Applying threshold models to donations to a green electricity fund

This study applies a threshold model proposed by Granovetter (1978) to analyze the diffusion process of donating behavior for renewable energy. We first use a stated preference survey to estimate the determinants of a decision to support the donation scheme under various predicted participation rates. Using the estimated coefficients, we simulate how herd behavior spreads and the participation rate reaches the equilibrium. The participation rate at the equilibrium is estimated as 37.88% when the suggested donation is 500 yen, while it is 17.76% when the suggested amount is 1000 yen. The influence of environmentalism and altruism is also examined, and we find that these motivations increase the participation rate by 31.51% on average.     

Heat transfer in liquid‐fluidized beds affected by column wall

Heat transfer from a column wall to liquid‐fluidized beds was investigated experimentally. The diameter ratio of particle to column was changed from 0.089 up to 0.332, using 11 sizes of particles and two sizes of columns. It was found from the experiment that the critical diameter ratio of particle to column is 0.2; below this value a good fluidizing condition is maintained for any flow rate and the heat transfer coefficient changes smoothly from the minimum fluidization to the liquid single‐phase flow. Based on the experimental data, a correlation was derived to predict heat transfer coefficients for the case affected by a column wall. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 29(7): 598–608, 2000     

Preparation of sputtered SrAl2O4:Eu films and their thermoluminescence properties

SrAl₂O₄ activated with Eu, a new fluorescent material having a long decay time, was deposited on Si substrates using an RF sputtering technique with facing targets. The as‐deposited films did not show any peaks in the X‐ray diffraction spectra and no photoluminescence was observed. However, X‐ray diffraction peaks and a photoluminescent peak at about 520 nm were observed after annealing in a reducing Ar+H₂ gas and an inert Ar gas. The structure of the sputtered films was investigated using EDS and SEM. The thermoluminescence peaks were observed, and the lifetime of the fluorescence and the activation energies were calculated from the peaks. The results in this work are useful for future applications. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(1): 7–14, 2000     

Effect of wall on void fraction of liquid-fluidized beds

Void fractions of liquid fluidized beds were measured using water as the fluidizing liquid. Particles of glass, ceramics, and chromium were tested, using a diameter range from 1.87 mm to 8.34 mm. Fluidization columns having a diameter of 51, 34, 21, and 8 mm were used. A void fraction measurement was performed for each particle-column combination. Based on the experimental data, a new correlation was derived that enabled over 95% of the data to be predicted to within ±7%. Existing correlations are also reviewed and compared with the results. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Jpn Res, 27(7): 473–482, 1998     

Preparation of pigment–polymer hybrid particles for plastic colorants by dry‐impact blending method

Dry‐impact blending method was employed to prepare hybrid particles composed of fine particles of phthalocyanine blue and a coarse particle of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). A simple mixing in a Henschel‐type batch mixer of the two kinds of particles, which were largely different in the size, in ambient temperature applying high stress, produced hybrid particles, where the fine particles are distributed on the surface of the core particle. The surface appearances and the cross‐sectional views of the particles were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was revealed that the hybrid particles exhibited a capsule formation with the LDPE core coated with the phthalocyanine layer, where the phthalocyanine fine particles were embedded in the LDPE core particles. The hybrid particles thus prepared helps fine dispersion of the pigment into the LDPE matrix, and the pigmented LDPE sheet shows excellent color quality. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 1762–1772, 1999     

Dietary fat alters the distribution of cholesterol between vesicles and micelles in hamster bile

The type of dietary fat strongly affects the incidence of gallstones in the hamster model of cholesterol cholelithiasis. The present study was designed to determine whether dietary fats could affect gallstone formation by altering the microstructure (vesicular/micellar ratio) of cholesterol in bile. Golden Syrian hamsters from Sasco (Omaha, NE) or Charles River (Wilmington, MA) were fed nutritionally adequate semipurified diets to which were added: (i) 4.0% butterfat without added cholesterol; (ii) 1.2% palmitic acid plus 0.3% cholesterol; or (iii) 4.0% safflower oil plus 0.3% cholesterol. Gallstone incidence and the percentage of cholesterol in vesicles and micelles were determined after two- or six-week feeding periods. Three out of ten Sasco hamsters fed the 1.2% palmitic acid diet for two weeks had cholesterol stones, while none of the eight Charles River animals had stones. In the Sasco hamsters, a significant proportion of the biliary cholesterol was found in void volume vesicles (28.8%) and small vesicles (17.1%); Charles River hamsters had negligible proportions (1.1%) of cholesterol in void volume vesicles and 15.4% in small vesicles. Cholesterol gallstones were most abundant in Sasco hamsters fed 1.2% palmitic acid for six weeks (nine out of ten animals); the mean cholesterol saturation index of the bile was 1.27. A significant proportion of the biliary cholesterol was eluted in the void volume vesicles (21.4%) and in small vesicles (15.0%). Five of the eight identically treated Charles River hamsters had cholesterol stones; the cholesterol saturation index averaged 1.36, and the biliary cholesterol was present in void volume vesicles (31.3%) and small vesicles (14.3%). Vesicles were not detected in the bile of hamsters fed cholesterol-free diets, and none of these animals developed cholesterol gallstones. Safflower oil diets inhibited stone formation even though the cholesterol saturation index was above unity. After six weeks, biliary cholesterol transported in void volume vesicles was highest for Sasco hamsters (13.3%) as compared to Charles River animals (6.9%), but total cholesterol transported in void volume vesicles plus small vesicles was similar in both groups (33.5% vs. 26.2%), respectively. These results suggest that in both strains of hamsters dietary fat influences gallstone formation by modulating the vesicular/micellar distribution of biliary cholesterol. Apparently, the presence of cholesterol/phospholipid vesicles in bile is associated with cholesterol gallstone formation.     

