Acoustooptic 2-D profile shaping of a Gaussian laser beam

Acoustooptic 2-D profile shaping of a Gaussian laser beam has been achieved by two plane ultrasonic waves progressing in orthogonal directions. The spot size W of the Gaussian laser beam must be considerable less than the wavelength lambda of the ultrasonic wave at the acoustooptic interaction region. The ultrasonic cell is dealt with as a Raman-Nath 2-D phase grating but serves as a 2-D beam deflector in time for the interaction scheme of interest. The wave front of the Gaussian laser beam must be almost plane in the interaction region. The profile shaping condition is 0.15 < or = (W/lambda) < or = 0.30 only when the Raman-Nath parameter dependent on the ultrasonic power has values between v = 1.0 and 2.0.     

Antiferromagnetic ordering of enhanced nuclear spin in Cs2NaHoCl6

The field dependence of the magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures was investigated in a single crystal of Cs₂NaHoCl₆. The result is well explained by the second-order Zeeman splitting of the electronic ground state with a nonmagnetic ₃ doublet. Enhanced nuclear cooling experiments were carried out. Antiferromagnetic ordering of the enhanced nuclear spin system was observed at about 1.5 mK.     

Multicomponent diffusion in phase-separating polymer blends with different frictional interactions: a mean-friction model

We present a compact formula for describing the mean frictional forces acting on a molecule in multicomponent systems. The friction-based diffusion theory of Zielinski and Hanley was extended to newly include the friction-average molar velocity as a reference frame. The results showed that the previous diffusion theories are unified by the friction-average concept by properly choosing the average velocity. The present model based on the diffusivity-related molar average velocity provides better predictions for the diffusive flux in a ternary miscible liquid compared to the other existing theories. The application of the model in phase-separating ternary systems revealed that the introduction of a highly diffusive third component into demixing polymer blends promotes a particular enhancement of the spinodal decomposition due to the difference in the frictional interactions between polymers.     

Oxygen permeation properties and surface modification of acceptor-doped CeO2/MnFe2O4 composites

The preparation and oxygen permeation properties of the (Ce_0.8Pr_0.2)O_2−δ − x vol% MnFe₂O₄ composites, where x = 0 to 35, have been investigated. The samples were prepared by the Pechini method. In the case of Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O_2−δ, an oxygen flux density of 6 μmol⋅cm⁻²⋅s⁻¹ (L = 0.0247 cm) and the maximum methane conversion of 50% were attained at 1000^∘C. Unlike composites consisting of Gd-doped CeO₂ and MnFe₂O₄, the oxygen permeability of the (Ce_0.8Pr_0.2)O_2−δ – x vol% MnFe₂O₄ composites was almost constant regardless of the volume fraction of MnFe₂O₄; however, the optimum volume fraction of MnFe₂O₄ was determined to be 5 to 25 in the context of the chemical and mechanical stabilities under methane conversion atmosphere. In addition, the surface modification of the (Ce_0.8Gd_0.2)O_2−δ – 15 vol% MnFe₂O₄ composite was performed by using the FePt nanoparticles. The catalyst loading of 2.8 mg/cm² on the both side of the 0.3 mm-thick (Ce_0.8Gd_0.2)O_2−δ – 15vol% MnFe₂O₄ composite increased the oxygen flux density from 0.30 to 0.76 μmol⋅cm⁻²⋅s⁻¹ in the case of He/air gradients; however, the effect seems to be reduced in the case of high oxygen flux density caused by a large pO₂ gradient. Moreover, the Langmuir-Blodgett film of the FePt nanoparticles were successfully prepared on the tape-cast (Ce_0.8Gd_0.2)O_2−δ – 15vol% MnFe₂O₄ composite. Hydrophobic treatments for the surface of the composite were crucial to achieve high transfer ratio for the deposition of the LB film.     

