Phase-transition temperatures and piezoelectric properties of (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-(Bi1/2Li1/2)TiO3-(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 lead-free ferroelectric ceramics.

The phase-transition temperatures and piezoelectric properties of x(Bi(1/2)Na(1/2))TiO3-y(Bi(1/2)Li(1/2))TiO3-z(Bi(1/2)K(1/2))TiO3 [x + y + z = 1] (abbreviated as BNLKT100(y)-100(z)) ceramics were investigated. These ceramics were prepared using a conventional ceramic fabrication process. The phase-transition temperatures such as depolarization temperatures T(d), rhombohedraltetragonal phase transition temperature T(R-T), and dielectric-maximum temperature T(m) were determined using electrical measurements such as dielectric and piezoelectric properties. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of BNLKT100(y)-100(z)) show the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between rhombohedral and tetragonal at approximately z = 0.20, and the piezoelectric properties show the maximum at the MPB. The electromechanical coupling factor k(33), piezoelectric constant d(33) and T(d) of BNLKT4-20 and BNLKT8-20 were 0.603, 176 pC/N, and 171 degrees C, and 0.590, 190 pC/N, and 115 degrees C, respectively. In addition, the relationship between d33 and Td of tetragonal side and rhombohedral side for BNLKT4-100z and BNLKT8-100z were presented. Considering both high Td and high d(33), the tetragonal side of BNLKT4-100z is thought to be the superior composition. The d(33) and T(d) of BNLKT4-28 were 135 pC/N and 218 degrees C, respectively. Moreover, this study revealed that the variation of T(d) is related to the variation of lattice distortion such as rhombohedrality 90-alpha and tetragonality c/a.     

Electron beam nanoprocessing of a carbon nanotube film using a variable pressure scanning electron microscope

We demonstrate a novel method of processing carbon nanotubes using a variable pressure scanning electron microscope. Lines were processed in a nanotube film by electron beam irradiation in oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. The processing mechanism can be explained in terms of gas ion sputtering and chemical reaction. In this experiment, the narrowest line width of 120 nm was achieved in a nitrogen atmosphere.     

Photoluminescence enhancement by isolating β-FeSi2 layers from defective layers

We have investigated an optimal annealing process in order to enhance 1.55 μm light emission from semiconducting β-FeSi₂ and found that two steps annealing at 600 °C and 800 °C is effective to its enhancement. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and SEM observations revealed that pronounced surface segregation of Fe atoms during annealing at 600 °C caused surface precipitate of β-FeSi₂. The enhancement of light emission is attributed spatial isolation of the surface β-FeSi₂ (light emitting layer) from damaged and defective layers with nonradiative recombination centers.     

Effects of dissolved carbonate on arsenate adsorption and surface speciation at the hematite--water interface

Effects of dissolved carbonate on arsenate [As(V)] reactivity and surface speciation at the hematite-water interface were studied as a function of pH and two different partial pressures of carbon dioxide gas [P(CO2) = 10(-3.5) atm and approximately 0; CO2-free argon (Ar)] using adsorption kinetics, pseudo-equilibrium adsorption/titration experiments, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic (EXAFS) analyses, and surface complexation modeling. Different adsorbed carbonate concentrations, due to the two different atmospheric systems, resulted in an enhanced and/or suppressed extent of As(V) adsorption. As(V) adsorption kinetics [4 g L(-1), [As(V)]0 = 1.5 mM and I = 0.01 M NaCl] showed carbonate-enhanced As(V) uptake in the air-equilibrated systems at pH 4 and 6 and at pH 8 after 3 h of reaction. Suppressed As(V) adsorption was observed in the air-equilibrated system in the early stages of the reaction at pH 8. In the pseudo-equilibrium adsorption experiments [1 g L(-1), [As(V)]0 = 0.5 mM and I = 0.01 M NaCI], in which each pH value was held constant by a pH-stat apparatus, effects of dissolved carbonate on As(V) uptake were almost negligible at equilibrium, but titrant (0.1 M HCl) consumption was greater in the air-equilibrated systems (P(CO2) = 10(-3.5) atm) than in the CO2-free argon system at pH 4-7.75. The EXAFS analyses indicated that As(V) tetrahedral molecules were coordinated on iron octahedral via bidentate mononuclear ( 2.8 A) and bidentate binuclear (approximately equal to 3.3 A) bonding at pH 4.5-8 and loading levels of 0.46-3.10 microM m(-2). Using the results of the pseudo-equilibrium adsorption data and the XAS analyses, the pH-dependent As(V) adsorption under the P(CO2) = 10(-3.5) atm and the CO2-free argon system was modeled using surface complexation modeling, and the results are consistent with the formation of nonprotonated bidentate surface species at the hematite surfaces. The results also suggest that the acid titrant consumption was strongly affected by changes to electrical double-layer potentials caused by the adsorption of carbonate in the air-equilibrated system. Overall results suggest that the effects of dissolved carbonate on As(V) adsorption were influenced by the reaction conditions [e.g., available surface sites, initial As(V) concentrations, and reaction times]. Quantifying the effects of adsorbed carbonate may be important in predicting As(V) transport processes in groundwater, where iron oxide-coated aquifer materials are exposed to seasonally fluctuating partial pressures of CO2(g).     

