Triaxial Crystalline Orientation of MgTi2O5 Achieved Using a Strong Magnetic Field and Geometric Effect

Tailoring the crystallographic orientation in ceramics is very useful for improving their properties. We reported that the colloidal processing in a strong magnetic field was able to control the crystallographic orientation even in diamagnetic ceramics. In this process, a strong magnetic field is applied to the particles in a stable suspension. The orientation of the crystal depends on the axis having easy magnetization and one‐dimensional orientation can be controlled. In this study, our concept is that control of multiaxial crystalline orientation in ceramics by using both anisometric particles and a magnetic field. The control of the triaxial orientation was achieved by tape casting of rod‐like MgTi₂O₅ particle in a magnetic field. The b‐axis was aligned by the magnetic field, and the a‐axis was aligned by the geometric effect and shear stress during tape casting.     

Onocerin Biosynthesis Requires Two Highly Dedicated Triterpene Cyclases in a Fern Lycopodium clavatum

Onocerin is known for its unusual structure among triterpenoids, with a symmetrical structure that is formed by cyclizations at the both termini of dioxidosqualene. The nature of the enzyme catalyzing these unusual cyclizations has remained elusive for decades. Here, we report the cloning of genes responsible for these reactions; they exhibited unprecedented substrate specificities among oxidosqualene cyclase family members. Two genes, LCC and LCD, were identified from the fern Lycopodium clavatum. Expression in yeast revealed that both were required to produce α‐onocerin. LCC, the first dioxidosqualene cyclase, catalyzed the production of a novel intermediate pre‐α‐onocerin from only dioxidosqualene as a substrate; LCD catalyzed the second half of the cyclization, exclusively from pre‐α‐onocerin. These results demonstrated that these two most unusual oxidosqualene cyclases were involved in onocerin biosynthesis.     

Morley’s theorem revisited: Origami construction and automated proof

Morley’s theorem states that for any triangle, the intersections of its adjacent angle trisectors form an equilateral triangle. The construction of Morley’s triangle by the straightedge and compass method is impossible because of the well-known impossibility result for angle trisection. However, by origami, the construction of an angle trisector is possible, and hence that of Morley’s triangle. In this paper we present a computational origami construction of Morley’s triangle and an automated correctness proof of the generalized Morley’s theorem.During the computational origami construction, geometrical constraints in symbolic representation are generated and accumulated. Those constraints are then transformed into algebraic forms, i.e. a set of polynomials, which in turn are used to prove the correctness of the construction. The automated proof is based on the Gröbner bases method. The timings of the experiments of the Gröbner bases computations for our proofs are given. They vary greatly depending on the origami construction methods, the algorithms for the Gröbner bases computation, and variable orderings.     

Development of agent system based on decision model for creating an ambient space

This paper describes a decision model for an autonomous agent that provides an inhabitant with comfort based on information network technologies that connect home electric appliances with household equipment. The inhabitant enjoys the benefit of comfort, while he pays the cost for keeping that comfort. The autonomous agent should decide and control household equipment considering that cost from the inhabitant’s viewpoint. Thus, we utilized a representation scheme called an “influence diagram” that enabled us to model the decision-making process of the agent from the inhabitant’s point of view. First, decision modeling using the influence diagram is presented via an example. The presented model consists of three information-processing modules: a module for estimating the situation of an inhabitant based on information from home networks, a module for evaluating comfort of the inhabitant, and a module for making decisions that maximize the utility of the inhabitant from both the viewpoints of comfort and the cost paid for that comfort. Next, an experiment for verifying whether the presented model is effective or not, and its results are described. Finally, our model of the agent is discussed in relation to social intelligence design by investigating the interactive processes between the agent and the inhabitant.     

IGZO‐TFT technology for large‐screen 8K display

We succeeded in G8 factory for mass production of Indium–Gallium–Zink–Oxide thin‐film transistor (IGZO‐TFT) for the first time in the world. The initial TFT process was an etching stop‐type TFT, but now, we are mass producing channel etching‐type TFTs. And, its application range is smartphones, tablets, PCs, monitors, TV, and so on. In particular, because of recent demands for high‐resolution and narrow frame, our IGZO display has been advanced in technology development with gate driver in panel. In this paper, we report development combining low resistance technology and the latest IGZO‐TFT (IGZO5) for large‐screen 8K display.     

