An investigation of liquid film thickness during solutal Marangoni condensation using a laser absorption method: Absorption property and examination of measuring method

The objective of the study is to establish a method for measuring the thickness of thin condensates of liquid mixtures using a laser light absorption method during the process of water–ethanol Marangoni dropwise condensation. First, the extinction property of the test material, with unknown properties related to infrared laser light having a wavelength of 3.39µm, was measured. Next, measurements were made of the variations in condensate film thickness after the sweeping of the heat transfer surface by departing drops in the Marangoni dropwise condensation cycle. The precision of this method was investigated on the basis of the extinction coefficient of the test material and the thickness of the liquid film. Results showed that this method provides good precision and is applicable to the measurement of other similar materials. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 32(8): 700–711, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10124     

The effects of topographic correction and gap filling in imagery on the detection of tropical forest disturbances using a Landsat time series in Myanmar

In this study, we evaluated the effects of topographic correction and gap filling of Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) images on the accuracy of forest change detection through a trajectory-based approach. Four types of Landsat time series stacks (LTSS) were generated. These stacks resulted from combinations of topographically corrected and uncorrected imagery combined with gap-filled and unfilled stacks. These combinations of stacks were then used as input into a trajectory-based change detection. The results of change detection from trajectory-based analysis using these LTSS were compared in order to assess the effects of both topographic correction and gap-filling procedures on the ability to detect forest disturbances. The results showed that overall accuracies of change detection were improved after gap filling (10.5% and 7.5%), but were only slightly improved after topographic correction (3.6% and 0.6%). Although the gap-filling process introduced some uncertainty that might have caused false change detection, the number of pixels whose detection of disturbance was enhanced after gap filling exceeded those detecting false change. The results also showed that the topographic correction did not contribute much to improve the change detection in this study area. However, topographic correction has a potential to increase the accuracy of change detection in areas of more rugged terrain and steep slopes. This is because a direct relationship between the slope of the topography with topographic correction and an enhanced detection of disturbance in pixels from year to year was observed in this study. For robust change detection, we recommend that a gap-filling process should be included in the trajectory-based analysis procedures such as the one used in this study where a single image per year is used to characterize change. We also recommend that in areas of rugged terrain, a topographic correction in the image pre-processing should be implemented.     

Highly reliable mobile liquid crystal display using AlOx deposited by atomic layer deposition for side sealing structure

A side sealing structure including, outside a sealant, AlO_x deposited using an atomic layer deposition apparatus was employed for a low‐frequency driving liquid crystal display (LCD) with a bezel width of 0.7 mm. This side‐sealing structure can effectively prevent the entry of external moisture. Prevention of decrease in voltage‐holding ratio was confirmed with a test cell having this structure. A narrow‐bezel LCD with c‐axis‐aligned a‐b‐plane‐anchored crystal In‐Ga‐Zn Oxide backplane can have long‐term high reliability as a low‐frequency driving LCD.     

Lung‐Endothelium‐Targeted Nanoparticles Based on a pH‐Sensitive Lipid and the GALA Peptide Enable Robust Gene Silencing and the Regression of Metastatic Lung Cancer

The development of efficient gene delivery systems targeting the lung endothelium remains a serious challenge. This study reports on the design and optimization of a multifunctional envelope‐type nanodevice (MEND) for an efficient siRNA delivery to the lung endothelium based on GALA‐peptide targeting ability. The incorporation of a pH‐sensitive lipid (YSK05) results in a dramatic improvement in silencing efficiency by enhancing endosomal escape, but this also causes a reduction in the lung selectivity. Contrary to the assumption that active targeting is largely dependent on the presence of a targeting ligand, the findings of the present study indicate that nanocarrier composition is critical for achieving the organ selectivity. Interestingly, helper lipids substantially mask the liver delivery resulting in optimum lung targeting. The optimized YSK05‐MEND is 40‐fold more efficient than a previously developed MEND, with a robust lung endothelium gene knockdown at small doses. The YSK05‐MEND strongly inhibits a metastatic lung cancer model and exerts superior control over lung metastasis compared to chemotherapy or the previously developed MEND. The YSK05‐MEND is well‐tolerated in mice after acute or chronic administration. As far as it is known, YSK05‐MEND achieves the most efficient lung endothelium gene silencing reported thus far with a median effective dose of 0.01 mg siRNA kg^?1 while minimally affecting the endothelium of other organs.     

