TRADE‐OFF BETWEEN APPROXIMATION ACCURACY AND COMPLEXITY FOR TS FUZZY MODELS

This paper proposes a transformation method that serves the trade‐off between the modelling complexity and accuracy of multi‐variable Takagi‐Sugeno fuzzy inference operator‐based modelling (TS fuzzy modelling). The relation between the number of fuzzy rules and the modelling accuracy is defined in the paper. The proposed transformation method is capable of finding the minimal number of fuzzy rules for a given accuracy of a given TS fuzzy model. A case study, focusing on a benchmark problem of fault diagnosis, developed in the framework of EC‐founded Research Training Network DAMADICS, of an actuator in a sugar factory, is presented to provide feasibility of the proposed method.     

Reduction of defects and improvement in the performance of blue phosphor for thick‐dielectric electroluminescent displays using Color‐by‐Blue

Abstract— Defect‐free large‐area inorganic thick‐dielectric EL (TDEL) displays using Color by Blue (CBB) technology have been successfully developed. We have achieved the world's highest blue‐phosphor luminance of 900 cd/m² for a single‐pixel device by using CBB and by optimizing the e‐beam gun configuration and the flow rate of H₂S in the vacuum chamber. By analyzing the defects on panels with triple‐pattern phosphors and CBB panels, we also found that the number of defects on CBB panels can be drastically reduced compared with those on triple‐pattern panels. The defect‐free 17‐in. VGA CBB panels show better characteristics, a high peak luminance of 600 cd/m² and a high contrast ratio of 1000:1, compared with those of triple‐pattern panels.     

Nanowrinkled and Nanoporous Polyethylene Membranes Via Entanglement Arrangement Control

Crystalline homopolymers, including polyethylene (PE), which has the simplest architecture, form a nanometer‐sized combination of crystalline and amorphous components, but their arrangement control, similar to self‐assembled phase‐separation of block‐copolymers, is usually difficult. However, molecular entanglements trapped between crystalline and amorphous components of homopolymers coincide with the segmental linking points on the interfaces of the microphase separation for block copolymers. Nanowrinkled PE membranes are prepared with a network of 30 nm‐thick homogeneous lamellae using a novel entanglement control technique composed of biaxial melt‐drawing and melt‐shrinking procedures, which are limited for highly entangled ultrahigh molecular weight materials. Such a network arrangement of nanowrinkling lamellae spreading on membrane surface and also across the membrane thickness improves the mechanical properties of both tensile strength and tearing strength. Subsequent cold‐drawing causes delamination of the lamellar interfaces, leading to the resultant nanoporous morphology composed of passing‐through channels that are several tens of nanometers in diameter, without any solvent processing.     

Catalytic effect of bis (cyclopentadienyl) nickel II on the improvement of the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation of Mg-MgH2 system

Bis(cyclopentadienyl) nickel II is one of the best precursors of nickel catalyst which remarkably improved the hydrogen absorption-desorption of Mg–MgH₂ system. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Furrier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses revealed that bis (cyclopentadienyl) nickel II decomposed into metallic nickel during ball milling with MgH₂. The nickel thus formed has homogeneously doped over the Mg - MgH₂ surface. The Ni-doped Mg-MgH₂ have shown the excellent catalytic effect on hydrogen absorption-desorption. The catalyzed MgH₂ could desorb hydrogen below 225 °C (T_onset) under Ar flow, and absorb hydrogen at 50 °C under 1.5 MPa H₂ pressure. The hydrogen absorption-desorption temperatures are remarkably decreased as compared to the uncatalyzed Mg-MgH₂ system under the identical experimental conditions.     

Adhesion between polymer surface modified by graft polymerization and tissue during surgery using an ultrasonically activated scalpel device

In the field of surgery, achieving adhesion between a polymer implant and tissue poses a challenge considering that suturing is not appropriate for the stability of such implants. An ultrasonically activated scalpel that generates heat by mechanical vibration and promotes adhesion between a polymer implant and native tissue by pressing the two materials together has very good potential for application in the field. To determine the type of polymer that is suitable for the purpose, we investigated polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) films, the surfaces of which were activated by corona discharge. Graft polymerization was then performed on the corona‐treated surfaces to vary their properties. The corona‐treated PE and PS films grafted with poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(vinyl benzylacrylic acid), and poly(hydroxylethyl acrylate), respectively, adhered to the tissue when the ultrasonically activated scalpel was applied. The heat generated by the mechanical vibration and the applied pressure enabled the carboxyl or hydroxyl groups to bond with the proteins in the extracellular matrix. We therefore concluded that it was possible to integrate this technique in the development of new types of polymer devices that could be stably implanted in a living body. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40885.     

