Swelling Pressure of Wet Rice Grains Estimated from Distribution Coefficients of Saccharides

The apparent density and porosity of four rice cultivars, Koshihikari, Yumepirika, Habutaemochi, and Kitayukimochi, decreased and increased, respectively, with the increasing temperature in the range of 5 °C to 60 °C. Especially large changes in both apparent density and porosity were observed at 60 °C, which can be ascribed to the starch gelatinization of rice. The swelling pressures of wet rice grains were estimated to be 7.5, 6.3, 6.2, and 5.9 MPa at 25 °C for Koshihikari, Yumepirika, Habutaemochi, and Kitayukimochi, respectively, from the distribution coefficients of solutes with different molar volumes. Rice grains having higher amylose content exhibited a weak tendency toward higher swelling pressure. The distribution coefficients of fructose for the Koshihikari and Habutaemochi cultivars were larger at higher temperatures, but the temperature dependence of the swelling pressure was not significant for both cultivars. These results suggested that the increase in the distribution coefficient was caused by the gradual relaxation of the interior structure of rice with increasing temperature.     

Synthesis of New Pb-Based 1222 Cuprates Containing Phosphorus, (Pb0.75P0.25)Sr2(RE2–x–y Ce x Sr y )Cu2O z (RE = Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Y)

New Pb-based 1222 cuprates containing phosphorus have been synthesized in the (Pb_0.75P_0.25)Sr₂- (RE_2–x–y Ce _x Sr _y )Cu₂O _z (RE = Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Y) systems. The almost-single phase samples are obtained for 0.5≤x≤1.0 and y=0.1 in the cases of RE = Nd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Y, while for 0.3≤x≤1.0 and y=0.1 in the cases of RE = Sm, Eu and Gd. The samples crystallize in a tetragonal lattice, the lattice parameters a and c are decreasing with the decrease of the ionic radius of the RE element. Even after annealing under 143 atm O₂ atmosphere at 400 °C, almost all the samples with the common values x=0.5 and y=0.1 are semiconductors with a transport process followed by three-dimensional variable range hopping. However, the samples of RE = Sm, Eu and Gd, which are of almost single 1222 phase, even for x=0.3 and y=0.1, show superconductivity with the onsets at about 25 K, 20 K and 22 K, respectively. Through this study, we find very important procedure for discovery of new superconducting 1222 compound.     

Phase transformation and interface segregation behavior in Si3N4 ceramics sintered with La2O3–Lu2O3 mixed additive

Microstructure and mechanical property of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) ceramic are strongly dependent on the selection of sintering additives. When rare‐earth (RE) oxide is used as the sintering additive, segregation of RE ions at interface between Si₃N₄ grain and intergranular glassy film (IGF) is believed to play a critical role. Although the ionic radius of RE ion is known to be an empirical parameter to modify the mechanical property, the correlation between the segregated ions and their ionic radii is still under controversy. In order to address this issue, (i) rate of α‐β phase transformation and (ii) segregation behavior at the interface were studied for Si₃N₄ ceramics sintered using mixture of La₂O₃ and Lu₂O₃ as additives in this study. Specimens of Lu content 30% and higher exhibited lower activation energies for the α‐β phase transformation as compared with those of Lu content 20% and lower. In terms of the segregation behavior, La was preferably segregated at one site and Lu at the other site along β‐Si₃N₄/IGF interface in the specimens of Lu content 30% and higher. It is understood from these results that Lu segregation site should be more closely related with grain growth.     

Piezoresistivities of vapor‐grown carbon fiber/silicone foams for tactile sensor applications

Due to the growing demand for tactile sensors, the possibility of detecting an external uniaxial pressure by the piezoresistive measuring of a conductive filler/elastomer composite was investigated. A series of piezoresistive models are discussed. Novel highly sensitive piezoresistive foams with excellent elasticity were fabricated using vapor‐grown carbon fiber (VGCF), two‐component silicone elastomer and a new type of thermally expandable micro beads foaming agent to overcome the disadvantages of the silicone elastomer in the utilization of a tactile sensor. Deformations of the foams caused by uniaxial pressure were observed using scanning electron microscopy from cross‐sections. Effects of the VGCF and the foaming agent on the piezoresistivitiy were investigated. The piezoresistive mechanisms of the foams are discussed according to the measurements, and good fit was found between the theoretical calculations and the experimental piezoresistivity measurements. It is found that the addition of the micro beads foaming agent can improve the piezoresistivity of the VGCF/silicone foam and increase the sensitivity and repeatability for its application in a tactile sensor. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Moisture profiles of wheat noodles containing hydroxypropylated tapioca starch

Wheat noodles were prepared using flour to which hydroxypropylated tapioca starch was added, and the effect of this addition on the moisture distribution within the noodles during cooking was examined using a digital image processing technique. The addition of the modified starch slightly increased the moisture content and narrowed the flat distribution near the noodle surface. The distribution features reflected the changes in the water absorption behaviour caused by the properties of the modified starch and the reduction in the gluten content. Addition of the modified starch lowered Young's modulus and the energy for 99% strain of the noodles in the texture analysis to, at maximum 35% and 65%, and decreased the breakability of the noodles. These changes in the moisture distribution and textural properties have been ascribed to changes in both the state of the starch granules near the surface and the structure of the gluten network.     

Possibility of Japanese Cedar Pollen Causing False Positives in the Deep Mycosis Test

Because Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) contains beta-1,3-d-glucan (BG), there is concern that its lingering presence in the atmosphere, especially during its scattering period, may cause false positives in the factor-G-based Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay used to test for deep mycosis (i.e., G-test). Hence, we examined whether the LAL assay would react positively with substances contained in JCP by using the G-test to measure JCP particles and extracts. BG was purified from the JCP extract on a BG-specific affinity column, and the percentage extractability was measured using three different BG-specific quantitative methods. The G-test detected 0.4 pg BG in a single JCP particle and 10 fg from a single particle in the extract. The percentage extractability of JCP-derived BG was not significantly different among the three quantitative methods. As the JCP particles should technically have been removed during serum separation, they should be less likely to be a direct false-positive factor. However, given that the LAL-assay-positive substances in the JCP extract were not distinguishable by the three BG-specific quantitative methods, we conclude that they may cause the background to rise. Therefore, in Japan false positives arising from JCP contamination should be considered when testing patients for deep mycosis.     

A comparison of approaches for finding minimum identifying codes on graphs

In order to formulate mathematical conjectures likely to be true, a number of base cases must be determined. However, many combinatorial problems are NP-hard and the computational complexity makes this research approach difficult using a standard brute force approach on a typical computer. One sample problem explored is that of finding a minimum identifying code. To work around the computational issues, a variety of methods are explored and consist of a parallel computing approach using MATLAB, an adiabatic quantum optimization approach using a D-Wave quantum annealing processor, and lastly using satisfiability modulo theory (SMT) and corresponding SMT solvers. Each of these methods requires the problem to be formulated in a unique manner. In this paper, we address the challenges of computing solutions to this NP-hard problem with respect to each of these methods.