Measuring the Specific Heat Capacity of Magnetic Fluids Using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter

The specific heat capacity of magnetic fluids was measured using a heat-flux-type differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Magnetic fluids which contain 10 to 43 wt% ultrafine magnetite (Fe₃O₄) particles dispersed with surfactants in water or kerosene were used. The DSC was operated with the optimum heating rate (10 K·min^–1) and with equal heat capacities of sample and standard materials in the temperature range, 295 to 345 K. Synthetic sapphire (-Al₂O₃) was used as the standard reference material, and the sample pan was made from aluminum. The differences between the measured specific heat capacity values of pure water and pure copper and the recommended values were within ±3 and ±1%, respectively. The specific heat capacity data of magnetic fluids showed weak temperature dependence, but strong concentration dependence. The measured values of specific heat capacity of magnetic fluids were compared with calculated values using a mixing rule.     

Psychophysical estimates of the number of spectral-reflectance basis functions needed to reproduce natural scenes

Theoretical analyses of spectral reflectances of natural surfaces suggest that their perceived colors can be well reproduced by approximations comprising combinations of three or four spectral basis functions. The aim of the present work was to assess psychophysically the number of basis functions necessary to reproduce entire natural outdoor scenes. Hyperspectral images of 20 such scenes were each subjected to a principal component analysis and then reproduced with a variable number of basis functions. The quality of the color approximation under daylight illumination was quantified theoretically in CIELAB space and psychophysically by spatial and temporal two-alternative forced-choice measurements in which the original and the approximated images were compared on a calibrated color monitor. Although five basis functions produced on average unit error in CIELAB space, original images were visually indistinguishable from their approximations only if there were at least eight basis functions. The combination of the spectral diversity of the natural world and the observed levels of color discrimination suggest that estimates of the minimum number of basis functions necessary to reproduce natural scenes may need to be revised upward.     

Mechanical properties and failure surface morphology of amine‐cured epoxy/clay nanocomposites

The tensile and impact properties of amine‐cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A based nanocomposites reinforced by organomontmorillonite clay nanoplatelets are reported. The sonication processing scheme involved the sonication of the constituent materials in a solvent followed by solvent extraction to generate nanocomposites with homogeneous dispersions of the organoclay nanoplatelets. The microstructure of the clay nanoplatelets in the nanocomposites was observed with transmission electron microscopy, and the clay nanoplatelets were well dispersed and were intercalated and exfoliated. The tensile modulus of epoxy at room temperature, which was above the glass‐transition temperature of the nanocomposites, increased approximately 50% with the addition of 10 wt % (6.0 vol %) clay nanoplatelets. The reinforcing effect of the organoclay nanoplatelets was examined with respect to the Tandon–Weng and Halpin–Tsai models. The tensile strength was improved only when 2.5 wt % clay nanoplatelets were added. The Izod impact strength decreased with increasing clay content. The failure surfaces of the nanocomposites were observed with environmental scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The roughness of the failure surface was correlated with the tensile strength. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 281–287, 2005     

Imaging experimental brain tumors with 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid: comparison to fluorodeoxyglucose and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid in morphologically defined tumor regions

The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences and define the advantages of imaging experimental brain tumors in rats with two nonmetabolized amino acids, 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic (ACPC) acid and alpha-aminoisobutyric (AIB) acid compared with imaging with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) or the gallium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelate (Ga-DTPA). 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid, AIB, and FDG autoradiograms were obtained 60 minutes after intravenous injection to simulate positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, whereas the Ga-DTPA autoradiograms were obtained 5 or 10 minutes after injection to simulate gadolinium (Gd)-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images. Three experimental tumors were studied (C6, RG2, and Walker 256) to provide a range of tumor types. Triple-label quantitative autoradiography was performed, and parametric images of the apparent distribution volume (Va, mL/g) for ACPC or AIB, relative glucose metabolism (R, micromol/100 g/min), vascular permeability to Ga-DTPA (K1, microL/min/g), and histology were obtained from the same tissue section. The four images were registered in an image array processor, and regions of interest in tumor and contralateral brain were defined on morphologic criteria (histology) and were transferred to the autoradiographic images. A comparative analysis of all measured values was performed. The location and morphologic characteristics of the tumor had an effect on the images and measurements of Va, R, and K1. Meningeal extensions of all three tumors consistently had the highest amino acid uptake (Va) and vascular permeability (K1) values, and subcortical portions of the tumors usually had the lowest values. Va and R (FDG) values generally were higher in tumor regions with high-cell density and lower in regions with low-cell density. Tumor areas identified as "impending" necrosis on morphologic criteria consistently had high R values, but little or no change in Va or K1. Tumor necrosis was seen consistently only in the larger Walker 256 tumors; low values of R and Va for AIB (less for ACPC) were measured in the necrotic-appearing regions, whereas K1 was not different from the mean tumor value. The highest correlations were observed between vascular permeability (K1 for Ga-DTPA) and Va for AIB in all three tumors; little or no correlation between vascular permeability and R was observed. The advantages of ACPC and AIB imaging were most convincingly demonstrated in C6 gliomas and in Walker 256 tumors. 1-aminocyclopentane was substantially better than FDG or Ga-DTPA for identifying tumor infiltration of adjacent brain tissue beyond the macroscopic border of the tumor; ACPC also may be useful for identifying low-grade tumors with an intact blood-brain barrier. Contrast-enhancing regions of the tumors were visualized more clearly with AIB than with FDG or Ga-DTPA; viable and necrotic-appearing tumor regions could be distinguished more readily with AIB than with FDG. [11C]-labeled ACPC and AIB are likely to have similar advantages for imaging human brain tumors with PET.     