Business process integration as a solution to the implementation of supply chain management systems

In the domain of supply chain management (SCM), various software packages have been developed for planning business strategies. To solve the problem of system productivity in applying planning packages, we propose a solution concept, business process integration (BPI), which fuses workflow and enterprise application integration (EAI) technology. Two characteristic policies are included in BPI. The first is to design the minimum set of business processes for real-time information sharing with planning packages without changing other processes. The second is to integrate several systems with EAI technology and to manage their execution with a workflow tool. Based on these policies, we propose various design templates and integration adapters. Our evaluation shows that using BPI, a target system can be developed with less manpower, in less time, and with higher quality than previous methods.     

Fabrication of Bulk β-FeSi2 Crystal With ThreeDimensional Alignment by an Oscillating Magnetic Field

It has been reported that an anisotropic magnetic field could produce the three-dimensional alignment of fine single-crystal particles with the orthorhombic crystal structure.However,the three-dimensional alignment was achieved only in suspensions.Fabrication of bulk"single"materials that have the three-dimensional alignment of grains has been desired.This study proposes a procedure for the fabrication,which consists of slip casting under an oscillating magnetic field and sintering.Optimization of casting and sintering conditions achieved the three-dimensionally aligned bulkβ-FeSi₂.     

Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization

Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) is a chronic degenerative disease and progresses with an imbalance of cytokines and macrophages in the joint. Studies regarding the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a point-of-care treatment for OAK have reported on its effect on tissue repair and suppression of inflammation but few have reported on its effect on macrophages and macrophage polarization. Based on our clinical experience with two types of PRP kits Cellaid Serum Collection Set P type kit (leukocyte-poor-PRP) and an Autologous Protein Solution kit (APS leukocyte-rich-PRP), we investigated the concentrations of humoral factors in PRPs prepared from the two kits and the effect of humoral factors on macrophage phenotypes. We found that the concentrations of cell components and humoral factors differed between PRPs purified using the two kits; APS had a higher concentration of M1 and M2 macrophage related factors. The addition of PRP supernatants to the culture media of monocyte-derived macrophages and M1 polarized macrophages revealed that PRPs suppressed M1 macrophage polarization and promoted M2 macrophage polarization. This research is the first to report the effect of PRPs purified using commercial kits on macrophage polarization.     

Properties of novel diallyl phthalate resin modified with sulfur‐containing allyl ester compounds

Sulfur‐containing allyl ester, which reacts with diallyl phthalate (DAP) resin to have allyl groups, was synthesized by the reaction of allyl phthalic acid with bisphenol having sulfur atoms. The sulfur‐containing allyl ester compound was blended with DAP resin to improve the adhesive properties to copper. By modification with sulfur‐containing allyl ester compound, the T‐peel adhesive strength and the lap shear adhesive strength to copper was improved. In particular, the adhesive strength was greatly improved when the resin was modified with the allyl ester compound having a disulfide bond (?S?S?) (DADS). It is concluded that this result is due to the improvement of the interfacial adhesive strength because the sulfur atom was found to be located in the surface of the copper by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the thermal decomposition temperature (T_d) of the cured DAP resin modified with DADS slightly decreased with increasing concentration of DADS. The lowering of T_g is because the crosslinking density of the DAP resin modified with DADS is smaller than that of DAP resin. Moreover, from thermogravimetric analysis, the lowering of Td of the DAP resin modified with DADS is because DADS is likely to pyrolyze. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Low‐Energy Electron Beam Induced Charging and Secondary Electron Emission Properties of FEP Film Used on Satellite Surfaces

Many kinds of insulating materials are used outside a spacecraft. They include FEP films, polyimide films, and so on, and are used as thermal control materials. These materials are exposed to a charged‐particle environment around the spacecraft. Thus then become charged due to charged particles, especially electrons. It has been pointed out that charging of these materials is likely to cause discharges on the surfaces. From this viewpoint, we investigated the charging potential characteristics of 127‐μm‐thick FEP film, a typical thermal control material, by exposing it to electron irradiation at various energies below 20 keV. In the dependence of the charging potential on the electron energy, we found that the electron energy at which no charge‐up occurs is about 2.7 keV. This appears to be the energy at the which secondary electron emission yield becomes unity. This indicates that electron irradiation of FEP film with energies lower than 2.7 keV induces positive charging. From the charge decay characteristics after electron irradiation, the volume resistivity of the film was also obtained as a function of the electric fields in the bulk of the FEP film.