Evaluation of immunochromatographic test kits for food allergens using processed food models

It has been mandatory to label five allergenic substances (AS; egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat and peanut) in all processed foods, since April 2002 in Japan. Two kinds of ELISA kits have been provided as screening test kits for the Japanese official method. The kits have many advantages but some disadvantages, i.e., the kits are not necessarily suitable for daily monitoring in food manufacturing plants, because they require various analytical equipments and the use of complicated procedures. To overcome these drawbacks, we have developed other diagnostic kits based on immunochromatography that should enable more rapid and simple screening for food allergens. Then we examined the performance of these immunochromatographic test kits (IC kits) in terms of sensitivity, repeatability and cross-reactivity to AS proteins in 11 kinds of food models with various heating conditions and physical properties. We also examined processed food models including AS protein of constant concentration, using the IC kits and ELISA kits, and compared the results. The IC kits detected AS proteins at 5 microg/g in the extracts from processed food models, and provided highly reproducible results. Cross-reactivity among the AS proteins was not observed. The results obtained using the IC kits showed performance equivalent to that of the ELISA kits we examined in unheating processed food models including AS proteins of constant concentration. The IC kits should be more suitable for daily monitoring in food manufacturing plants.     

啤酒酵母吸附重金属离子铬的研究

将啤酒酵母自制成生物吸附剂，用于吸附重金属离子铬，考察了啤酒酵母吸附Cr^3＋过程中的影响因素，即pH值、初始Cr^3＋质量浓度、吸附时间、菌体浓度及酸碱预处理方法等因素。结果表 明，啤酒酵母对Cr^3＋的吸附量随pH值的增加而增大，吸附的最佳pH值范围是4～7，当pH7时达到吸附最大值；随着初始Cr^3＋质量浓度增加，吸附量有所提高，当溶液初始Cr^3＋质量浓度为80mg／L吸附效果最佳；最佳吸附时间为1h；菌体的最佳浓度为50mg／L；及啤酒酵母经碱处理后吸附量增大：正交试验确定反应时间为反应过程的显著因素，确定啤酒酵母对Cr^3＋的吸附过程遵循Langmuir方程。     

Advanced temperature compensation for piezoresistive sensors based on crystallographic orientation

We describe a highly effective method of reducing thermal sensitivity in piezoresistive sensors, in particular silicon cantilevers, by taking advantage of the dependence of the piezoresistive coefficient of silicon on crystallographic orientation. Two similar strain-sensing elements are used, positioned at 45 degrees to each other: One is set along a crystalline axis associated with a maximum piezoresistive coefficient to produce the displacement signal, while the other is set along an axis of the vanishing coefficient to produce the reference signal. Unlike other approaches, both sensing elements are coupled to the same cantilever body, maximizing thermal equilibration. Measurements show at least one order of magnitude improvement in thermal disturbance rejection over conventional approaches using uncoupled resistors.     

2018-2020年北京市售蟹类镉含量调查及评价

目的 抽测2018-2020年北京市售蟹类中镉含量并进行评价,为蟹类的质量安全性评价提供基础数据.方法 采用随机采样的方法,采集北京市售常见蟹类,采用原子吸收光谱法对蟹中的镉含量进行检测;采用靶标危害系数法(THQ)评估人体每日通过蟹类摄入重金属所带来的健康风险.结果 2018-2020年共采集蟹类样品83份,重金属镉...     

Analysis of the headspace volatiles of freshly brewed arabica coffee using solid-phase microextraction

ABSTRACT:  Headspace volatiles of freshly brewed drip coffee were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/olfactometry (GC/O, CharmAnalysis™) analyses. For this purpose, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling method for the headspace volatiles of freshly brewed drip coffee was developed. SPME fiber coated with divinylbenzene (DVB)/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was selected from 6 types, and sampling time was determined at 2 min. The headspace coffee volatiles stayed constant in proportion for the first 2 min to keep the freshness of the brewed coffee aroma. Using this sampling method, the headspace volatiles of freshly brewed drip coffee (Ethiopian arabica coffee, roast degree: L value; 23) were examined by GC/MS and GC/O analyses. From the GC/O results, 1-(3,4-dihydro-2 H -pyrrol-2-yl)-ethanone (nutty-roast odor) and 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone (raspberry ketone, sweet-fruity odor) were newly detected as components in the aroma of coffee.