Fracture dynamics of sprayed and laser-glazed titania by an inverse processing of elastic waves

A new elastic wave (EW) or acoustic emission (AE) monitoring and signal processing system has been developed and used to elucidate the fracture behavior of sprayed and laser-glazed ceramic coatings. The system measures the minute surface displacements excited by the propagation of elastic waves. It enables elucidation of the fracture dynamics (fracture mode and kinetics) of stressed coatings. The surface displacement at the sensor position was computed by the convolution integral of an assumed source wave with the dynamic Green’s function until signals resembled the measured wave. This new signal processing method was used to determine the fracture strength and dynamics of microcracks in sprayed and laser-glazed titania subjected to four-point bending. It was found that mode II shear cracking along the interface between the coating and substrate occurred prior to mode I cleavage cracking. The fracture strength of laser-glazed titania was higher than that of as-sprayed titania in most cases; however, this depended on the coating structure. This article introduces the principle of source inversion processing of elastic waves, the monitoring system, laser glazing of sprayed titania, and experimental work on the fracture behavior of titania coatings.     

Proposal of variable sequential sampling plan having desired operating characteristics indexed by quality loss

The proportion of non-conforming items has been traditionally utilised as an evaluation criterion for quality of items. However, the proportion of non-conforming items is not necessarily useful as a proper evaluation criterion for controlling high-quality manufacturing in recent years. Accordingly, in order to achieve further quality improvement and innovation, more careful quality evaluation has been required newly. Then, a concept of quality loss in the Taguchi methods has been devised as a severe criterion of quality evaluation. Hereby, a variable single sampling plan having desired operating characteristics (OCs) indexed by quality loss has been proposed in the area of statistical quality control. By the way, the most economical sampling inspection in the average sample number (ASN) is the sequential sampling plan based on the Wald’s sequential probability ratio test. Then, from the viewpoint of cost reduction, we discuss a variable sequential sampling plan having desired OC indexed by quality loss with the aim of expansion of the utility of variable sampling plan for quality loss. As the result, the design procedure of the sequential sampling plan for satisfying some required design conditions indexed by quality loss is provided. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed sequential sampling plan is verified through some numerical examples.     

Characterization of Proteoglycan and Hyaluronan in Hot Water Extract from Salmon Cartilage

Salmon cartilage proteoglycan fractions have recently gained favor as ingredients of functional food and cosmetics. An optimal hot water method to extract proteoglycan from salmon cartilage has recently been developed. The extracted cartilage includes hyaluronan and collagen in addition to proteoglycan as counterparts that interact with each other. In this study, biochemical analyses and atomic force microscopical analysis revealed global molecular images of proteoglycan in the hot water extract. More than seventy percent of proteoglycans in this extract maintained their whole native structures. Hyaluronan purified from the hot water extract showed a distribution with high molecular weight similar to hyaluronan considered to be native hyaluronan in cartilage. The current data is evidence of the quality of this hot water cartilage extract.     

Network copolyesters from benzenepolycarboxylic acids and 1,6-hexanediol

Network copolyesters were prepared from trimesic (Y), pyromellitic (X) or mellitic (Y_H) acids and 1,6-hexanediol (6G). Prepolymers prepared by meltpolycondensation were cast from dimethylformamide solution and postpolymerized at 260°C for 6h to form a network. The resultant films were transparent, flexible and insoluble in any organic solvents. Degree of reaction estimated from the infrared absorbance of ester and methylene groups was almost the same for all films, 94–96%. X-ray diffraction intensity curves and densities showed that the ordering of networks was decreased by the copolymerization, which was remarkable for 6G–X/Y_H copolymer films and was consistent with the higher decreases of heat-distortion temperature for these copolymer films. The copolymerization also caused decrease of thermal stability, tensile properties and alkali resistance and increase of dye absorption.     

Volatile aroma components and antioxidant activities of the flavedo peel extract of unripe Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata)

The flavedo peel extracts of unripe Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata) fruits were extracted using steam distillation (SD) or a cold-press (CP) system. Volatile aroma content and composition were determined using gas chromatography (GC) and each compound was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The major constituents of the extracts were monoterpene hydrocarbons (91.75-93.75%[709.32-809.05 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]) including limonene (43.08-45.13%[341.46-379.81 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]), γ-terpinene (27.88-29.06%[219.90-245.86 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]), and p-cymene (8.13-11.02%[61.47-97.22 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]). The extraction process used was determined to be a decisive factor that affects the composition of key citrus aroma components, as well as the antioxidant activities of the Shiikuwasha fruit. Antioxidant capabilities of the extracts were examined by assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching inhibition. The cold-press extraction system may better retain the total phenolic content of the flavedo peel and display superior antioxidant activities, compared to the steam distillation extraction method. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata) is a type of small citrus fruit, and has been used as raw material for beverage and food additive productions in Japan. It had a unique aroma composition in which the limonene content of its peels is lower than that of other commonly known citrus peels. The present study detailed the volatile aroma composition, as well as antioxidant capabilities of Shiikuwasha peel extracts of different extraction methods, that are cold-press and steam distillation methods. The results of this study may provide a basis for selection of Shiikuwasha peel extracts in food industry for citrus flavor production.     

