Reinvestigation of Ni-solid solution/liquid equilibria in Ni-Al binary and Ni-Al-Zr ternary systems

The present work reports the results of a reinvestigation of the γ liquidus and solidus temperatures of the Ni-Al system and the γ/Ni₅Zr eutectic reaction temperatures in the Ni-Al-Zr system. In the Ni-Al binary system, it is found that the stability of the Ni-rich γ solid solution phase is enhanced by small additions of Al with the melting temperature of the γ phase and that the melting temperature reaches a congruent maximum at a few at.% Al. The temperature of the eutectic reaction L→γ+Ni₅Zr in the Ni-Zr binary edge is confirmed to be 1196 °C by differential thermal analysis (DTA), rather higher than the value reported previously. The reaction temperature increases with Al addition to reach or exceed 1206 °C, forming a “saddle point,” then decreasing to reach 1187 °C or below by flowing into a ternary invariant reaction. These findings can be explained by γ/liquid equilibrium in the Ni-Al binary system.     

Density functional theory (DFT) study on the effects of Li doping on electronic states of graphene

The electronic structures of a lithium ion (Li⁺) doped-graphene at the ground and low-lying excited states have been investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) method. A graphene composed of 19 benzene rings was used as a model of graphene, while the edge carbon atom was terminated by hydrogen atom (expressed by C₅₄H₁₈). The geometry optimization showed that the Li⁺ ion binds to a hexagonal site where six carbon atoms interact equivalently to the Li⁺ ion. When the Li⁺ ion interacts with the graphene surface, the electronic configuration of the Li⁺ ion is changed from (1s)²(2s)⁰ to (1s)²(2s)^0.01(2p)⁰(3p)^0.02, suggesting that the sp-hybridization of lithium ion is important in the adsorption to the graphene surface. The band gap of graphene is slightly red-shifted by the doping of Li⁺ ion due to the interaction with the sp-hybrid orbital. The effects of Li⁺ on both the ground and excited electronic states of graphene were discussed on the basis of theoretical results.     

Molecular dynamics simulation on diffusion of lithium atom pair in C150H30 cluster model for glassy carbon at very low temperatures

As the preliminary step to elucidate the ion transfer mechanism of lithium (Li) species in the cathode electrode of glassy carbon material, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was taken place describing the initial thermal movement of two Li atoms in the simulation time range of 10 ps maximally in the hydrogen terminated cluster model, C₁₅₀H₃₀, at molecular mechanics 2 (MM2) level. The formation of Li₂ atom pair is specified in the central area of the cluster model as the result of the structural optimization. In the low temperature range from 4 to 10 K, accompanied by the rotational and stretching vibrational motions, it goes around the central area of the cluster model. Diffusion process of the atom pair is simulated dynamically for the first time in the present study. Decomposition of the atom pair occurred at 50 K and it produces two Li atoms which go and back independently from the center to the edge of the cluster model crossing the CC bonds orthogonally. Formation and diffusion processes of Li₂ atom pair may be responsible for the charge-discharge cycles in the glassy carbon electrode in the lithium secondary battery.     

Impacts of ubiquitous technology advances on energy consumption in Japan

We created a mathematical model of the Japanese economy using a macro‐economic modeling framework called a computable general equilibrium model. We used the model to estimate the impacts of the ubiquitous network technology advances on CO₂ emissions in Japan. Four scenarios of the ubiquitous network society in Japan in 2010 were selected. The four scenarios correspond to four different levels of ubiquitous society advancement. In each scenario, we estimated electricity consumption by electronics products, the effects of ubiquitous network application systems on improving energy efficiency, and the industrial structural changes induced by the expansion of the ubiquitous network application services market. Our results indicate that advanced ubiquitous technologies would potentially reduce the CO₂ emissions of the Japanese economy by 2.8%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 161(3): 22–30, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20419     

X-ray visualization measurement of slurry flow in solid propellant casting

Simulated solid propellant slurry containing lead sphere tracers is experimentally cast into a double-circular cylindrical container. During the casting, the temperature and the pressure environment has been mimicked to an actual composite solid propellant casting of solid rocket motors. X-rays are projected on to the slurry flow from two directions and penetration images are recorded by a flat-panel detector and an X-ray image intensifier. By suppressing the mutual interference of the X-rays, the two-directional X-ray photography has been successfully conducted. Using the time series data of the X-ray images from the two directions, the identification of each tracer particle in space and time has been done and their three-dimensional paths have been computed. From these procedures, the flow field or the velocity field inside the slurry flow, which is usually invisible, has been estimated.     

The Potential Role of REG Family Proteins in Inflammatory and Inflammation-Associated Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Regenerating gene (REG) family proteins serve as multifunctional secretory molecules with trophic, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and probably immuno-regulatory effects. Since their discovery, accumulating evidence has clarified the potential roles of the REG family in the occurrence, progression and development of a wide range of inflammatory and inflammation-associated diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, significant gaps still exist due to the undefined nature of certain receptors, regulatory signaling pathways and possible interactions among distinct Reg members. In this narrative review, we first describe the structural features, distribution pattern and purported regulatory mechanisms of REG family proteins. Furthermore, we summarize the established and proposed roles of REG proteins in the pathogenesis of various inflammation-associated pathologies of the GI tract and the body as a whole, focusing particularly on carcinogenesis in the ulcerative colitis—colitic cancer sequence and gastric cancer. Finally, the clinical relevance of REG products in the context of diagnosis, treatment and prognostication are also discussed in detail. The current evidence suggests a need to better understanding the versatile roles of Reg family proteins in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-associated diseases, and their broadened future usage as therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers is anticipated.     

Specific Increase in Joint Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Its Relation to Interleukin 6 in Autoimmune Arthritis

Neutrophils and their extracellular traps have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the detailed mechanisms in joints are still unclear, and their regulation remains to be solved. Here, we explored neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)osis in experimental models of arthritis and further investigated the effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibition in neutrophils and NETosis. In skins of peptide GPI-induced arthritis (pGIA), citrullinated protein was detected as well as citrullinated histone expression in immunized skin but this was not specific to pGIA. Citrullinated histone expression in pGIA joints was specific to pGIA and was merged with neutrophil elastase, suggesting NETosis. Neutrophils in joints tend to upregulate IL-6 receptors when compared with bone marrow neutrophils. Administration of mouse anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies in pGIA suppressed arthritis in association with a decrease in neutrophil infiltration and NETosis in joints. In the plasma of RA patients, citrullinated protein was significantly reduced after tocilizumab treatment. Our results suggest that IL-6 enhances neutrophil chemotaxis and NETosis in inflammatory joints and could be the source of citrullinated proteins.     

Markerless visual servo control of a servosphere for behavior observation of a variety of wandering animals

ABSTRACT

Servospheres are robotized observation equipments that produce endless fields for behavior observation of wandering animals. This paper first proposes a markerless visual tracking technique for estimation of the position and the heading direction of wandering animals, since existing techniques for servospheres require special markers or do not estimate the heading direction. The proposed markerless visual tracking technique is then integrated with a visual servo controller for a servosphere. The integrated markerless visual servo controller is available for wandering animals whose shapes in the image plane are represented by long bodies and thinner parts than their bodies. This paper demonstrates that the proposed controller is available for ants, crickets, mantises and spiders, while the shapes of their bodies and legs are different from each other.