Electrochemically reduced Pt oxide thin film as a highly active electrocatalyst for direct ethanol alkaline fuel cell

The Pt oxide thin film and Pt thin film were prepared by reactive sputtering and the electrocatalytic activity of the ethanol oxidation reaction was investigated in a KOH solution for developing the alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells. After electrochemical reduction by passing a cathodic electric charge, the Pt oxide thin film showed 29 times larger ethanol oxidation current than the Pt thin film. This superior activity was caused by an increase in the electrochemical active surface area and the existence of residual oxygen, which was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry and XPS measurement. Due to the contribution of the residual oxygen, the rate-determining step of the ethanol oxidation reaction might change, because the Tafel slope of the Pt oxide thin film during the ethanol oxidation reaction was changed by electrochemical reduction. Despite the total Pt amount in the Pt oxide thin film being smaller than that in the Pt thin film, the Pt oxide thin film showed excellent ethanol oxidation activity. Therefore, the Pt oxide treated by electrochemical reduction may be a promising anode catalyst for the direct ethanol fuel cells.     

Three-dimensional analysis of the spatial distribution of iron oxide particles in a decorative coating by electron microscopic imaging

The three-dimensional (3D) spatial structure of an iron oxide containing alkyd paint specimen has been investigated by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM). The resultant images of the 3D structure clearly present the spatial distribution of the iron oxide pigment particles in the coating film and reveal the extent of aggregation of the particles in the matrix material. More than one-half of the iron oxide particles (in volume) had aggregated to form clusters of considerable sizes that follow a Gaussian spacing distribution in the measured coating film. Over 80% of the clusters have dimensions between 1.5 μm and 3.5 μm; also, pores are evident at the centres of clusters whose sizes are larger than 2 μm. The work demonstrated here reveals a new approach to fully characterize the 3D spatial structure of coatings and to explore their correlations with the performance of the materials.     

Towards the improvement of thermal efficiency in lignite‐fired power generation: Concerning the utilization of Polish lignite deposits in state‐of‐the‐art IGCC technology

Integrated coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is the most advanced technology for coal‐fired power generation. The two‐stage entrained flow gasification process allows for the use of a wide range of coal, as long as the gasification temperature is above the ash melting point of a used fuel. In this gasification technology, lignite, which often has a low ash melting point, can be preferably utilized. However, ash fluidity is also another importance, because the behaviour of molten slag can diminish a stable ash discharge from a gasifier. As the eligibility of coal ash properties is a considerable factor, water physically and chemically kept in lignite (30 – 60% in mass) attributes to deteriorating gasification efficiency, because it causes significant heat loss and increasing oxygen consumption. Developing a thermal evaporative lignite drying method will be a necessary attempt to apply lignite to the coal gasification process. For those preceded objectives, coal and ash properties and drying characteristics of several grades of Polish lignite, extracted from Belchatow and Turow deposits, have been experimentally investigated in a preliminary study evaluating the applicability and consideration for its utilization in state‐of‐the‐art clean coal technology, IGCC. This paper particularly discusses the eligibility of Polish lignite from the perspective of the fusibility and fluidity of ash melts and the fundamental drying kinetics of lignite in superheated steam in the light of water removal. The viscosity of ash melts is measured at high temperature up to 1700 °C. In the drying tests, the significant influence of structural issues, because of the provenance and origin of lignite on the drying characteristics, was found by applying the method of sensitivity analysis of physical propensity. This paper concludes that the investigated Polish lignite has characteristics favourable for utilization in IGCC technology, once the precautions related to its high moisture have been carefully addressed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of Laser Ionization Techniques for Evaluation of the Effect of Cancer Drugs Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Recently, combined therapy using chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as a means of improving treatment outcomes. In order to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy, it is necessary to determine the distribution of the anticancer drug and the photosensitizer. We investigated the use of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to simultaneously observe the distributions of an anticancer drug and photosensitizer administered to cancer cells. In particular, we sought to increase the sensitivity of detection of the anticancer drug docetaxel and the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) by optimizing the ionization-assisting reagents. When we used a matrix consisting of equal weights of a zeolite (NaY5.6) and a conventional organic matrix (6-aza-2-thiothymine) in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, the signal intensity of the sodium-adducted ion of docetaxel (administered at 100 μM) increased about 13-fold. Moreover, we detected docetaxel with the zeolite matrix using the droplet method, and detected PpIX by fluorescence and IMS with α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) using the spray method.