Conceptual design of rain radar for the tropical rainfall measuring mission

Specifications for a spaceborne rain radar for tropical rainfall measurement are described. A spaceborne rain radar has problems peculiar to rain observation from space. The radar must have a fast scanning mechanism to cover a large swath. Very weak rain echoes compared to the sea or land surface signal must be detected. These capabilities must be attained under the severe power consumption and mass limitations of the satellite bus. The fast scanning requirement forces application of an electrically scanning mechanism. This requirement also causes a severe limitation of the available number of independent samples. The requirement for weak rain echoes excludes application of the pulse compression technique, which is a very conventional technique for other active microwave sensors on board satellites. Under these constraints, a rain radar with an electrically scanning planar antenna at 13-8 GHz is proposed.     

Relationship between Expression of Onco-Related miRNAs and the Endoscopic Appearance of Colorectal Tumors

Accumulating data indicates that certain microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are differently expressed in samples of tumors and paired non-tumorous samples taken from the same patients with colorectal tumors. We examined the expression of onco-related miRNAs in 131 sporadic exophytic adenomas or early cancers and in 52 sporadic flat elevated adenomas or early cancers to clarify the relationship between the expression of the miRNAs and the endoscopic morphological appearance of the colorectal tumors. The expression levels of miR-143, -145, and -34a were significantly reduced in most of the exophytic tumors compared with those in the flat elevated ones. In type 2 cancers, the miRNA expression profile was very similar to that of the exophytic tumors. The expression levels of miR-7 and -21 were significantly up-regulated in some flat elevated adenomas compared with those in exophytic adenomas. In contrast, in most of the miR-143 and -145 down-regulated cases of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and in some of the de novo types of carcinoma, the up-regulation of oncogenic miR-7 and/or -21 contributed to the triggering mechanism leading to the carcinogenetic process. These findings indicated that the expression of onco-related miRNA was associated with the morphological appearance of colorectal tumors.     

Proposal of a Simple Method for Assessing the Susceptibility of Naturally Deposited Clay Grounds to Large Long-Term Settlement due to Embankment Loading

A simple method that utilizes the results of laboratory tests has been proposed for determining the susceptibility of soft clay grounds to large residual consolidation settlement due to embankment loading. It was found that there is a possibility of large long-term settlement if the sensitivity and compression index ratios of the clay material that constitutes the ground are equal to or more than 8.0 and 1.5, respectively. The compression index ratio is defined in this paper as the ratio (Cc/Ccr) of the steepest gradient of the compression curve of an undisturbed sample to that of the remolded sample. Through the SYS Cam-clay model, an elasto-plastic constitutive model that describes the actions of the soil skeleton structure, it was found that clays with large sensitivity and compression index ratios are characterized by initially highly structured soils and that decay/upgradation of the structure can easily occur due to plastic deformation. In addition, by following Schmertmann's graphic method for in-situ compression curve (1953), this paper proposes a method of deducing the in-situ initial conditions from the results of laboratory consolidation tests on undisturbed samples. These investigations revealed not only that large delayed settlement is facilitated in clays, which have higher degrees of structure and faster rates of structural decay, but also that the Δe method and other simple methods of predicting settlement may underestimate the amount of settlement.     

Six types of spherulite morphologies with polymorphic crystals in poly(heptamethylene terephthalate)

Six types of spherulite morphologies packed with polymorphic crystals and their growth kinetics in melt-crystallized poly(heptamethylene terephthalate) (PHepT) were characterized using polarized-light optical microscopy (POM), Fourier transformed infrared microspectrometry (micro-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic-force microscopy (AFM). Two maximum melting temperatures (T_max), a higher 150 °C and a lower 110 °C, were used to melt the initially crystallized PHepT of either α- or β-crystal. The high T_max was enough to melt all nuclei, but the lower T_max was considered as near or slightly below the equilibrium melting temperatures of these two cells (if estimated by nonlinear methods). When crystallized at various T_c from these two T_max’s, PHepT can exhibit as many as six types of spherulites (Ring Type-I, -II, -III, Maltese-cross Type-1, -2, and -3) owing to different nucleations. Ring Type-I, Maltese-cross Type-1 and -3 spherulites are packed of the sole β-crystal, while Ring Type-II, -III and Maltese-cross Type-2 spherulites are attributed to the sole α-crystal. However, as the PHepT polymorphic cells are related to T_c, such correlations between the crystal cells and spherulite types (ring or ringless) cannot be ruled out to be a coincidence.     

