TEM,XPS and SIMS Analyzes on Grain Boundary of Lanthanum Chromites

The morphological characteristics, chromium valence state, and cation transport in the vicinity of grain boundary in La_1-xCa_xCrO₃ were investigated by using TEM/EDS, XPS and SIMS techniques. The width of grain boundary was around 1 nm where anomalous enrichment of calcium was observed. Higher valence state of chromium such as Cr⁶⁺(d⁰) was detected in the grain boundaries whereas Cr³⁺(d³) and Cr⁴⁺(d²) were dominant in the bulk. Very fast interdiffusion of alkaline earths was observed in the Sr²⁺-La_0.75Ca_0.25CrO₃ system. All observed phenomena were correlated by assuming the A-site vacancy which may be induced by the formation of Cr⁶⁺ at grain boundaries.     

Effects of winding connections on characteristics of a five‐phase stepping motor

A method for calculating the single‐step response of five‐phase hybrid stepping motors is obtained. The effects of winding connecting methods—(1) star‐bipolar SB, (2) pentagon PD, and (3) new pentagon NP—on the single‐step response are investigated. By application of the above calculation method, the continuous rotating characteristics are studied. It is found that the maximum slewing pulse rate of NP is higher than that of SB and PD connections, and that the variation of the rotor speed at high speed with the SB and PD connections is larger than that with the NP connection. The effects of the current waveform on the oscillation characteristics and relations between the current waveform and the winding connections are investigated. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(1): 47–56, 2001     

Study on environmental effect on fatigue and creep-fatigue strength of 316FR stainless steel in sodium at elevated temperature

Low-carbon 316 stainless steel with medium-nitrogen (316FR) is considered as the principal structural material for next generation fast breeder reactor (FBR) plants in Japan. The material strength standard and the creep-fatigue life evaluation method for 316FR have been developed. However, they are based on the results of material tests in air, while actual structural material will be used mainly in liquid sodium environment in the plants. In order to clarify the environmental effect, cyclic bending tests were carried out with and without hold time in sodium. Tested materials were 316FR and conventional 304 and 316 stainless steels. Weld metal of 316FR was also tested. As a result, it was found that fatigue and creep-fatigue lives of 316FR in sodium were larger than those in air and no explicit consideration of the environmental effect is necessary in design. It was also found that the life evaluation method based on the ductility exhaustion concept is applicable to creep-fatigue life assessment in sodium.     

Research on some basic deformations in free forging with robot and servo-press

Due to the disadvantages in casting or hot forging of Ti alloy artificial bones, such as low strength and high energy cost, this paper prompted an alternative method to manufacture individuated artificial bones. Free forging with a 6-axis freedom robot and servo-press could be very economical in the forming of complex shape parts because of its high flexibility and simple die-setting. Based on this system, the authors studied deformations of some basic elements, which could be assembled to artificial bones with complex shape. Firstly, the compression limit and effect of compression parameters on the roundness during reducing diameter process were declared for Al alloy and pure Ti. Secondly, an approximate theoretical equation of bending angle or curvature radius was proposed, and it matches experimental results well. Finally, a dimension prediction equation was presented by considering effect of material anisotropy, and then the ladder part without width spread was manufactured accordingly.     

A case of hemophagocytic syndrome with severe liver injury manifestating adult Still''s disease

We investigated if complement-mediated enhancement of HIV infection occurs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In 7 experiments, we evaluated the effect of human complement on HIVIIIB infection in vitro. We measured HIV antigen production on day 4 and found that pre-incubation of HIV with complement led to enhanced production of antigen with a median enhancement of 2.5-fold (range 1.1-6.8). This complement-mediated increase in antigen production was statistically significant (p < 0.02). Complement-mediated enhancement of HIV infection was also tested in CD4 cells enriched from PBMC, and CD4 cells persistently gave higher levels of infection enhancement than PBMC. Thus, CD4 cells appear to be sufficient for complement-mediated enhancement of HIV infection to occur. In addition, we tested if it was possible to detect complement-mediated enhancement of primary HIV isolates in PBMC. We tested 3 isolates and found only a minor effect on antigen production (median enhancement 1.2-fold, range 0.6-1.5). Furthermore, addition of HIV-specific antibodies in combination with complement resulted in enhanced antigen production in 2/3 sera tested. However, the combination of complement and antibodies resulted in only a minor increase in enhancement of HIV infection compared to that obtained with complement alone. Finally, we found evidence of complement-mediated enhancement of HIV infection in resting PBMC. In conclusion, we demonstrated that complement-mediated enhancement of HIV infection does occur in vitro in PBMC.     