Determination of residual stress in spherical balls by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy

In this study, resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) for determining residual stress in small size spherical balls was examined. Natural frequencies of spherical balls with residual stress were analysed by finite element method. Resonant frequencies of spherical balls were experimentally measured by a RUS system. Both natural frequencies in the analysis and the resonant frequencies measured in the experiment decreased as the compressive circumferential stress at the ball surface increased. It was concluded, on the basis of both analytical and experimental results, that the measurement of the resonant frequency by the RUS system along with the analysis of natural frequency are effective for determining the values and distributions of unknown residual stress in spheres.     

Compositional Dependence of Absorption and Fluorescence of b3+ in Oxide Glasses

The integrated absorption cross section, the spontaneous emission probability, and the stimulated emission cross section of Yb³⁺ were determined in silicate, phosphate, borate, germanate, aluminate, gallate, and ZBLAN host glasses. The compositional dependence of the stimulated emission cross section of the ²F_5/2→²F_7/2 transition is determined mainly by the integrated absorption cross section in the glasses. A peak stimulated emission cross section above 1 pm², which is the highest value in glasses, was obtained in a gallate glass with a composition of 40K₂O·20Ta₂O₅. 40Ga₂O₃. The factors affecting the integrated absorption cross section are discussed using the Judd-Ofelt parameters of Er³⁺ calculated in previous studies.     

A photodiode amplifier system for pulse-by-pulse intensity measurement of an x-ray free electron laser

We have developed a single-shot intensity-measurement system using a silicon positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) photodiode for x-ray pulses from an x-ray free electron laser. A wide dynamic range (10(3)-10(11) photons/pulse) and long distance signal transmission (>100 m) were required for this measurement system. For this purpose, we developed charge-sensitive and shaping amplifiers, which can process charge pulses with a wide dynamic range and variable durations (ns-μs) and charge levels (pC-μC). Output signals from the amplifiers were transmitted to a data acquisition system through a long cable in the form of a differential signal. The x-ray pulse intensities were calculated from the peak values of the signals by a waveform fitting procedure. This system can measure 10(3)-10(9) photons/pulse of ~10 keV x-rays by direct irradiation of a silicon PIN photodiode, and from 10(7)-10(11) photons/pulse by detecting the x-rays scattered by a diamond film using the silicon PIN photodiode. This system gives a relative accuracy of ~10(-3) with a proper gain setting of the amplifiers for each measurement. Using this system, we succeeded in detecting weak light at the developmental phase of the light source, as well as intense light during lasing of the x-ray free electron laser.     

Effects of Amorphous and Crystalline SiO2 Additives on γ-Al2O3-to-alpha-Al2O3 Phase Transitions

This paper focused on the effects of various phases of SiO₂ additives on the γ-Al₂O₃-to-α-Al₂O₃ phase transition. In the differential thermal analysis, the exothermic peak temperature that corresponded to the theta-to-α phase transition was elevated by adding amorphous SiO₂, such as fumed silica and silica gel obtained from the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate. In contrast, the peak temperature was reduced by adding crystalline SiO₂, such as quartz and cristobalite. Amorphous SiO₂ was considered to retard the γ-to-α phase transition by preventing γ-Al₂O₃ particles from coming into contact and suppressing heterogeneous nucleation on the γ-Al₂O₃ surface. On the other hand, crystalline SiO₂ accelerated the α-Al₂O₃ transition; thus, this SiO₂ may be considered to act as heterogeneous nucleation sites. The structural difference among the various SiO₂ additives, especially amorphous and crystalline phases, largely influenced the temperature of γ-Al₂O₃-to-α-Al₂O₃ phase transition.