Synthesis and Properties of Glassy Microcavities for Morphology-Dependent Resonances through Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation

Glassy microspheres containing a rare earth are attractive for practical use as microcavities for morphology-dependent resonances (MDRs). However, no efficient and low-cost mass-production process has been established for such microcavities. In the present study, we have synthesized glassy microcavities through liquid–liquid phase separation of alkaline-earth borate glass. Glassy microspheres have been prepared by the liquid–liquid phase separation of BaO-B₂O₃ glasses, by controlling the particle size within the range 1–45 μm and the size distribution within 1%. The microspheres show periodic, sharp peaks, indicative of MDRs, in their Raman-scattering spectra and in the fluorescence spectra of the internal rare earth. These microspheres act as high-quality microcavities, with Q factors comparable to those calculated using the Lorenz–Mie theory.     

Sinterability of β-Calcium Orthophosphate Powder Prepared by Spray-Pyrolysis

Mixed solutions of Ca(NO₃)₂ and (NH₄)₂HPO₄ with Ca/P = 1.50 were spray-pyrolyzed at 600°C to produce β-calcium orthophosphate (β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂) powder; the spray-pyrolyzed powder was ground and then calcined at 600°C for 1 h. The best crystalline β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ powder was obtained from the solution with 1.80 mol.L^–1 Ca(NO₃)₂, 1.20 mol.L^–1 (NH₄)₂HPO₄. The resulting powder was composed of primary particles with sizes of <0.5 μm. Dense β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ ceramics with a relative density of 96.1% could be fabricated by firing this compressed powder at 1070°C for 5 h.     

Effects of porosity on leaching of Ca from hardened ordinary Portland cement paste

Aiming at evaluating the effects of porosity in hardened cement paste on dissolution phenomena, we prepared hardened ordinary Portland cement (OPC), with variation in pore volume, and then leached them in deionized water. It was found that the bulk density and pore volume were affected by the dissolution of portlandite. The larger the pore volume of the sample, the more rapidly portlandite is dissolved. An electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) performed on the cross-section of the solid phase showed the ‘portlandite (CH) dissolution front’. As the leaching period became longer, the CH dissolution front shifted towards the inner part. In addition, the movement of the CH dissolution front was described by the diffusion model, with consideration of the dissolution of portlandite. It was concluded that the transport of leached constituents is diffusion controlled, and the major leached constituents of hardened OPC are portlandite and C-S-H gel. Large pore, which was generated associated with the leaching of portlandite, was considered significantly to affect the diffusion of leached constituents.     

A novel method for solvent fractionation of two CLA isomers

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is commercially available as a mixture consisting of almost equal amounts of the cis-9,trans-11-CLA (c9, t11) and trans-10, cis-12-CLA (t10, c12) isomers. Separation of the two isomers is highly significant since each exhibits different biochemical properties. Highly efficient separation could be accomplished by crystallization in acetone (solvent) of the two CLA isomers (solutes) in the presence of medium-chain fatty-acid (MCFA) additives. The relative concentration ratios of the two CLA isomers in the solvent-crystallized materials varied depending on which MCFA were added. Addition of lauric and decanoic acids resulted in the crystals predominantly containing t10,c12, whereas octanoic acid yielded those predominantly containing c9,t11. We have confirmed that onetime solvent crystallization using decanoic acid and octanoic acid additives increased the t10,c12 and c9,t11 concentrations, and that repeated solvent crystallization resulted in the ratio of c9,t11 to t10,c12 of at least 4∶96 or 98∶2.     

A feature selection method using improved regularized linear discriminant analysis

Investigation of genes, using data analysis and computer-based methods, has gained widespread attention in solving human cancer classification problem. DNA microarray gene expression datasets are readily utilized for this purpose. In this paper, we propose a feature selection method using improved regularized linear discriminant analysis technique to select important genes, crucial for human cancer classification problem. The experiment is conducted on several DNA microarray gene expression datasets and promising results are obtained when compared with several other existing feature selection methods.     

