Phase transitions of two isomorphous two-dimensional conductors (BEDT-TTF)2ClO4X0.5 (X = C2H3Cl3 and C2H4Cl2)

The metal-semiconductor (or metal-metal) transitions of two isomorphous BEDT-TTF (ET) compleses, (ET)₂ClO₄X_0.5 With an asymmetric X = C₂H₃Cl₃ and a symmetric C₂H₄Cl₂ molecule are investigated. The order-disorder configuration changes of the ethylene groups in ET molecules, in addition to the disorder introduced by the asymmetric structure of the molecule for the former complexes, play an important roles in determining the nature of the transitions.     

Scaling fire whirls

A fire whirl in an open space can cause devastating damage as was experienced in Hifukusho-ato, Tokyo, after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1921. To understand the generation mechanism of the open-space fire whirls, 1/1000th scale-model experiments were conducted in a large, low-speed open-loop wind tunnel. In analyzing the experiments, there was found to be a critical lateral wind velocity that generated intense fire whirls. A scaling law that predicts the critical wind velocity was developed and validated by various data including scale-model experiments by other researchers and real urban fire whirls. A dimensional analysis is conducted to understand the effect of flow circulation on the increase in flame height. The simple analysis was supported by the results of numerical simulations by other researchers.     

Corrosion behavior of Fe-20Cr and Ni-20Cr alloys in Ar-H2O-HBr gas mixtures at 1000 K

Discontinuous mass-change measurements and corrosion-product analyses were made for Fe-20Cr and Ni-20Cr alloys after exposing them to Ar-H ₂ O-HBr gas mixtures at 1000 K for 24 hours. Predominantly chromia scales formed on both alloys. Upon cooling, the scales remained adherent to the Fe-20Cr alloy but spalled extensively from Ni-20Cr samples. After tests in HBr-rich gas mixtures, bromine-rich corrosion products were found underneath chromia scales on both alloys while nickel evaporation was observed from Ni-20Cr samples. Preoxidation of the Ni-20Cr alloy prior to exposure to Ar-H ₂ O-HBr gas mixtures increased chromia scale adherence but did not prevent nickel loss from the alloy. Chromia scales formed on the Fe-20Cr alloy were more protective due to the absence of iron oxides in the scale. Large NiO crystals formed over the Ni-20Cr alloy decreased chromia-scale adherence and increased nickel loss from the alloy due to the low stability of NiO in HBr-containing gas mixtures.     

Design of a radiant “Strip” heater for simulating liquid fuel flows in flame spreading

In order to create and to study the effects of liquid surface motion, a radiant strip heater which consisted of a heated rod at the focal point of a parabolic mirror was designed. Several configurations were analyzed to determine the appropriate design for a heater and it was experimentally proven that a heater with eight heated rods placed in an encasement can provide a nearly uniform heat flux on a fuel surface with magnitude varying with vertical distance. Using a heat flux gauge at various horizontal locations at a specific vertical location, the ratio of measured heat flux between the center and the outer edge of the heater was found not to exceed 1.10.     

Framework for Performance-Based Design of Building Structures

Abstract:   This article proposes a new framework for performance-based design (PBD) of building structures. This framework was proposed under the 3-year Japanese Government Comprehensive Research and Development Project on "Development of a New Engineering Framework for Building Structures" launched in the fiscal year of 1995. The primary objective of the project is to create a system in which the performance of buildings is clearly stated, and consumers, that is, occupants, are well informed of how their buildings will perform and how much it will cost to maintain their performance. The framework emphasizes the establishment of target performance, the performance evaluation, and the performance statement as the main three elements. It also stresses that an institutional framework and support systems need to be provided to enable PBD to be practiced efficiently. The implementation of the proposed framework is also expected to promote engineering innovation, progress in building engineering, and globalization. The new framework will also bring other benefits, such as improved design techniques, greater design flexibility, and international harmonization. It is also important for building structural performance to become one of the most important indexes for consumers to define a building's value. The Japanese building code was changed to the performance-based code, based in the clear and comprehensive manner proposed in this article. In the United States, "Vision 2000" ( SEAOC, 1995 ) was published, then many research activities were conducted simultaneously.     

南京东路消费者的入口消费行为研究

以上海南京东路消费者为研究对象,分析了消费者入口消费行为的特征,并使用多项分对数模型建构了入口阶段的消费者行为模型,模型取得了较好的拟合优度,显示了随机效用理论在描述消费者入口消费行为中的适用性,同时通过考察模型系数,探讨了商业空间要素影响入口消费行为的方向、程度以及不同属性消费的行为差异。     

Synthesis of Optically Active Dendrimers Having Chiral Bisphosphine as a Core

Summary First and second generation chiral dendrimers P-1G1, P-2G1, P-1G2 and P-2G2 containing chiral bisphosphine as a core were synthesized via a reaction of chiral bisphosphine compound (S,S)-1 with benzyl ether dendrons. This is the first example of chiral dendrimers containing chiral phosphorus atoms. To investigate the effect of chiral phosphorus atoms on their conformations, optically inactive dendrimer P′-2G1 was synthesized as well using optically inactive initiator 1′ which was the mixture of rac-1 ((S,S)-1 and (R,R)-1) and meso-1. Their structures were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, and HRMS. According to CD measurement, optically active dendrimers exhibited the Cotton effect induced by the chirality of phosphorus atoms, while optically inactive dendrimer P′-2G1 showed no Cotton effect.     

Infrared thermography for inspecting the adhesion integrity of plastic welded joints

This work aim at developing a non-destructive tool for the evaluation of bonded plastic joints. The paper examines infrared thermographic transmission and reflection mode imaging and validates the feasibility of the thermal NDT approach for this application. Results demonstrate good estimation performance for adhesion integrity, uniformity and bond strength using a transmission mode application of infrared thermography. In addition, results from a pulsed infrared thermographic application using a modified dynamic infrared tomography scheme show good performance for estimating adhesion layer thickness mapping and detecting delaminations.     

Developments in asymmetric hydrogenation from an industrial perspective

Examples of developments in asymmetric hydrogenation from various perspectives, in an effort to improve efficiency, are reported. Discussed in this Account are (1) the improved synthesis of BINAP ligands, (2) the design of SEGPHOS ligands for higher enantioselectivity, (3) a new protocol with fewer reaction steps to synthesize beta-aminoesters, and (4) a novel asymmetric hydrogenation mediated by a copper catalyst.     

High-Intensity Discharge Lamp with Mo–SiO2 Functionally Graded Material

We show the invention of the new type of hermetically sealed high-intensity discharge lamps, made of Mo–SiO₂ functionally graded material (FGM) as an electrode and a sealing component. In the case of high-intensity discharge lamps with Mo–SiO₂ FGM (FGM lamp), the thermal expansion coefficient between Mo and SiO₂ is functionally graded so that it tolerates a large number of heating cycles, with no cooling system required. Furthermore, lamps survive without breakage. The W electrode is totally separated from the lamp envelope by the FGM, so that no leakage of the luminous elements or gases takes place, when a large gas pressure exists inside a lamp.