Effect of bulk heat treatment and plasma surface hardening on the microstructure and erosion wear resistance of complex-alloyed cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides

The results of an investigation of the effect of bulk quenching from temperature in the range of 760–1050°C, cryogenic treatment (–196°C) and surface plasma hardening on the abrasive-erosion wear of frugally alloyed V–Cr–Mn–Ni cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides have been presented in this article. It has been found that cast irons containing 5.0–7.5% V, 4.5–9.0% Cr, and 5.5–5.7% (total) of Mn and Ni after heat treatment have a 2–3-fold advantage in wear resistance compared to the prototype high-vanadium cast iron (11.9% V, 12.9% Mn). The maximum wear resistance of cast irons studied is achieved by quenching at 760°C followed by plasma surface hardening, as well as quenching at 840°C, followed by cryogenic treatment. These treatments result in the formation of an optimum microstructure that consists of spheroidal vanadium carbides, eutectic carbides M₇C₃, and a martensite-austenite matrix reinforced by secondary carbides. The increase in quenching temperature leads to an increase in the amount of residual austenite and decrease in the erosive wear resistance of cast irons.     

Process and Mechanical Properties of in Situ Silicon Carbide-Nanowire-Reinforced Chemical Vapor Infiltrated Silicon Carbide/Silicon Carbide Composite

A SiC nanowire/Tyranno-SA fiber-reinforced SiC/SiC composite was fabricated via simple in situ growth of SiC nanowires directly in the fibrous preform before CVI matrix densification; the purpose of the SiC nanowires was to markedly improve strength and toughness. The nanowires consisted of single-crystal β-phase SiC with a uniform ∼5 nm carbon shell; the nanowires had diameters of several tens to one hundred nanometers. The volume fraction of the nanowires in the fabricated composite was ∼5%. However, the composite did not show significant increase in strength and toughness, likely because of strong bonding between the nanowires and the matrix caused by the very thin carbon coating on the nanowires. Little debonding and pullout of SiC nanowires from the matrix were observed at the fracture surfaces of the composite.     

High‐performance polymer‐stabilized blue‐phase LCD with low driving voltage

We have developed a polymer‐stabilized blue‐phase LCD in which the diffraction wavelength of blue‐phase liquid crystal is in the ultraviolet region and which is driven at a low voltage of V₁₀₀ = 27 V. Prototypes of 3.4‐in polymer‐stabilized blue‐phase LCDs were made, which include a highly reliable crystalline oxide semiconductor. We succeeded in fabricating not a test cell but a display having a contrast ratio higher than 1000 : 1 for the first time in the world.     

Amperometric detection of phenolic compounds with enzyme immobilized in mesoporous silica prepared by electrophoretic deposition

Laccase was immobilized in mesoporous silica powder with a 7.0 nm pore diameter (FSM7.0) coated onto a glassy carbon electrode using an electrophoretic deposition technique, and the electrode was then applied to the amperometric detection of catechol, which is a typical phenolic compound. The behavior of a biosensor attached to the electrode was examined in terms of pH, applied potential, sensitivity and operational range, selectivity, and storage stability. The sensor showed an optimum response at a pH of 5.0 and at an applied potential of −50 mV. The determination range and the response time for catechol were 2.0-100 μM and approximately 2 min, respectively. In addition, the sensor was quite stable and retained its initial response without notable change after being stored for over 50 days. This result suggests that our method is quite useful for the fabrication of a high-performance biosensor for practical use.     

An alternating method based on the VNA solution for analysis of damaged solid containing arbitrarily distributed elliptical microcracks

This paper presents the development of an alternating method for the interaction analysis of arbitrary distributed numerous elliptical microcracks. The complete analytical solutions (VNA solutions) for a single elliptical crack in an infinite solid, subject to arbitrary crack-face tractions, are implemented in the present alternating method, together with the coordinate transformations for stress tensors. First, the present method is verified by solving the problems of two interacting cracks for which accurate numerical solutions have been obtained previously. Next, the present method demonstrates obtaining efficient and accurate solutions for the problems of many interacting elliptical cracks, which cannot be solved in a practical sense by the ordinary numerical methods such as the finite element method. Furthermore, damaged solids containing periodically distributed elliptical microcracks are analyzed by the present alternating method. The effective elastic moduli are evaluated for varying microcrack density. Detailed structures of the interactions in the damaged solids are visualized and clarified. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.