Wood photography using light irradiation and heat treatment

To apply the coloring method using light irradiation and thermal treatment to print photographs on wood, the effect of the transmittance of negative films was investigated. ΔE* decreased with light irradiation when specimens covered with films with transmittances exceeding 20% were irradiated for 100 h. It was thought that this phenomenon was due to the decrease in Δb*. The color of light‐irradiated wood changed remarkably with thermal treatment; however, the change in the color of exposed specimens covered with films with transmittances exceeding roughly 20% became constant. Clear photographs could be printed on wood using negative films with transmittances less than approximately 20%. Furthermore, the difference between the maximum and minimum values of ΔE* after thermal treatment was about 22. Humans can distinguish four to seven colors that can be created by this method. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 29, 312–316, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20027     

Effect of blending high‐pressure low‐density polyethylene on the crystallization kinetics of linear low‐density polyethylene

It is well known that the addition of a small amount of high‐pressure low‐density polyethylene (HP‐LDPE) to linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) can improve the optical properties of LLDPE, and LLDPE/HP‐LDPE blend is widely applied to various uses in the field of film. The optical haziness of polyethylene blown films, as a result of surface irregularities, is thought to be as a consequence of the different crystallization mechanisms. However, not much effort has been directed toward understanding the effect of HP‐LDPE blending on the overall crystallization kinetics (k) of LLDPE including nucleation rate (n) and crystal lateral growth rate (v). In this study, we investigated the effect of blending 20% HP‐LDPE on the crystallization kinetics of LLDPE polymerized by Ziegler‐Natta catalyst with comonomer of 1‐butene. Furthermore, by combining depolarized light intensity measurement (DLIM) and small‐angle laser light scattering (SALLS), we have established a methodology to estimate the lateral growth rate at lower crystallization temperatures, in which direct measurement of lateral growth by polarized optical microscopy (POM) is impossible due to the formation of extremely small spherulites. This investigation revealed that HP‐LDPE blending leads to enhanced nucleation rate, reduced crystal lateral growth rate, and a slight increase in the overall crystallization kinetics of pure LLDPE. From the estimated crystal lateral growth rate, it was found that the suppression in v from HP‐LDPE blending is larger at lower temperatures than at higher temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS OF N-BUTYL ACETATE

The hydrolysis of n-butyl acetate with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was studied in an agitated vessel with a flat interface. The observed overall reaction rates were analyzed in view of mass transfer accompanied by the (1,1)-th order irreversible reaction. The reaction kinetics and relevant physical properties were clarified.     

Management information and its optimal allocation for ATM networks with a protection mechanism

This paper focuses on the definition and allocation of management information for ATM broadband networks that adopt the virtual path protection mechanism. The definition of management information is proposed to represent, in accordance with international standards, a virtual path with the protection mechanism. To achieve accurate representation, the proposed method features the two distinct managed object classes derived from the trail concept, which has been specified in ITU-TS recommendations. The allocation of management information is optimized by using computer simulations. The criterion for the optimization is the rapidity of tracking the change-over/back and setting up a virtual path. The system that exchanges messages and updates management information is modeled as a queueing system to evaluate the rapidity. Several alternative allocation methods are compared, and the best method is determined.     

Production and properties of rapidly solidified Al-4.5% Cu alloy powder by the rotating-water-atomization process

Rapidly solidified Al-4.5 wt% Cu powder was produced by the rotating-water-atomization process recently developed by the authors. The particles were not spherical but tear-drop shape. The mean particle size of the powder decreased with increasing rotational speed of the drum and with decreasing nozzle diameter. The dendrite arm spacing of the particles produced was in the range 0.6 to 2.8m. The cooling rate was estimated to range from 10³ to 5×10⁵ K sec^–1. Recrystallization of hot extruded powder material after T6 treatment was remarkably suppressed in the central part, while large fully recrystallized grains were obtained in the cast material extruded under the same conditions. Tensile strength of the powdered material extruded in the range 573 to 723 K was slightly higher than the extruded cast material with little loss in elongation. The surface oxidation was not deleterious to elongation but it was very effective in suppressing recrystallization.