Inhibition of the delayed rectifier K current in guinea-pig cardiomyocytes by thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide

In this study, we attempted to determine which method was the best for reinnervating the laryngeal adductor muscles by comparing nerve suture, nerve implantation, and nerve-muscular pedicle (NMP) transfer, as well as the length of time that could elapse after denervation and still allow for successful reinnervation with the ansa cervicalis. Reinnervation was performed in 36 dogs, at 6-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 18-month intervals after denervation via the three methods of muscle reinnervation described above. We noted some return of adduction in the cases using nerve suture before a 10-month interval after denervation, and with nerve implantation and NMP transfer before the 8-month intervals. The variable adduction was caused by reinnervation of the adductor muscles from the ansa cervicalis, as demonstrated by laryngeal spontaneous and evoked electromyography, the strength of muscle contraction, and histologic findings. Adduction was not observed in the cases after the above-mentioned intervals but partial improvement of the bulk and strength of the reinnervated vocal cord was still achieved. An analysis of the experimental results showed that nerve suture was superior to nerve implantation and the NMP technique. Little difference was noted between nerve implantation and the NMP technique.     

Low cycle fatigue and ductile fracture for Japanese carbon steel piping under dynamic loadings

Dynamic fracture behavior of circumferentially cracked pipe is important to evaluate the structural integrity of nuclear piping from the viewpoint of the LBB concept under seismic conditions. Fracture tests have been conducted for Japanese carbon steel (STS410) circumferentially through-wall cracked pipes that are subjected to monotonic or cyclic bending loads at room temperature. In the monotonic-loading tests, the maximum load to failure increases slightly with increasing loading rate. The failure cycles can be expressed simply by ratio of the load amplitude to the plastic collapse load. Fracture analysis has been also conducted to model the pipe tests. A new equation for calculating ΔJ for a circumferentially through-wall cracked pipe subjected to bending has been proposed. The failure cycles under cyclic loads are satisfactorily evaluated using an elastic-plastic fracture mechanics parameter ΔJ.     

Schottky and pn junction cryogenic radiation detectors made of p-InSb compound semiconductor

Schottky and pn junction detectors were fabricated with p-InSb. Fabrication methods, energy spectra of ²⁴¹Am alpha particles and rise times are shown. We could observe pulses at operating temperatures up to 77 and 115 K for the Schottky and the pn junction detectors, respectively.     

Thermodynamic and crystallographic discussion of the formation and dissociation of zircon

The mechanism for the formation of zircon from a system of Si(OC₂H₅)₄-ZrOCl₂ · 8H₂O-C₂H₅OH solution was constituted from the following steps; the formation of sol composed of an equimolar Zr⁴⁺ located in the neighbourhood of a linear siloxane polymer, deposition of metastable fine (tetragonal) T-ZrO₂ by heating, the tetragonal to monoclinic (T M) transformation of the fine T-ZrO₂ aggregates separated from the strain energy of grain boundary between two oxide components, the initiation of the interface reaction between T-ZrO₂ and amorphous SiO₂, and the acceleration of the formation by the Hedvall effect caused by the crystallization of SiO₂. The key technology for the symhesix of zircon from the oxide components ZrO₂ and SiO₂ was the mechanochemina! activation of the surface layer by milling, the formation of transition phase between the two componems by adding the guest element, and the presentation of metamorphic surface state. Zircon dissociated into M-ZrO₂ and SiO₂ glass, and the dissociation temperature was expected to be above 1700° C, which required the correction of the phase diagram for ZrO₂-SiO₂ system used previously.     

Estimation of formation mechanism of spherical fine ZrO2-SiO2 particles by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Spherical fine ZrO₂-SiO₂ (11) particles were synthesized from a hydrolysed mix-solution of Si(OC₂H₅)₄ and ZrOCI₂ · 8H₂O by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, and the formation mechanism of the particles discussed. All of the resultant particles identified as t-ZrO₂ and amorphous SiO₂ with an atomic order dispersion were spherical, and mainly of diameter 0.8 to 1.0m. It was estimated that the three-dimensional ladder siloxane chains containing an equimolar Zr⁴⁺ homogeneously dispersed were formed by hydrolysis, and an atomized droplet itself converted into an isolated ZrO₂-SiO₂ (11) particle without aggregation.     

Piezoelectric properties of microfabricated (K,Na)NbO3 thin films

A novel microfabrication method of lead-free piezoelectric sodium potassium niobate [(K,Na)NbO₃, KNN] thin films was proposed, and the piezoelectric characteristics of the KNN microactuators were evaluated. The KNN thin films were directly deposited on microfabricated Si microcantilevers. The transverse piezoelectric coefficient d₃₁ of the KNN films was calculated as −53.5 pm/V at 20 V_pp from the tip displacement of the microcantilevers. However, the tip displacement showed large electric-field dependence because of the extrinsic piezoelectric effect, and the intrinsic piezoelectric effect of the KNN microcantilevers was smaller than that of KNN on unprocessed thick substrates. In contrast, the extrinsic piezoelectric effect was almost independent of the microfabrication of the KNN films.     

Optical design and roll‐to‐roll fabrication process of microstructure film for wide viewing LCDs

We have developed a new microstructure film for wide viewing liquid crystal displays (LCDs). By attaching it to the surface of a conventional LCD, the viewing angle characteristics of LCD has drastically improved without causing a blur of the frontal image and a decrease in the contrast ratio under bright ambient light conditions. This film can be applied to various LC modes including twisted nematic and multidomain vertical alignment by changing its internal micrometer‐size 3D structure. Further, this film can be mass‐produced efficiently by self alignment roll‐to‐roll process.