Effect of Dehydration on Raspberries: Polyphenol and Anthocyanin Retention, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antiadipogenic Activity

ABSTRACT:  Fresh and dried raspberries prepared by freeze drying (FD), microwave-vacuum (MIVAC), hot-air drying (HAD), and a combination of hot-air drying and microwave-vacuum (HAD/MIVAC) drying methods were evaluated for polyphenol retention, total polyphenol and anthocyanin contents, total antioxidant capacity, and antiadipogenic activity (the inhibition of fat cell development). Ellagic acid and quercetin were present in the largest concentrations in fresh and dehydrated raspberries. Dehydration led to a loss of polyphenols and anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity. Polyphenols (aglycone form) were retained in the greatest amount: 20% (freeze dried) to 30% (HAD/MIVAC) (fresh = 100%). A total of 30% of polyphenols (glycoside form) were retained in raspberries dried by the HAD/MIVAC methods with 5% of retention observed for raspberries dried by FD, HAD, or MIVAC. FD and MIVAC resulted in higher retention of anthocyanins (aglycone form) than other drying methods. It was also observed that antioxidant activity was reduced by dehydration. Adipogenesis was inhibited by polyphenolic glycosides (30%) and aglycones (30% to 40%) in fresh and HAD/MIVAC raspberries. Extracts from dried raspberries by HAD/MIVAC methods were relatively more effective at inhibiting adipogenesis compared to HAD and FD dried raspberries.     

Microstructure of a Molybdenum Nitride Layer Formed by Nitriding Molybdenum Metal

For pure molybdenum nitrided at 1373 K in NH₃ gas, microstructural observations of a molybdenum nitride layer were conducted through a transmission electron microscope. The molybdenum nitride layer consisted of two molybdenum nitrides: an outer one of γ-Mo₂N and an inner one of β-Mo₂N. A great number of (011)[0     1] type twins were observed in the β-Mo₂N phase, whereas the microstructure of the γ-Mo₂N phase was almost free from lattice defects except for slightly observed {111}〈112〉 type twin.     

Effects of excess K+ on carbachol-induced contractions in the guinea-pig tracheal muscle

1. In smooth muscles isolated from the guinea-pig trachea, the effects of dihydropyridines, nifedipine and nicardipine on contractions produced by carbachol (Cch) were studied in normal (6 mM) and excess K+ concentration (60 mM). The tonic contraction produced by 1 microM Cch was highly dependent on the external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]0) and was not significantly affected by cyclopiazonic acid or thapsigargin, Ca2+ uptake inhibitor. 2. [Ca2+]0-tension curves were steeper in the presence of 1 microM Cch (the Hill coefficient: 2.5) than in the presence of 60 mM K+ (Hill coefficient: 1.6) and their ED50 of Ca2+ was 0.16 and 0.39 mM, respectively. An increase of K+ to 60 mM in the presence of 1 microM Cch shifted the curve to the left roughly in parallel (ED50: 0.12 mM, Hill coefficient: 2.3). 3. [Ca2+]0-tension curve in the presence of 1 microM Cch was shifted to the right in parallel by nifedipine (1 microM). This was markedly potentiated by 60 mM K+ (the increase in ED50 of Ca2+ being 3 times at 6 mM and 15 times at 60 mM K+). No tension was evoked by Ca2+ up to 2.5 mM in 60 mM K+ solution containing 1 microM nifedipine but no Cch. 4. In the absence of nifedipine, Cch-induced contractions were potentiated by 60 mM K+, whereas in the presence of nifedipine, Cch-induced contractions were markedly inhibited by 60 mM K+. These mechanical changes were accompanied by an increase or a decrease in intracellular Ca2+. 5. A hypothesis is presented to explain the results which suggests that the kinetics of Ca2+ influx though a single type of pathway is modulated by membrane potential and receptor activation and that the susceptibility of the pathway to dihydropyridine blockade is closely related to the Ca2+ influx kinetics with receptor activation reducing and membrane depolarization increasing the susceptibility.     

Structural stability and mechanochemical activity of titanium nitride prepared by mechanical alloying

Pure titanium nitride (TiN) was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA). In order to prevent the contamination from the MA vial and atmospheric gas, the MA steel vial was replaced with a titanium vial and atmospheric gas was deoxidized using sponge titanium heated to 623 K. The mechanochemical activity during MA was estimated from the gas purification temperature. The investigation of thermal and pressure stability by thermal treatment and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) revealed that titanium nitride, TiN, was stable on heating to 1173 K under a vacuum, but became unstable under a high pressure, 100 MPa.