the tensile strength distribution was quite different from that of the three-point bend strength distribution. It was difficult to predict the distribution curve of the tensile strength using the data of the three-point bend strength by one-modal Weibull distribution. The distribution of the tensile strength was analyzed by two- or three-model Weibull distribution coupled with an analysis of fracture origins. The distribution curve of the three-point bend strength which was estimated by multimodal Weibull distribution agreed favorably with that of the measured three-point bend strength values. A two-modal Weibull distribution function was formulated approximately from the distributions of the tensile and three-point bend strengths, and the estimated two-modal Weibull distribution function for the four-point bend strength agreed well with the measured four-point bend strength.     

Effect of chitosan-gluconic acid conjugate/poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels as wound dressing on partial-thickness wounds in diabetic rats

We previously developed chitosan cryogels from chitosan-gluconic acid conjugate without using toxic additives for wound care. In this study, we improved physiological characteristics of the previous cryogels by incorporating poly(vinyl alcohol) that also form cryogels. Mechanical strength of the cryogels was more than two times higher than that of the previous cryogels. Furthermore, the incorporation of poly(vinyl alcohol) enhanced water retention and resistance to degradation of the gels by lysozyme. The cryogels retained the favorable biological properties of the previous cryogels that they accelerate infiltration of inflammatory cells into wound sites. Time period for repairing 50 % of initial area of partial-thickness skin wound treated with the cryogels (4.0 ± 1.1 days) was shorter than those with gauze (6.5 ± 0.3 days) or a commercial hydrogel dressing (5.7 ± 0.3 days). Finally, we confirmed that incorporation of basic fibroblast growth factor into the cryogels was effective to further accelerate wound healing (2.7 ± 1.0 days). These results demonstrate that the cryogels in this study are promising for wound care.     

Synthesis and Unique Photoluminescence Properties of Eu2Ti2O7 and Eu2TiO5

The europium titania materials, pyrochlore Eu₂Ti₂O₇ and orthorhombic Eu₂TiO₅, were synthesized from a mixture of Eu₂O₃ and TiO₂ using the solid‐state reaction method. The structural and optical properties of these titania materials were investigated using X‐ray diffraction analysis, photoluminescence (PL) analysis, PL excitation (PLE) spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Temperature dependence of the PL intensity was measured between T = 20 and 450 K and analyzed on the basis of various theoretical models. A remarkable increase in the PL intensity with increasing T was observed in these titania materials at higher temperatures, above ~140 K, and well explained by a trap/reservoir model. Interestingly, a dramatic decrease in the electric‐dipole emission component relative to the magnetic‐dipole one was observed in Eu₂Ti₂O₇ above T ~ 140 K. The schematic energy‐level diagram for Eu³⁺ in the Eu₂Ti₂O₇ host was proposed for the sake of a better understanding of the PL and PLE processes in this type of phosphorescent material.     

Effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin by Rhodotorula glutinis No. 21

The effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin, an effective antioxidant, by soil yeast, Rhodotorula glutinis no. 21, was examined. Methylene blue, methyviologen and AAPH [2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride] were used as generators of singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radicals and peroxy radicals, respectively. All of them indicated effectiveness at a dose of 1.0 x 10(-10) to 3.0 x 10(-6) M. Addition of these generators to the culture medium had almost no influence on the biosynthesis of beta-carotene, whereas it had marked enhancement on those of torulene and torularhodin. Production of uric acid by xanthineoxidase remained unchanged at a torularhodin concentration of up to 100 microM. This result suggests that torularhodin does not directly affect the productivity of superoxide anions. It has been proved that torularhodin has a more potent effect on the scavenging of peroxyl radicals and inhibits substrate degradation by singlet oxygen more effectively than beta-carotene does. Continuous addition of methylene blue enhanced the torularhodin accumulation more markedly than single addition.