Operator-based nonlinear temperature control experiment for microreactor group actuated by Peltier devices

In this paper, operator-based nonlinear water temperature control for a group of three connected microreactors actuated by Peltier devices is proposed. To control the water temperature of tube in the microreactor, the temperature change of aluminum effects is considered. Therefore, the temperature change of aluminum becomes the part of an input of the tube. First, nonlinear thermal models of aluminum plates and tubes that structure the microreactor are obtained. Then, an operator based nonlinear water temperature control system for the microreactor is designed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed models and methods is confirmed by simulation and experimental results.     

Formation of Ni(Ge1−xSnx) layers with solid-phase reaction in Ni/Ge1−xSnx/Ge systems

We have demonstrated the formation of Ni(Ge_1−ySn_y) layers on Ge_1−xSn_x layers by using solid-phase reaction for samples with Sn contents ranging from 2.0% to 6.5%. We have also investigated solid-phase reaction products in Ni/Ge_1−xSn_x/Ge samples after annealing and the crystalline properties of nickel-tin-germanide layer/Ge_1−xSn_x contact structures. After annealing at temperatures ranging from 350 to 550 °C, the formation of polycrystalline Ni(Ge_1−ySn_y) layers has been observed on epitaxial Ge_1−xSn_x layers with Sn contents ranging from 2.0% to 6.5%. We also observed anisotropic crystal deformation of NiGe with the incorporation of Sn atoms into substitutional sites in NiGe. In the case of the Ni/Ge_1−xSn_x/Ge sample with a Sn content of 3.6%, the formation of an epitaxial Ni₂(Ge_1−zSn_z) layer on the Ge_1−xSn_x layer was found. The formation of β-Sn crystallites was observed after annealing at above 450 °C in samples with a high Sn content of 6.5%. This β-Sn formation is due to the precipitation of Sn atoms. In all samples annealed at 350 °C, the morphology of Ni-Ge-Sn layers is smooth and uniform. However, the surface roughness and interface roughness increase for an annealing temperature of 550 °C. In particular, in the sample with a Sn content of 6.5%, the temperature at which agglomeration noticeably occurs is as low as 450 °C.     

Screening of Sesame Cultivars with Scant Albumins by an Immunological Approach

In this study a detection method for 2S albumin (14-kDa albumin) among the sesame allergens was developed. Polyclonal antibodies against 14-kDa albumin from sesame seeds (anti 14-kDa albumin antibody) were prepared. The anti 14-kDa albumin antibody absorbed with acetone powder from soybean seeds specifically reacted with sesame albumin, and did not react with albumins from soybean, corn, Arabidopsis. The absorbed anti 14-kDa albumin antibody was used as a probe for screening sesame varieties with scant albumins by indirect enzyme-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We isolated accession number (Acc. No.) 526 with one-third of albumin amounts compared to standard variety Acc. No. 800. This method will be useful in breeding sesame cultivars with low sesame allergens     

SiC Crystals Derived from β-SiC Powder Using a Conically Converging Shock-Wave Technique

α-SiC and β-SiC crystals are prepared from vapor by sublimation of β-SiC powder subjected to a conically converging shock-wave generated by detonating an explosive charge. α-SiC crystals are mainly 6H modifications and their features are plates, pyramids, needles, and filaments grown in the [0001] direction; 4H-SiC filaments are also obtained. α-SiC rods having a triangular cross section develop parallel to the [111] direction.     

Electrochemical detection of volatile organic compounds using a Na3Zr2Si2PO12/Bi2Cu0.1V0.9O5.35 heterojunction device

A fast sodium ion conductor, NASICON (Na₃Zr₂Si₂PO₁₂), has been widely used for gas sensor applications. In this study, we demonstrate that a device combining NASICON with an oxygen-ion conductor of BiCuVOx (Bi₂Cu_0.1V_0.9O_5.35) can electrochemically detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as ethanol, formaldehyde, and toluene. The sensing electrode made of BiCuVOx was attached onto a sintered NASICON disk at high temperature to produce an interfacial layer that had a different morphology and composition from those of NASICON and BiCuVOx, as observed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The device in which NASICON was fitted with the BiCuVOx-based electrode was found to efficiently detect VOCs in ppm concentrations. The sensor signal (electromotive force) exceeded 100 mV in response to 10 ppm HCOH at 400 °C, demonstrating the high sensitivity of the device. It also exhibited a relatively quick response, reproducible and stable sensor signals, and high selectivity to VOCs. The sensor responses followed behavior typical for mixed-potential-type gas sensors based on oxygen-ion conductors. It was thus suggested that the electrochemical oxidation of VOCs with oxide ions took place at the interfacial oxygen ion-conductive layer that was formed by the reaction of NASICON with BiCuVOx.     