GaN-based optoelectronic devices on sapphire and Si substrates

A recessed gate AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) on sapphire (0 0 0 1), a GaN metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) and an InGaN multiple-quantum well green light-emitting diode (LED) on Si (1 1 1) substrates have been grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The AlGaN/GaN intermediate layers have been used for the growth of GaN MESFET and LED on Si substrates. A two-dimensional electron gas mobility as high as 9260 cm²/V s with a sheet carrier density of 4.8×10¹² cm⁻² was measured at 4.6 K for the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure on the sapphire substrate. The recessed gate device on sapphire showed a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 146 mS/mm and a drain–source current of 900 mA/mm for the AlGaN/GaN HEMT with a gate length of 2.1 μm at 25°C. The GaN MESFET on Si showed a maximum extrinsic transconductance of 25 mS/mm and a drain–source current of 169 mA/mm with a complete pinch-off for the 2.5-μm-gate length. The LED on Si exhibited an operating voltage of 18 V, a series resistance of 300 Ω, an optical output power of 10 μW and a peak emission wavelength of 505 nm with a full-width at half-maximum of 33 nm at 20 mA drive current.     

Super-cooled water behavior inside polymer electrolyte fuel cell cross-section below freezing temperature

This study investigated the phenomenon of water freezing below freezing point in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). To understand the details of water freezing phenomena inside a PEFC, a system capable of cross-sectional imaging inside the fuel cell with visible and infrared images was developed. Super-cooled water freezing phenomena were observed under different gas purge conditions. The present test confirmed that super-cooled water was generated on the gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface and that water freezing occurs at the interface between the GDL and MEA (membrane electrode assembly) at the moment cell performance deteriorates under conditions when remaining water was dry enough inside the fuel cell before cold starting. Moreover, using infrared radiation imaging, it was clarified that heat of solidification spreads at the GDL/MEA interface at the moment cell performance drops. Compared with a no-initial purge condition, liquid water generation was not confirmed to cause ice growth at the GDL/MEA interface after cell performance deterioration. Each condition indicated that ice formation at the GDL/MEA interface causes cell performance deterioration. Therefore, it is believed that ice formation between the GDL/MEA interface causes air gas stoppage and that this blockage leads to a drop in cell performance.     

Reduction of in vitro allergenicity of buckwheat Fag e 1 through the Maillard-type glycosylation with polysaccharides

A major allergenic protein of buckwheat, Fag e 1 prepared from common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), was covalently linked with food-grade polysaccharides, arabinogalactan or xyloglucan through the controlled dry-heating at 60 °C under 65% relative humidity. The introduction of polysaccharide chain onto the molecular surface of Fag e 1 reduced the allergenicity of Fag e 1. The results revealed that the Maillard-type glycosylation of Fag e 1 with polysaccharides brought about a drastic reduction of the reactivity against human sera of buckwheat-allergy subjects, using immuno dot-blotting, QCM analysis and ELISA. In addition, the glycosylation of Fag e 1 yielded a great improvement of its surface functionality. Solubility of Fag e 1 at the neutral pH was substantially increased up to 13.5 times and 9.6 times by the conjugation with arabinogalactan and xyloglucan, respectively. Emulsifying properties of Fag e 1 were also improved by the glycosylation, of which both emulsifying activity and emulsion stability were more than 6 times higher than those of the native protein.