Dissolution, passivity and its breakdown on iron whisker crystals

The anodic polarization behaviour of iron whisker crystals was investigated in a neutral solution with or without the presence of chloride ion, with special attention to the role played by surface defects in the dissolution, the passivation and the pitting of iron. The grown whisker used was substantially dislocation-free and the defect density was varied by twisting of whisker. With increase in the angle of twisting, the anodic dissolution current increased in a chloride-free solution, whereas it decreased in a chloride-containing solution. The defect density in the substrate had no remarkable effect on passivation but the thickness of the passive film was slightly increased on twisted whiskers. The anodic polarization curve of a grown whisker in a chloride-containing solution did not exhibit a distinct pitting potential. By twisting of whisker, however, a current rise due to pitting appeared on the polarization curve and the apparent pitting potential shifted in the negative direction with increasing angle of twisting. Potentiostatic polarization experiments in a chloride-containing solution showed the emergence of random current pulses due to the breakdown of passive film and to repassivation. It is highly probable that the breakdown of the passive film occurs at the physical or chemical inhomogeneities in the passive film not associated with dislocation termini but that pitting occurs only when the breakdown occurs at emergent dislocation sites.     

Neural networks IC controlled multi-legged walking MEMS robot with independent leg mechanism

In this paper, we will compare the walking behavior of quadruped and hexapod walking MEMS robots. These robots are fabricated by connecting same modules, which are composed of a couple of independent leg mechanisms. Independent leg mechanisms can actuate the single leg by a single artificial muscle wire. The neural networks IC that mimics real living organisms controls the mechanical systems. The length and weight of the quadruped MEMS robot were 7.2 mm and 95.8 mg, respectively. The quadruped robot showed the walking speed of 24.6 mm/min. The robot tended to lose its balance and the weight balance is quite important for the moving quadruped. On the other hand, the length and weight of the hexapod MEMS robot were 9.0 mm and 162 mg, respectively. The hexapod robot showed stable walking. The speed was 27.0 mm/min.     

Kinetic study of quenching reactions of singlet oxygen and scavenging reactions of free radicals by α-, β-, λ- and σ-tocopheramines in ethanol solution and micellar dispersion

Quenching reactions of singlet oxygen and scavenging reactions of free radicals by α-, β-, λ- and σ-tocopheramines (Toc-amines) were investigated spectrophotometrically in ethanol and Triton X-100 micellar dispersions. The rate constants of quenching of singlet oxygen (k _Q ) by α-, β-, λ- and σ-Toc-amines increased as the total electron donating capacity of the methyl groups at the aromatic ring increased. A plot of logk _Q vs. peak oxidation potential (E _p) was found to be linear and the slope was negative. Similar results were obtained for scavenging of a phenoxyl radical (PhO.). The results suggest that charge transfer plays an important role in these reactions. Thek _Q values were found to be 1.30–2.57 times as large ask _Q for α-tocopherol (α-Toc). Although α-Toc has the highest antioxidant activity among natural tocopherols and related phenols, Toc-amines also can serve as antioxidants.     

Protective effect of vitamin E on linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced injury to human endothelial cells

The protective effects of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and its model compounds, which act as antioxidants, on linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced injury to human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. When incubated at 50 μM with endothelial cells at 37°C for 24 hr, α-tocopherol protected the cells from injury, and 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman-6-ol showed a similar protective effect. Trolox C, a water-soluble vitamin E model compound, had no protective effect. Tocol, a poor antioxidant, proved toxic. During preincubation, α-tocopherol was incorporated into the cells at 16.6 nmol/ mg protein, while the pentamethylchromanol was incorporated at 0.5 nmol/mg protein; Trolox C was not incorporated at all. The results suggest that agents having both high antioxidant activity and lipophilicity can protect endothelial cells from linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced injury. Issued as TMIG-I No. 170.     

Pyrophosphatidic acid in mushrooms

The distribution of pyrophosphatidic acid in mushrooms was investigated. Total lipids of mushrooms were extracted from their fruit body, and the pyrophosphatidic acid fraction was isolated by DEAE-silica gel column and silicic acid column chromatography. The presence of pyrophosphatidic acid was tested by thin layer chromatography. Of the 43 species of mushrooms examined, the acid was found in 30. The pyrophosphatidic acid was identified by chromatography, IR spectroscopy and quantitative degradation with aqueous pyridine to produce phosphatidic acid. Chemically synthesized pyrophosphatidic acid was used as standard.     

Studies on synthetic polymer plates with high surface energy. III. Diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate)–unsaturated sulfonic acid system

Synthetic polymer plates (GPs) with high surface energy were prepared by the two-step copolymerization process previously reported, using diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) (CR-39) as M₁ monomer and unsaturated sulfonates [sodium vinyl sulfonate (VS^?Na⁺), potassium styrene sulfonate (StS^?K⁺), and sodium 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (SEM^?Na⁺)] as M₂ monomer. The contact angle (θ_H) of water for the acid-treated (immersed in an aqueous 0.1 N HCl solution for 2 h) GPs decreased in the order StS^?K⁺, VS^?Na⁺, and SEM^?Na⁺. In the case of M₂ = SEM^?Na⁺, the θ_H value was about 20°. By adding NaCl in the immersion solution and changing the pH of the immersion solution, the θ_H values for the CR-39–SEM^?Na⁺ GPs were lowered to 18.9 and 13.1°, respectively. The θ_H values for the above GPs were smaller than those for the CR-39–acrylic acid or the CR-39–methacrylic acid GPs in the previous report, whereas the contact angle (θ_Na) of water for the former after alkali treatment (immersed in an aqueous 0.1 N NaOH solution for 2h) was larger than those for the latter. The former had durability of water wettability superior to the latter because of the difference in dissociation characteristic of the respective functional group.     

A 513‐ppi FFS‐mode LCD using technique for changing part of active layer of oxide semiconductor to transparent electrode

We have established a technique for changing part of an active layer of an oxide semiconductor (OS) to a transparent electrode in order to achieve an aperture ratio of 50% or higher and a bezel width of 1 mm in an fringe field switching (FFS) mode LCD panel with a high resolution of 513 ppi. Furthermore, we have prototyped an LCD panel by examining a driving mode that enables low‐frequency driving.     

Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3陶瓷超细粉体制备及分散研究

用化学共沉淀法合成了陶瓷Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3超细粉体,以聚乙二醇(PEG)为分散剂对所得粉体进行分散。通过X衍射、扫描电镜分析,研究了合成条件和煅烧温度对PZT粉体性能的影响。结果表明,随着煅烧温度的升高,PZT超细粉晶化度提高,一次晶粒尺寸增加,而二次粒子尺寸却减小。当分散剂分子量为10000,用量为1%时,得到分散良好的超细粉体。测定了用合成的粉体烧结的PZT陶瓷的压电性能。     

In Situ Measurement of Capacitance: A Method for Fabricating Nanoglass

The capacitance of the Na₂O–SiO₂ glass was measured in situ during heat treatment at various frequencies, 20, 100, 1, 3, 10, and 30 kHz. It was found that the capacitance of the glass abruptly decreases after a certain duration. The glass was quenched at this stage. It was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy that this decrease of capacitance was associated with the formation of crystallites in the glass matrix. The size of crystallites was observed to be in the range of about 10 nm.