Evaluation method for agglomerating properties of granular detergents

A new method for evaluating the agglomerating property of granular detergents was devised. It is useful for comparing commercial products, screening new products, and for studying anticaking agents. This method differs from prior methods, as detergent is fluidized by conditioned air in a reverse conical tower, and agglomeration is evaluated from the lowering of level of fluidized particles because of agglomeration. The height of the fluidized particles is inversely proportional to particle size, and the level of fluidized particles becomes lower more rapidly with ease of agglomeration. The coefficient of variation (σ/−x) of the method is about 10%, and it is shown that the method coincides with the tendency of detergents to agglomerate in the carton.     

Enhancement of the activities with feedstream doping by tetrachloromethane in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane on α-magnesium pyrovanadate

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene has been investigated on -magnesium pyrovanadate (Mg₂V₂O₇) at 723 K in the presence and absence of tetrachloromethane (TCM). Under the present conditions, the conversion of propane and the selectivity to propylene were 5.0 and 74.5%, respectively, in the absence of TCM while those were 14.0 and 70.2%, respectively, upon addition of a small amount of TCM (P(TCM) = 0.34 kPa) into the feedstream on the catalyst. The conversion of propane on Mg₂V₂O₇ without oxidant in the presence and absence of TCM revealed that a contribution of lattice oxygen in the catalyst to the oxidation was strongly controlled by the addition of TCM, resulting in the enhancement of the activity with TCM.     

Bouncing a ball: Tuning into dynamic stability.

Rhythmically bouncing a ball with a racket was investigated and modeled with a nonlinear map. Model analyses provided a variable defining a dynamically stable solution that obviates computationally expensive corrections. Three experiments evaluated whether dynamic stability is optimized and what perceptual support is necessary for stable behavior. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) Performance is stable if racket acceleration is negative at impact, and (b) variability is lowest at an impact acceleration between -4 and -1 m/s2. In Experiment 1 participants performed the task, eyes open or closed, bouncing a ball confined to a 1-dimensional trajectory. Experiment 2 eliminated constraints on racket and ball trajectory. Experiment 3 excluded visual or haptic information. Movements were performed with negative racket accelerations in the range of highest stability. Performance with eyes closed was more variable, leaving acceleration unaffected. With haptic information, performance was more stable than with visual information alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linear Connected Array of Non-Adiabatic Traps

An innovative confinement concept of a linearly connected array of non-adiabatic traps is examined. A non-adiabatic trap unit consists of a cylindrical vacuum chamber with external mirror coils and a pair of inner anti-parallel coils. Positions and currents on these coils are adjusted to achieve zero magnetic fields at the center. The plasma is trapped stably in this configuration due to the “Absolute Minimum B” magnetic configuration that is created. However, like a cusp field, energy confinement of plasma in a trap unit is poor, since particles suffer random pitch-angle scattering near the central zero field region and eventually fall into the loss-cone. However, once these non-adiabatic traps are linearly connected, plasma particles escaping a unit will be effectively re-trapped within the neighboring trap due to collision-free pitch-angle scattering in the zero field region. Since the transition of a charged plasma particle from unit to a next unit is stochastic, a connected array of non-adiabatic fusion core units and similar “leak suppressor” array units with low fusion rate at both ends of the core array improves the plasma confinement sufficient to achieve reactor-grade plasmas.     

A stem-less probe using spontaneous pairing between Cy3 and quencher for RNA detection

We herein report a stem-less probe for the detection of RNA that depends on pairing between Cy3 and nitro methyl red. In our design, two Cy3 residues and two nitro methyl red residues were introduced into an oligonucleotide. In the absence of the target, these dyes formed a complex, and emission of Cy3 was efficiently quenched. Hybridization with the target RNA disrupted this interaction and resulted in Cy3 emission. Under optimized conditions, the signal to background ratio was as high as 180. We demonstrated specific detection of target RNA in cells using a wash-free FISH protocol.     

Vibration Response Characteristics against the Radial and Axial Shocks on Small Size Hard Disk Drive Spindle Supported by Oil Film Bearings

This paper describes the experimental study on shock response of FDB （fluid dynamic bearing） spindle for HDDs （hard disk drives）. The FDBs are widely used as rotating shaft support elements for HDD spindle motors. Recently, the opportunity for the HDD spindle motors exposed to external vibration has been increasing because the HDDs are used for various information related equipment such as mobile PCs （personal computers）, video cameras, car navigation systems and so on. Hence, the rotating shaft has a possibility to come in contact with the bearing by external shocks and it causes wear or seizure to the bearing surface. To avoid the problem, it is extremely important to know how the spindle moves against the large shock on HDDs experimentally. However, as far as the authors know, there are few experimental studies treating the shock response of HDD spindles. In this paper, firstly, we propose a new test rig and experimental method for shock response of FDB spindles. Then the shock tests against the radial and axial disturbance on FDB spindle for 2.5＂ HDD are conducted. Finally, the experimental results of shock response waveforms and maximum displacement of disk are shown.     

Measuring the effects of lighting on the readability of electronic devices

The aim of this study was to understand to what extent people can read e‐paper devices under various conditions of ambient illuminance that can occur indoors. In this study, 110 young to elderly subjects participated in an experiment to evaluate the effects of 14 different levels of ambient lighting on their reading from three different electronic devises and paper text. The participants were asked to undergo a timed read task and then to evaluate the readability of two eReader devices (a regular electronic display and one with a front light) in comparison with a backlit liquid crystal device and conventional paper text. The results indicated that backlit and front lit devices are easier to read at less than 200 lx and the reflective device is easier to read at levels above 500 lx.     

Control of large area VHF plasma produced at high pressure

The control of very high frequency (VHF) discharge plasma at high pressures was attempted by loading a variable capacitor to the end of the multi rod electrode with which VHF plasma (frequency 60 MHz) was produced. It was found that the discharge region is controlled with the variable capacitor and VHF plasma uniform over 1 m is produced at high pressures.     

Layered ultrathin proton conductive film based on polymer nanosheet assembly

As described in this paper, a layered ultrathin proton conductive film was prepared using a poly(N-dodecylacrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (p(DDA/AMPS)) polymer nanosheet. The surface pressure-area isotherm revealed that p(DDA/AMPS) formed a stable monolayer at the air-water interface. The polymer monolayer was transferred onto a solid substrate using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. X-ray diffraction measurements of a 30-layer film of p(DDA/AMPS) showed clear Kiessig fringes and one Bragg peak, which indicate that the multilayer film took a uniform layered structure. The monolayer thickness was determined as 1.85 nm from the Bragg peak. The proton conductivity of p(DDA/AMPS) polymer nanosheet through the layer plane direction was studied with changing temperature and relative humidity. The proton conductivity of the multilayer film was on the order of 1 × 10?? S/cm at 100% RH with 20 °C and increased to 1 × 10?2 S/cm at 70 °C. The proton conductivity of the multilayer film showed a more than 10 times higher value than that of the spin-coated film because of the formation of a uniform and consecutive hydrophilic nanochannel through the hydrophilic region in the multilayer film.