Electron microscope study of carbon particles developed using a conically converging shock-wave technique

Structural and morphological studies of carbon particles developed by means of a conically converging shock-wave (CCSW) technique utilizing detonation of explosive charge have been carried out by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The carbon particles obtained have polypetalous flowerlike, confettilike, bunlike, spherical tubular-filamentary forms. Spherical particles consist of concentric carbon layers roughly parallel to the particle surface. Some of the tubular filaments are hollow and are made up of parallel carbon layers rolled cylindrically around a hollow tube.     

Asymptotic properties of the Fisher kernel

This letter analyzes the Fisher kernel from a statistical point of view. The Fisher kernel is a particularly interesting method for constructing a model of the posterior probability that makes intelligent use of unlabeled data (i.e., of the underlying data density). It is important to analyze and ultimately understand the statistical properties of the Fisher kernel. To this end, we first establish sufficient conditions that the constructed posterior model is realizable (i.e., it contains the true distribution). Realizability immediately leads to consistency results. Subsequently, we focus on an asymptotic analysis of the generalization error, which elucidates the learning curves of the Fisher kernel and how unlabeled data contribute to learning. We also point out that the squared or log loss is theoretically preferable-because both yield consistent estimators-to other losses such as the exponential loss, when a linear classifier is used together with the Fisher kernel. Therefore, this letter underlines that the Fisher kernel should be viewed not as a heuristics but as a powerful statistical tool with well-controlled statistical properties.     

Cathodic deposition of molybdenum and vanadium mixed oxyhydroxide films from V-substituted polymolybdophosphate

We report a new electrochemical route for fabricating molybdenum and vanadium mixed oxyhydroxide films on Au electrode from Keggin-type vanadium-substituted polymolybdophosphate. The process involves a potentiodynamic reduction of aqueous 9-molybdo(VI)-3-vanadophosphosphate(V) ([PMo₉V₃O₄₀]⁶⁻) in the potential region between 0 and −0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl. The resulting MoV oxyhydroxide film electrode gave a stable redox behavior in Na₂SO₄ electrolyte of pH 3. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that this results from oxidation/reduction of Mo⁵⁺/Mo⁶⁺ in the film which accompanies extraction/insertion of protons for charge compensation. The deposited V ions remained in the film upon repetitive potential cycling without affecting their oxidation state. Voltammetric data in the presence of sodium nitrite showed electrocatalytic activity of the MoV oxyhydroxide toward the electroreduction of nitrite.     

Intermediate temperature steam electrolysis using strontium zirconate-based protonic conductors

Steam electrolysis using SrZr_0.9Y_0.1O_3-α (SZY-91) electrolyte was investigated. Different electrode materials, i.e., porous platinum, Sr_0.5Sm_0.5CoO₃ (SSC-55) for the anode and nickel for the cathode were examined in order to achieve better energy performance. The electrodes had poor electrode activity when platinum was used for both the anode and the cathode, while the SSC-55 anode displayed significantly low overpotentials and the nickel cathode exhibited low overpotentials upon the introduction of an SrCe_0.95Yb_0.05O_3-α (SCYb) interlayer. Moreover, a partial substitution of cerium for zirconium in the strontium zirconate electrolyte, i.e., SrZr_0.5Ce_0.4Y_0.1O_3-α (SZCY-541), was found to be effective for improving the current efficiency of the hydrogen evolution rate. Accordingly, the cell SSC-55|SZCY-541|SCYb|Ni exhibited much higher energy efficiency for the steam electrolysis than the Pt|SZY-91|Pt cell.