Origami fold as algebraic graph rewriting

We formalize paper fold (origami) by graph rewriting. Origami construction is abstractly described by a rewriting system (O,?)$(\mathbb{O},?)$, where O$\mathbb{O}$ is the set of abstract origamis and ?$?$ is a binary relation on O$\mathbb{O}$, that models fold  . An abstract origami is a structure (Π,∽,?)$(\Pi ,\backsim ,?)$, where Π$\Pi$ is a set of faces constituting an origami, and ∽$\backsim$ and ?$?$ are binary relations on Π$\Pi$, each representing adjacency and superposition relations between the faces.     

Systematization of error recovery in skill-based manipulation

Dexterous manipulation is an important function for working robots. Manipulator tasks such as assembly and disassembly can generally be divided into several motion primitives. We call such motion primitives “skills,” and explain how most manipulator tasks can be composed of sequences of these skills. We are currently planning to construct a maintenance robot for household electrical appliances. We considered establishing a hierarchy of the manipulation tasks of this robot since the maintenance of such appliances has become more complex than ever before. In addition, as errors seem likely to increase in complex tasks, it is important to implement an effective error recovery technology. This article presents our proposal for a new type of error recovery that uses the concepts of task stratification and error classification.     

Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of deterioration indices of soybeans for process control in oil milling plant

The feasibility of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was examined for analyzing quality criteria or deterioration induces of soybeans, such as the nitrogen solubility index (NSI), acid value, digestibility and percentage germination, as well as the contents of their major constituents (moisture, oil and total nitrogen). Because all the criteria are closely related to yield and quality of the final product, their rapid analysis is required for process control in the oil milling plant. NIR diffuse-reflectace spectra were measured on ground samples in an InfraAlyzer 500 (Bran+Luebbe Co., Norderstedt, Germany). As for the major constituents, the standard errors of prediction (SEP) were 0.34% (moisture), 0.24% (oil) and 0.067% (total nitrogen). There results show the ability of NIR for analyzing these parameters, as many researchers reported previously. As for the other quality criteria, the SEP values were 2.40 (NSI), 5.58 (digestibility), 0.29 (acid value) and 15.27 (germinatio percentage). Further, NIR analysis for some of these criteria of the extracted residue and defatted soybeans was also examined, and almost the same level of SEP values was obtained. Although it is still necessary to improve the accuracy, we concluded that the NIR method has the feasibility to measure quality criteria for the purpose of process control in the plant in place of the time-consuming chemical analysis that are conventionally used. Part of this study was presented at 84th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, April 27, 1993, Anaheim, California.     

Spectroscopic study on the centrifugal fractionation of soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes

Optical absorption and resonant Raman spectra are proven to be convenient and effective to monitor the centrifugal fractionation and to evaluate the quality of soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) achieved by inorganic oxidation and organic functionalization. Through a systemic study of a series of centrifuged solutions, we confirmed that heavily functionalized amorphous carbon was fractionated into the early centrifuged solutions, whereas lightly functionalized graphite fragments as well as polyhedral carbon and metal catalysts particles were fractionated into the late centrifuged solutions and centrifuged residue, and then highly pure and well dispersed SWNTs were collected from the middle centrifuged solutions. It is proposed that the purity, dispersibility, and aggregation state of SWNTs can be qualitatively estimated by the relative intensity of their absorption features, the fine structure and slope of their absorption curves. The Raman features of centrifuged SWNTs are found systematically up-shifted except the disorder-induced D band in comparison with those of as-prepared material, indicating that the SWNTs in centrifuged solutions are individual or in thin bundles. Two new features were identified at 1428 and 941 cm⁻¹ in the Raman spectrum of thermally annealed centrifuged SWNTs, which were assigned to achiral nanotubes and combined mode, respectively.