Fabrication of functionally graded nano‐TiO2‐reinforced epoxy matrix composites

Functionally graded nano‐TiO₂ epoxy matrix composites were successfully fabricated using a centrifugal method. In the preparation of the composite, the aggregation of nano‐TiO₂ occurred during curing, which had a negative effect on the composite performance. To solve this problem, we introduced a silane coupling agent to modify the surface of the nano‐TiO₂, thereby improving the performance and mechanical properties simultaneously. The modified nano‐TiO₂ (s‐TiO₂) had better dispersion in the epoxy resin, making it possible to produce depth gradients of the mechanical properties of functionally graded materials (FGMs). The s‐TiO₂ was characterized with respect to functional groups, morphology, and chemical elements using transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that a silane layer was successfully coated on the surface. Also, the gradients of the mechanical and permittivity properties of the FGM indicated that by modifying the surface of the nano‐filler, it is possible to fabricate nano‐filler‐reinforced epoxy matrix FGMs using a centrifugal method. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:557–563, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Role of Heavy Meromyosin in Heat‐Induced Gelation in Low Ionic Strength Solution Containing l‐Histidine

The gelation of myosin has a very important role in meat products. We have already shown that myosin in low ionic strength solution containing l ‐histidine forms a transparent gel after heating. To clarify the mechanism of this unique gelation, we investigated the changes in the nature of myosin subfragments during heating in solutions with low and high ionic strengths with and without l ‐histidine. The hydrophobicity of myosin and heavy meromyosin (HMM) in low ionic strength solution containing l ‐histidine was lower than in high ionic strength solution. The SH contents of myosin and HMM in low ionic strength solution containing l ‐histidine did not change during the heating process, whereas in high ionic strength solution they decreased slightly. The heat‐induced globular masses of HMM in low ionic strength solution containing l ‐histidine were smaller than those in high ionic strength solution. These findings suggested that the polymerization of HMM molecules by heating was suppressed in low ionic strength solution containing l ‐histidine, resulting in formation of the unique gel.     

Use of a Metal-mould Process in the Development of Hemispherical Heavy-walled Castings

The exacting quality required of hemispherical heavy-walled steel castings, used in nuclear power applications, has been remarkably improved by the adoption of a newly developed metal-mould process. This technique is dependent on the use of a metal core. The optimum conditions for solidification were determined by the finite element analytical method. The appropriate wall-thickness of the chill elements was also investigated using data based on actual experience. The core was designed in such a manner that the surface carried a series of concave “dimples” in the manner of a golf-ball, the pattern being intended to prevent the formation of cracks, generated on the casting surface when in contact with a metal mould. Stresses caused by solidification shrinkage were reduced by splitting the core. In the event, the casting structure conformed well to the results of the solidification analysis. Radiographic examination revealed a high level of soundness, with no trace of internal defects. No anisotropy was detected in mechanical properties. It is shown that this process is being currently employed in the manufacture of actual products.     

Highly reliable oxide‐semiconductor TFT for AMOLED displays

Abstract— The stability and reliability of oxide‐semiconductor TFTs were investigated. The contact material to the oxide semiconductor affected the thermal stability of the TFT, and a molybdenum‐contact source/drain showed good stability. And the passivating film and TFT structure affected the stability against bias stress and humidity stress, and dc‐sputtered Al²O³ passivation and fully covered channel structure with an etching stopper or source/drain showed good reliability. Moreover, high photo‐stability was confirmed by the bias‐enhanced photo‐irradiation stress test. An 11.7‐in.‐diagonal qHD AMOLED display was demonstrated to provide an applicable solution for a large‐sized OLED and an ultra‐high‐definition LCD‐TV mass production.     

Geothermal resources of Hachijojima

Hachijojima is a gourd-shaped volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. Nishiyama and Higashiyama volcanoes consist of basalt lava and associated pyroclastic rocks. A promising geothermal resource was found in south Higashiyama, associated with an uplift of Tertiary rocks consisting of mainly andesite lava and related pyroclastic rocks, overlain by Quaternary volcanic rocks. Steep high-temperature (over 250°C) and high-pressure gradients occur in the deeper portion of the system near the Tertiary–Quaternary contact, indicating the presence of a cap rock. The cap rock formed by deposition of hydrothermal minerals. Geothermal fluid ascends from the deeper portions to shallow depths along vertical fractures through the cap rock. These vertical fractures form the geothermal reservoir in the Tertiary formation. Three wells were drilled into these vertical fractures, and approximately 30 t/h of superheated steam was obtained from each well during flow tests. The geothermal fluid is mainly a mixture of seawater and meteoric water in an approximate ratio of 1 to 2, based on chemical analyses, with a portion of volcanic gas included. At present a 3.3 MW_e, geothermal power plant is being constructed here.