-NMRC-NMR study on κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X

The electronic state of the κ phase family of BEDT-TTF compounds, κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂X [X = Cu(NCS)₂, Cu[N(CN)₂]Br and Cu[N(CN)₂]Cl], has been investigated by -NMR¹³C-NMR as well as H-NMR.¹-NMR. The ¹³C isotope was substituted selectively into the central double bonded carbon sites of BEDT-TTF. The ¹³C nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate and line spectra have been measured for the Cu(NCS)₂ and Cu[N(CN)₂]Br salts. The Knight shift evaluated from the the width of the spectra of the powdered samples is temperature-insensitive and scaled to the uniform susceptibility. However, the relaxation rate, T₁⁻¹, does not obey the Korringa law but exhibits anomalous temperature dependence with a peak formation around 50 K. The absolute value of T₁⁻¹ is in excess of the Korringa relation. These behaviors are considered to come from strong aniferromagnetic spin fluctuation with finite wave vector, which is suppressed below 50 K. On the other hand, the H¹ NMR and magnetization measurements gave an unambiguous evidence for antiferromagnetic transition with spin canting at 25 K in κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Cl. The κ phase family, situated in the vicinity of metal-insulator and magnetic transitions, is characterized by strong electron correlations.     

High-frequency nuclear quadrupole resonance apparatus for use in pressure cell

A high-frequency NMR apparatus for use in pressure cell is described. All components of the resonance circuit are set in the pressure cell. This method makes the resonance frequency much less influenced by large stray capacitance residing at the electrical feedthrough of the pressure cell. With the use of this apparatus, a pressure-induced neutral-ionic phase transition in DMTTF-QBr(4) was successfully observed by (79)Br nuclear quadrupole resonance, whose resonance frequency is ～300 MHz.     

Light-soaking effects on a-Si:H photodiodes deposited by thelaminar-flow photo-CVD method

A 2/3-in, 2-Mpixel, STACK-CCD imaging sensor has been developed for HDTV solid-state imagers. A new a-Si:H photo-conversion layer, fabricated by the laminar-flow photo-chemical-vapor-deposition method, is overlaid on the vertical CCD scanning circuitry in the sensor. The photodegradation behavior of a-Si:H photodiodes is investigated in terms of dark-current density, electron μτ product and transient photocurrent. These properties are degraded as a result of light-induced defects in the a-Si:H layer. The Staeblar-Wronski constants, C_sw , are estimated to be 7.5×10^-7 at no voltage and 1.1×10^-7 at a reverse voltage of 6 V applied to the photodiode during light-soaking with an AM-1 lamp. The lifetime of the photodiode is determined by the degradation of the transient photocurrent, and is estimated to be about 2.2×10⁸ h for 1 lx light exposure. The lifetime is considered to be improved compared with that of previous-type photodiode reported before (1.5×10⁷ h for 1.5 lx light exposure) and clearly satisfies the needs for practical use of the device     

Experimental assessment of endoscopic mucosectomy with a cap-fitted panendoscope

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The use of a cap-fitted panendoscope is one method of carrying out endoscopic mucosectomy in the esophagus, stomach, and large intestine. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal volume of physiological saline for submucosal injection, the rate of mucosal extension after saline injection, the initial size of the resected mucosal specimen, and the most appropriate heights for the fitted caps used in the colon and in the rectum, respectively. METHODS: Endoscopic mucosectomies using cap-fitted panendoscopes were carried out on resected surgical specimens from ten patients with colorectal cancer. RESULTS: It was necessary to inject 12 ml of saline under the mucosa to prevent perforation. Submucosal saline injection extended the mucosa by 1.4 +/- 0.2 times. A cap with a height of 7 mm is suitable for performing mucosectomy in the colon safely, while both 7 mm and 10 mm caps can be used in the rectum. The initial size of the resected mucosal specimens obtained with both caps was 12-20 mm (mean 14 mm) in diameter, with no significant differences. As the sizes of resected mucosal specimens reported in the past have been obtained after submucosal saline injection, it appears that larger specimens can be resected with the cap-fitted panendoscope than with conventional methods. CONCLUSIONS: The conditions under which endoscopic mucosectomy using the cap-fitted panendoscope can be performed safely in the colon and the rectum were suggested by this experimental study using resected specimens. A saline injection of 12 ml under the mucosa is necessary to prevent perforation. A cap with a height of 7 mm is the most suitable size for the colon, while both 7 mm and 10 mm caps can be used in the rectum.